Page 6 of Second Chance Baby

Then he’d blown his ACL, which had required surgery and rehab, so he’d had to change his football career plans. Even then, we’d been so good together. Most of our friends had split up with their significant others during college, but not us. He’d worked construction to make some cash, doing his best to make ends meet. I’d gone to school for early childhood education, and I’d worked as a teacher at the nearby Catholic school.

As his plans had changed thanks to his injury, he’d had to find a new road to take.

He’d ended up taking a trip with his buddies to New York City while I was teaching. Then he’d been spotted by a talent agent, and before I knew what was happening, he was receiving a slew of big-time contracts.

Back then, his excitement had been so contagious. Thinking of only doing the best for him, I’d chosen to shove down myfeelings about wondering if we’d, you know, get married. He hadn’t mentioned it beyond it will happen someday, of course, and I didn’t want to risk holding him back from chasing his new modeling dreams after football hadn’t worked out.

Then I got pregnant.

I’d been so confused how to handle things. I’d grown up as one of two daughters with a single mother diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My dad hadn’t ever been in my life, so at first, my fears had made me assume Travis wouldn’t be into the baby. Kids had also been a nebuloussomedayplan.

And my mind had been full of the awful things my callous mom had made me believe far too young, and the idea of early parenthood had scared me shitless.

But Travis had dived in with both feet, loving being a father with a zeal I’d never expected.

From the day Carrington had been born, the two of them had been so tight. So bonded. And all I’d felt was anxiety. Hormones and postpartum depression had hit me hard, leaving me an overemotional mess.

By the time I’d started to get beyond that haze, Travis was looking at me differently and talking about hitting the road soon to take some of the farther-flung modeling jobs, since more availability meant more cash.

I’d let him go, since I didn’t know how to build…anything. Here I’d grown up in this idyllic small town of babies and families, and I felt utterly clueless with a tiny infant who depended on me for everything.

There I was, barely in my twenties with a little girl and my boyfriend was just…gone.

The next time he’d come home from shooting in the city, he’d seemed like a new person to scared, overtired, hormonal me. Uber confident, hot as hell, and his wallet fat from the shoots he’d racked up. He talked about buying property in the Cove,and I’d gone along with it, not feeling really involved or like much more than a temporary babysitter for my own child.

We had a giant blowup about everything and nothing, and I screamed at him that maybe it was better if we took some time. Created some space. I hadn’t really meant it. I was just frightened and overwhelmed after spending so many nights all alone with my crying colicky baby.

Mostly frightened.

I’d wanted him to love me more than anything, the way I loved him. To want me most. Not just because being together was what was best for our little girl. Of course, I wanted to put her first. But I ached for him to love me like he loved Carrington and not just out of duty.

Somewhere we’d grown all the way up overnight, and I was reeling.

At a loss, I left the Cove and Travis in my rearview. Being tall and blond along with being blessed with the metabolism of youth, I’d followed his lead and scored plenty of modeling work. I visited Carrington every time I could make it home, but he never seemed interested in even speaking to me very much, never mind dealing with the rift in our past.

We were just over. Mostly due to me and my hasty panic-based decision.

Travis was a beloved single dad in a town of many young, single ladies. I was sure they were all too happy to keep him company on the nights he left his adorable baby girl in the care of his doting mom, JoAnn Masterson, the perfect mother and grandmother.

I was a model with a thriving career who secretly wanted nothing more than to build a life with my child and her daddy.

The man I’d loved since just about the first time I ever laid eyes upon him.

And now I was going to see him again in mere minutes. No way was I going to retreat behind my safe walls. He wasn’t my erratic, changeable mother. Early on, I’d learned to protect myself from her wild mood swings by acting indifferent. But I absolutely was not.

I had to figure out some way to show him that.

Nerves buzzed under my skin. Had I made a mistake doing this shoot? Here in my hometown, just like the good ol’ days.

Except not.

“Bridget? Earth to Bridget.”

I looked up to find Drake in the doorway.

“How are you doing, darling? You looked stressed.”

I gave him a smile that I hoped passed for relaxed. I hated when he called medarling. I’d forgotten about that part. “Sorry. Fighting a headache.”