Chapter 23

David

Allison and Sierra fell into my arms, and suddenly, it felt as though everything was right in the world. I knew I’d not only made Sierra happy but surprised Allison by showing up.

“I hope it’s still okay to come,” I said. “I wanted to call, but my phone’s been dead, and I left my charger in the hotel room.”

Allison’s eyes sparkled. “It’s perfect! I was so mad at you.”

“I’m sorry if you had to tell her I wasn’t going to show up. I didn’t mean to put you in that position.” I could kick myself for not calling from back at the hotel, but I’d been in such a hurry to make it back that I didn’t think to do it.

“No, I actually just got up the nerve, and here you are, so crisis averted.” She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, and then I felt a little hand tug on my belt.

“David, we’re having turkey like everyone else.” Sierra seemed excited over the traditional dinner concept, so I decided to entertain her.

“Well, that’s great. I love turkey.” I leaned over, and she wrapped her arms around my neck and squeezed it.

“I do, too, and my grandma didn’t make any cranberry this year.” She scrunched up her nose.

Allison led the way as we stepped up onto the porch. “She was going to, but she knows how much Sierra hates it.” She rolled her eyes, but I couldn’t help but think the child had my taste buds.

“Do you hate it?” I asked Allison, trying to remember if I’d ever seen her eat it over the years.

“I don’t hate it, but I could take it or leave it.” Her eyes narrowed. “I didn’t realize cranberry hate meant that much to you.” She chuckled, giving me the side eye.

I had to get out of my head with the comparisons, and I needed to talk to her as soon as possible about my suspicions, or else they’d make me crazy. Just because we liked and didn’t like the same things didn’t mean anything, just like Greyson had said, but the heart wanting something made it hard to be reasonable.

“You kids come on in,” Mrs. Beall said from the door. “Dinner is ready, and I don’t think I can keep my husband out of the turkey much longer.”

Sure enough, when we went inside the house, Allison’s father was standing in the kitchen, chewing and wiping his hands on a paper napkin. Allison’s mother just shook her head and put us to work setting the table. I had the honor of carrying the huge turkey, and when it came time to sit, the girls wanted me between them. I had a gorgeous woman on one side and the cutest kid ever on the other. Life couldn’t get any better.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of Allison and how great she looked in her jeans with her hair pulled up. The things I could do with that hair. I imagined myself fisting it in my hand and pulling her down onto my cock. Mrs. Beall cleared her throat and asked us to say grace, and I knew I was going to Hell. Now, it was official.

“Let’s all name something we’re thankful for,” Sierra said with a huge grin. “I’ll go first.” She turned her eyes to each one of us and then sat up straight in her chair. “I’m thankful for Mama, Grandma, Grandpa, and David.” Her giggle brought a smile to my face.

“I guess I’ll go next.” Allison cleared her throat and looked over at me. “I’m thankful for a wonderful new job and a wonderful boss. And for my loving family.” Her eyes twinkled.

She looked at me like I was supposed to go next, so I cleared my throat. “I’m thankful for old friendships rekindled and newfound friendships, too.” I looked back and forth between the girls.

Allison’s eyes burned into mine, and Sierra let out a soft giggle. Her parents went next, and when we were all done, we ate the delicious dinner. After we finished, we sat talking at the table until there was a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it!” Sierra jumped up, but Allison ran after her.

“Sierra, stop!” she scolded. “I’ve told you about running to the door. You don’t just open it up to anyone.” She walked to the door, and I watched her go, having a perfect view as she opened the door to find Doug standing on the other side of the threshold.

He was all smiles for his daughter, but his mood changed when he looked in and saw me. “What is he doing here?” He dropped Sierra’s bag on the floor and glared at me.

Allison forced a smile. “He’s a friend, and it’s not your concern.”

“I have a right to know who you’re bringing around my daughter.”

“David’s my friend, Daddy,” Sierra said. “He took me to Career Day.”

“Oh, did he?” Doug stepped into the house, and Allison stepped in his way.

Allison’s father stood, but I was already on my way past him.

“I got this.” The older man stayed with his wife, and I walked out onto the porch, pushing Doug out as I did. “Let’s take this outside.”

“Oh, look at this? Mr. Big Stuff, huh? You want to take this outside?” Doug walked out behind me and stopped in the yard. He was about three inches shorter, but he looked down at me like I was the smaller man.

Allison turned and brought Sierra into the house, and her mother rushed forward to take the little girl by the hand.

“You need to watch how you talk to Allison in front of her daughter,” I said. “As a matter of fact, you should just watch how you talk to Allison from now on, too.”

