“I have a son?” A few little words and my head feels about to explode. “How could that be? We used a condom.” I search through my memories of the day we had sex, looking for a clue as to how she could have gotten pregnant, but I don’t recall the condom breaking. Could I have put it on wrong? A manufacturing error perhaps?

She narrows her eyes, confusion clouding her features. “I don’t know the answer to that question. All I know is that I got pregnant and you were the—” she chews on her bottom lip. “You were the first guy I slept with.”

Her revelation pushes me off the roller coaster that’s my emotions and I hit the ground hard. “I’m so sorry . . . I had no idea.” Now I feel like even more of a dick for fucking her and walking away.

She leans forward in her chair, her eyes darkening. “What game are you playing, Derrick?”

I push myself to my feet, plant my hands on the table. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that question?” Overcome with rage and confusion, I stumble back until my back hits the cool, metal railing of the terrace. My hands grip the railing so tight, the blood drains from my knuckles.

Brooke’s eyes widen at the same time her cheeks fill with color. Beads of tears tremble on her eyelids. “I don’t understand.”

“That makes two of us,” I shoot back.

“You knew about Eric.” She shakes her head. “Why the hell are you pretending not to know?” The hurt and confusion in her eyes and words gives me pause but I charge forward in my anger, seeing only red. I move forward again, grab the edge of the table. “How would I know? You never said a word. You went away, remember? You disappeared from Magnolia High without saying a word. So tell me, how exactly should I know about the pregnancy?”

She gets to her feet but sinks back into her chair, moving her hands up and down her upper arms, rubbing away the goosebumps. “I told you.” Her whisper is broken. “I told you, Derrick.” Maybe she thinks if she repeats it enough times, I’ll believe it. The only thing it does, is infuriate me even more.

I pull out my chair hard and crash into it. I grab a cup, fill it with coffee and drain it while it’s still a bit too hot. If only the caffeine could drive off the headache erupting inside my head. “Repeat that. Repeat what you just said.” I lean forward, barely seeing her through the sudden blur in my vision.

“I said I told you and you didn’t want to be involved. You said you had other plans for your life, that you were not ready to be a father.” She grabs a napkin and blows her nose then crumples it in her hand, clenching it tight.

I swipe a hand across my mouth. “That’s ridiculous. How could I have said those words to you when we didn’t talk since—”

“You said it in a letter.” She jams a hand into her bag and pulls out a clear bag with torn papers inside. A knot at the top keeps everything contained.

She dumps the plastic bag on the table and points at it with a trembling finger. “There, those are your words.”

My phone rings as I reach for the bag. Cursing under my breath, I pick up. “What?”

“Hey, Derrick, it’s me, Bryant. Why the fuck won’t you pick up your calls? I’ve been trying to reach you all morning.” Bryant’s voice sounds strained on the other end.

“This is not a good time.” I grit my teeth. “I have a life, too, in case you didn’t notice.”

“Put it on pause. Lance needs you. He needs us.”

I rise again and walk over to the railings. My eyes focus on the spray fountain below. “What’s up with him?”

“He’s in the hospital. He overdosed on his pain medication.”

My hand clutches the railing as the blood drains from my face. “Is he okay?” My voice is a rumble inside my throat.

“He’s stable but he’s being kept in the hospital for the next few days for observation. I think we should all change our plans and get to Cabo sooner than planned.”

“You think it was intentional?”

“He says no, but who the hell knows? But it happened. Now we have to get through it as a family.”

“I agree.” I glance at Brooke for a moment before turning away again. “I’ll be on my way. Where are you?”

“We’re in Hawaii. But we’ll be leaving immediately.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You think he’ll be fine until we get there?”

“Jia is watching him like a hawk. I also had a chat with the doctors. He’s in great hands.

“That’s good. I’ll be on my way soon.”

As soon as we hang up, I call the LaClaire jet pilot. “Get the plane ready. We’re flying to Mexico. We should be in the air within an hour.”

After the call, I return my attention to Brooke. I’m still reeling from her news.

“My brother, Lance, is in the hospital in Mexico. I have to go and see him.”

“Sorry to hear that,” The dagger of steel has disappeared from her voice. “Go and be with your brother. There’s nothing more for us to talk about, anyway.”

“Wrong.” I pour myself another coffee and down it. “My driver will take you to your place. Pack a bag, get my son, and we’ll continue this conversation on the plane.”

“That’s not possible. I have—”

“I don’t care what you have to do. Make it happen. You owe me that much. If it’s work you’re worried about, I’ll pay you for your time.”

“Don’t you get it? I cannot go to Mexico with you.” She pushes back her shoulders. “I won’t put my life on hold because Derrick LaClaire demands it.”

“I’m paying off your debts. You no longer need that job.”

“I’ll be the one to decide that.” She runs a hand through her hair. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Fine.” Annoyance scorches the back of my throat. “Get on the plane with me—you and my son—and once we reach Mexico, you can either decide to stay in Cabo or the pilot will bring you back here. If that’s what you want.” I set my jaw so tight it aches. “This conversation is going to happen, whether you want it or not. Make sure you bring my kid.” Before I speak again, I run my tongue around my mouth to combat the dryness. “I also need your account details.”

To my surprise, she nods and pushes her chair back.

“One of my drivers is waiting for you outside the restaurant. I’ll see you at the jet in half an hour.”

Brooke doesn’t speak as she walks away without looking back. Watching her disappear into the restaurant, I call Bruce to give him the instructions.

My eyes fall onto the plastic bag with the torn papers. As though in slow motion, I lift it from the table, raising it to the level of my eyes, studying its contents without opening it.

Having no time to deal with this right now, I stuff it into my pocket and rush out of the restaurant and into the underground garage, where I’d parked my Mercedes E-class, three months ago.

As I drive through town, Brooke’s words ring over and over in my ears. Eric. Eric. Eric. I have a son and his name is Eric and I’m only finding out now?

One day of passion made me a father and I was none the wiser. I feel insulted and betrayed, but at the same time, the core of my heart is heating up with something I’ve never experienced before. Something warm, comforting.

I’d never planned on having children, not for a while at least. I’m only twenty-four, for God’s sake. But weirdly enough, I’m not reacting the way I thought I would in this kind of situation. Fear is the last thing on my mind.