Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Hadley
Easton reached out to Lila Mercer, a woman he slept with roughly fifteen months ago. The timeframe that is most likely when Tanner was conceived.
Now we sit in the café around the corner. Him at a table with me a table away, Tanner’s back to Easton in a high chair, and me with a baseball hat on to disguise myself as much as possible.
Easton was going to come by himself, but as he was leaving the condo, he started second-guessing himself, his anxiety increasing about whether or not he should be looking for Tanner’s mother. So I got Tanner ready and said we’ll all go. I couldn’t let him do this alone.
He slyly looks at me, sipping his coffee, which will be gone before Lila even turns up since he can’t seem to just sit there and wait.
Tanner is happy at least, having no idea his mother might turn up today. Would he remember her and want to go to her? One of the reasons we both agreed his back should be turned. If he reaches for her, that’s a good sign, but one I’m not sure I’m prepared for, so I’m sure Easton isn’t either.
My laptop is open, so I appear like a busy working mom, even though my concentration is only on the door.
It opens and a woman steps inside, her eyes scouring the area.
This must be her.
Easton half-lifts off the chair, but then a man comes in right behind her, holding a baby carrier off of one arm. Easton sits back down, glancing at me, looking as though he’s one second from bolting.
I know how important this is to him, and to Tanner, and I hope this can be a one and done.
That Lila Mercer is Tanner’s mom. If so, I’m not sure why she’d agree to coffee, but I didn’t want to convey my doubts to Easton when he was hopeful.
Maybe she regrets her decision and just needed an opening from Easton to come forward.
The woman at the door stops searching when her eyes land on Easton, turning to say something to who I think might be her husband. His gaze lands on Easton, and the two of them walk over.
Maybe they’re just big fans? Or… holy shit, this is it.
Easton straightens. I hate seeing that fun-loving guy disappear.
Tanner bangs on the table, and I pass him another puff while watching the scene unfold in front of me.
I’m not sure why it took now for that beanstalk of jealousy in my stomach to grow from a seed to a vine.
This woman was with Easton. Intimately. Just as I’ve been.
I always knew the score with Easton, and it never bothered me.
So why do I want to scratch out Lila’s eyes or dismember her memory of her time with Easton?
Not a good sign since that makes my jealousy less about Tanner and more about Easton.
Lila stops at the edge of the table, the man at her back. “Hi, Easton.”
He shifts in his seat, standing. “Lila?”
I bury my head in the laptop while peeking up to see.
“Yeah, this is my husband, Mike.”
Easton’s gaze falls to the baby carrier. Mine does too. He holds his hand out to Mike. “Nice to meet you.”
The husband shakes his hand but says nothing, turning to his wife. “I’ll get you your tea.”
He walks away, and she looks around before sitting. The carrier faces me, so I inch up on the seat to get a glimpse. My eyes widen, and I lower my head, giving my attention to Tanner when I really want to say holy shit, were you a twin?
“Thanks for meeting me,” Easton says.
“You were pretty persistent.”
“I wanted to ask if you were… I mean…” He leans forward. “We hooked up, right?”
She blows out a breath. “I tried to strip it from my memory, but yes.”
Easton’s shoulders lose their tension. “I just had to ask because you look a little different than I remember.”
She tilts her head. “Well, that’s what happens when you have a baby.”
Easton’s eyes widen as if he assumes she’s the one, but I want to jump in and say she has another baby. And unless she’s doing a Parent Trap thing, the baby isn’t yours.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to be insulting. You’re still beautiful, I mean…”
“Spare me the meaningless compliments. Why am I here?”
Easton sips his coffee again as if he’s buying himself time.
“Do you have some STI or something that you have to disclose to all your partners?” She touches the baby carrier.
Mike returns with two cups, placing one in front of her with a packet of sugar and milk, then sitting next to the baby with his own drink.
It looks as awkward as the conversation sounds.
“No, I don’t have anything. I’m sure you’ve seen the internet stuff.”
“I try to stay out of your world now.”
Man, she’s bitter. What did Easton do to her?
Easton sighs. “Well, someone left a six-month-old baby at the bar under my condo.”
“I don’t even know where you live, Easton.” Her voice has a frosty edge.
He runs his hand through his hair, and I think there’s a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. I wish I could be next to him right now, seeing him through this like he did me at my mom’s house. “It’s kind of… well… a lot of women know where I live.”
“The Dugout,” Mike says. Lila whips her head toward him in disbelief. “What?” He raises his hands. “You know I watch baseball.” He glances at Easton. “Big fan…” Lila’s eyes widen and her jaw sets. “Of Hayes Carlisle.”
Nice save, Mike.
“Listen.” Easton sits up and puts his forearms on the table. “I’m not here because I have an STI or anything, I’m just trying to track down who the mother of my son is. And the timeline for us matched up.”
Lila sinks back in her chair. “Well, sorry to tell you, I got pregnant from another one-night stand.” She eyes Mike. “One month after us.”
Mike lifts the carrier, and okay, upon closer inspection, the baby is a tad younger than Tanner.
“I won this lottery,” Mike says, putting the carrier back down.
“And we got married before she was born. So, I am not the mother of your baby.” She takes the lid off her tea and puts in the sugar and milk, stirring it.
Easton looks deflated, finishing off his coffee, and his gaze falls to me. I offer him a comforting smile. Lila catches it and follows his line of vision.
“That’s his wife,” Mike says.
“How do you know so much about him?” Lila’s clearly annoyed.
“Well, I didn’t know you slept with Easton Bailey until two days ago. I can’t unknow things that I read online.”
Lila crosses her arms and huffs.
I’m not sure why she’s so mad, honestly. Maybe she was hoping for something more after their hookup and Easton didn’t deliver? But it wouldn’t be like him to promise her a future he knew he wasn’t ready to give. Besides, she’s married now with another man’s child.
“Hi.” I wave like an idiot.
Easton stands and pushes in his chair. He tosses some money on the table. “Thanks for coming and being straight with me. And I’m sorry for whatever I did to make you hate me. This should cover the coffees.”
He moves to walk over to me, and I hurry to get Tanner out of the high chair and pack up so we can make a quick getaway.
“Sorry,” Lila says. “I don’t know why I’m mad.
I just… I was scared when you called and wanted to meet that maybe you did have something sexually, and…
the what-ifs. But…” She looks at her husband, who offers her a smile, and his hand rests on her forearm.
“I do hope you find his mother, and I’m glad you finally found someone you love. ” Her eyes meet mine.
My heart drops to the depth of my stomach.
Easton doesn’t smile. “I’m happy for you too.”
He doesn’t confirm us, and he doesn’t touch me.
Because we’re not real.
Lila Mercer doesn’t know that he doesn’t love me.
And I shouldn’t be upset because I definitely don’t love him.
Right?