Page 109 of Baby Daddy
Brock’s expression softened. “Drake’s a big boy. His own person. He’s been rebellious his whole life. And sometimes he acts before he thinks…goes by his gut. He didn’t blurt out you two were engaged to please his father. He did for himself…because he really wants you in his life.” He took another chug of his beer. “Listen, Dee. You’ve got to stop playing the Kyle card. I’m pretty damn good at what I do, and with time, I’ll get him out of your life, once and for all. You know, as a lawyer, sometimes I have to be a psychologist. I have to figure out what makes people tick. What they’re afraid to admit. What walls they hide behind.” He paused. “Do you know what the wall you hide behind is called?”
With a sniffle, I shook my head. My eyes met his.
One word. “Fear.”
Bull’s-eye. An arrow straight to my chest.
My lips trembling, I simply nodded. Brock was right; I didn’t need a lecture. I’d lived my whole life in fear. Afraid to pursue my dreams. Afraid to stand up to Kyle. Afraid to leave him. Afraid to tell him my deepest, darkest secret. And now I was afraid to face the possibility of another man hurting me—and my baby girl—the way Kyle did. The long and short of it, I was afraid of falling in love. Afraid to admit it. But it was way too late. I was helplessly, hopelessly in love with Drake Hanson. My hand flew to my aching, breaking heart. I was bleeding tears.
“Dee?” The familiar but groggy voice of my sister spared me from saying anything. Wiping away my tears, I craned my neck and caught sight of her. She was wearing boxers and a tank top that showed off her lanky, toned body.
“I thought you weren’t coming back until early tomorrow morning.”
“We left early. I’m sorry; I should have called you.”
“Ty’s asleep?”
“Yeah, sound asleep.” It was too late to go into our disastrous trip to Vegas. And emotionally, I was too worn out to talk about it.
Lulu’s heavy-lidded eyes shot to Brock. “Baby, maybe you should go.”
“It’s okay, Lou. I already told him to stay. I’m going to hang out here and finish my wine,” I added, giving Brock no choice but to sleep with my sister. “See you in the morning.”
Brock smiled. “Thanks again. I promise to be out of here before you and Ty wake up.”
My eyes followed him as he ambled over to my sister and sweetly kissed her. Bidding me goodnight, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and ushered her back to her bedroom. A wave of sadness and self-pity swept over me.
I didn’t just finish the wine. I guzzled it. Drunk with emotion and overwhelmed with heartache, I once again did something I refrained from doing, living under the same roof as my daughter. Shoving down my jeans, I spread my legs and slid my hand under the waistband of my undies until two fingertips found my throbbing clit. Circling it vigorously like a finger-painting child, I fantasized about Drake and came in no time. Maybe I’d temporarily put out the fire between my legs, but the flames blazing in my heart persisted. Before I burned up with remorse and sorrow, I closed my eyes and let sleep consume me.