Chapter Five
Tris didn’t know what to think or feel or do.
He stared at the woman who’d kept him awake more nights than any firehouse shift and wondered why the fuck he hadn’t thought he could be responsible for the babies in her belly.
Jesus Christ.
His babies!
“I’m sorry.” Cov reached out a hand but didn’t touch him.
“I’m not.” He stepped forward, the move pressing her hand against his chest. “I’ll never be sorry about anything that’s happened between us.”
“I…” She swallowed, her eyes going glassy. “I didn’t know where you were.”
Shit. He’d left her. Spent the night with her then left town never to be seen again. It didn’t matter that they’d used protection and there shouldn’t have been consequences; there were, and the babies were the least of those.God. They had history—a relationship—and he’d turned his back on it because of a few words she’d said while in an emotionally raw state.
He’d been an ass.
“I lied. I’m sorry for one thing.” He couldn’t resist pulling her into his arms. “I should never have left you.”
“You didn’t have any reason to stay.” She sniffled against his chest and he hoped he wouldn’t need another shower.
“I had plenty of reasons to stay.” He wanted to tell her how he felt but he wasn’t about to get into their complicated relationship in the back of Sue Ann’s Café where anyone could listen in. They’d be fuel for the gossip mill soon enough. She tried to pull out of his arms but he held tight for a moment longer.
“We should talk about—”
“Not now. Food first, then groceries, then home.” Plus he needed time to think.
“Why aren’t you angry?”
Good question.
There might be some anger swirling around in the kaleidoscope of emotions currently tangled inside him but it wasn’t at her. Nope. That was aimed squarely at himself for letting his wounded pride keep him from going back after she’d thrown him out.
“There’s nothing to be angry about. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I didn’t tell you,” she argued.
“And you didn’t know where I was. What did you do when you found out I was in Hope Falls?”
“I packed up as quickly as I could and came here.”
Tristan smiled. Dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “You think about that and let me know if you still believe I have reason to be angry about not knowing before now.”
“I don’t understand you.” She pulled away and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I didn’t exactly tellyouyou’re the father.”
“I am though, right?” Suddenly he needed the words. To hear her say those babies were his while looking him in the eyes.
“Yes, they’re yours. You’re the only man I’ve slept with in six months.” She ducked her head.
“What?” That couldn’t be right. She’d been engaged to Dirk… That fucking asshole. If ever he showed his face in front of Tris again he’d find it full of fist.
She sniffed and rubbed her nose again. “Dirk wasn’t interested.”
Fist followed by fist followed by boot. “That fucker,” he growled under his breath.
“It wasn’t Dirk’s fault.”