“I don’t give a shit about Allison,” he said. “She knows that, but you’re telling me how to act in front of my daughter. Who do you think you are? And taking her to school?” He looked around me to Allison as she hurried out of the house and stood between us. “You’re the same asshole, rich kid you were in school. You might think you could buy your way onto the teams, buy your popularity, maybe a piece of this slut’s ass, but you’ll never buy my daughter.”

Doug’s nostrils flared, and he stepped forward and swung. I ducked and caught his fist, twisting his arm behind his back.

“You need to leave, Doug,” I said. “Don’t make me kick your ass all over this fucking yard. Get in your fucking car and leave.”

I turned him loose, and his girl came running from their car.

“What’s going on, baby?” She glared at Allison, and then her eyes widened when she saw me.

“Get the fuck back in the car, Cindy.”

I had a feeling he didn’t talk to Cindy any better than he’d ever talked to Allison. She obeyed him like a dog and scampered away to stand by the car door and watch.

“If I ever hear of you treating Allison like shit again, I’ll break your fucking neck,” I said. “Are we clear, man?” I stared through him and thought of all the ways I’d like to end his life.

Doug looked like he was going to say something, but then his shoulders slumped, and all the fight went out of him. He slithered to his car, glaring at me and Allison the whole way, and then he and Cindy got in and drove away.

“Thank you, for sticking up for us,” Allison said. “I’m so sorry that had to happen. I really wanted today to be good.” She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

“I’m sorry, too. The guy’s a fucking loser.” It suddenly really bothered me that Allison could ever be with that asshole. How could she expose our child to the likes of him? Sierra deserved better.

Allison opened her eyes and stepped closer, rubbing my shoulders. “Yeah, I know. Thanks for keeping it together while Sierra was out here. The last thing she needs is to see her father get his ass beat.” She turned and looked toward the house and then down to her feet.

All the past days, the images of Sierra’s dark blue eyes, the fun we’d had at Career Day, the oatmeal and cranberries. It all came to a head in the worst way possible. The question I’d been dying to ask came rushing out of me.

“Are you sure he’s her father?” I snapped at her a little harder than necessary, but Doug had gotten my temper up.

Her eyes widened. “What kind of question—”

“Because if Sierra is my daughter, you should have told me!” I pulled my lips in tight, wishing I’d controlled my temper better, but I couldn’t pull myself together. The adrenaline still rushing through my veins made it impossible for me to calm down.

Allison shook her head in bewilderment. “Do you really believe I would keep something like that from you? Do you think I’m some kind of monster?”

I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to still my jackhammering heart. “Look, I need you to tell me the truth.”

“I’ve never lied to you,” she said. “I got with Doug not long after you left.”

I snorted. “Yeah, and what the hell was that about? That guy’s a real piece of shit. I can’t believe you got back with him.”

Allison folded her arms and stuck out her hip. “Hold on a minute. The only reason I got back with him was because you up and ran off to the Air Force again and didn’t even bother to call me and say goodbye.”

I threw my hands up in frustration. “You’re the one who kept spouting off about friendship the whole time we were together at the dance. If I had known you wanted me for more, I’d have asked you to wait for me!”

“I can’t believe you,” she said. “You’re the one who said you loved me and then left!”

“Yeah, because you didn’t say it back.” It had been the worst slap in the face. To say it and hope she’d say it back, only to be disappointed when she closed her eyes and stayed silent.

“I was scared. I was graduating, and you were already enlisted.”

“Fuck that. It’s in the past.” I wanted to focus on the future, and all I cared about at that moment was if that little girl belonged to the two of us. “What I want to know is, how long after I left was it before you found out you were pregnant?”

I was in her face now and demanding answers like I had a right. I didn’t want to fight. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her until we melded into one being. But I had to know the answer.

“You need to leave,” she said. “I can’t believe you’d come here and make this kind of accusation.”

“It’s not an accusation. I just need to know. How long was it? I’m not leaving until you answer me.” I took her arm to pull her close, but she pushed me away, then turned and walked into the house. She left me standing there in the fucking yard like the asshole I felt like.

As I went to get in the car, Sierra ran out, and Allison was on her heels, but only to pull her back.

“Don’t leave, David! Mama, why’s he leaving?” She covered her little face with her hands, and my fucking heart broke into a million pieces.

Allison pulled her back into the house as I turned out of the driveway and headed home. I punched my dash and shook out my hand. I wasn’t trying to fight with Allison, and I had not wanted things to end that way. Fuck! I’d been a fool. I should have used more tact, but instead, I’d gone total fucking caveman on her. Like she didn’t get enough of that shit from Doug.

I’d have to make it right, but for now, before I made it worse, I’d just keep driving. Things couldn’t have been any worse if I’d punched Doug in the teeth, and I wished I had.