Ireland

I fell back to sleep after Easton woke me up with amazing morning sex. He's everything I want. Tender and gentle while still being rough around the edges. He takes care of me and he opens up, shares his life even after only a short time. It might seem too fast for some, but we've spent more time together than most couples in their first few months of dating. We've just done it all at once.

The sound of his voice wakes me fully, bringing a smile to my face as I see him pacing the room. He's on the phone with someone.

"Did he like it? I thought it'd be a good surprise. I can't wait to see him. Yeah. Tell him I love him and I'll see him soon."

My heart lurches at first, but then I remember him talking about his brother. Maybe he's got a family gathering planned for after this trip. He seemed to really love his siblings. I close my eyes again, not wanting him to think I was eavesdropping. The bed dips and he leans in to press a soft kiss to my temple.

Then he leaves and I hear the bathroom door close and the shower start. I stand and run to my room, grabbing a nightgown and robe I'd brought when I wasn't sure what we'd be doing during this week. My hair is a curly mass of frizz and tangles. Decidedly not sexy. I pull it all up high on my head into a top knot and rush to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I'm going to make this man breakfast, then let him make love to me on the kitchen counter.

As I mix the pancake batter, my phone rings from its place on the charger in the kitchen. I ignore it. Nothing is more important than being here with Easton. But the damn thing rings again. And again. I finally pull it off the charger and answer.

"What?" I say, knowing it's Summer.

"Did you see?"

I roll my eyes. "See what, Summer?"

"The article."

"What article?"

She takes a deep breath, lets it out, and says, "I'll send it to you, but I think you were right to be worried about Easton in the beginning. He's... well, I think you should read the article."

Dread curls in my gut. "Summer?"

"Just... read it. Call me if you need a ride home."

She hangs up and my phone pings with a text alert. With my jaw clenched tight, I click the link and begin to read.

Easton Harrison's Secret Double Life--Exposed

Easton Harrison, most commonly known for his swoon-worthy songs about love and loss comes across as the most eligible bachelor; the perfect man all women want in their hearts. But sources close to the star say things aren't always what they seem. After extensive investigation, it appears that until Harrison landed his big record deal three years ago, he wore a very different label. Daddy. That's right, ladies. Easton Harrison is a dad, and by the looks of it, a deadbeat. Sources say he doted on his son, now seven years old, until making it big, when he abandoned him and left without so much as a visit.

I can't read any more. My stomach turns and I feel like I'm going to be sick. There in the picture is Easton holding a little baby with a blue cap. He's smiling brightly with a hospital bracelet on his wrist. They don't give those to visitors. That's the kind of thing you get when you're staying for the long haul. When you're the kid's dad.

I toss the unused pancake batter in the sink and head back to my room. Easton catches me up in his arms in the middle of the hall, a lazy smile on his face.

"Hey, baby, where's the fire?"

"Get your hands off me. I'm going home."

His eyes widen with alarm before his brows furrow. "What's going on?"

"This isn't going to work. Take me home or I'm calling a car."

"Ireland. Tell me what this is about?" He holds my upper arms in his big hands, a slight note of panic in his voice.

"This is about you being so much worse than what I feared you'd be."

I wiggle out of his grasp and he runs a hand through his still damp hair. "I don't understand. How did I fuck this up between this morning and the shower?"

I want to give him the chance to explain, to tell me the truth. "Is there anything about your life you haven't told me? Anything important?"

He stares at me, his expression going hard. "No. Nothing."

That's it. I'm done. "I really believed you when you said you'd never lie. God, I was an idiot."

I slam my door and fight the sob building in my chest. Without a second thought, I text Summer my location and get started packing. I pull on some clothes and get everything squared away in record time, seeing Easton's shadow under my door the whole time. He knocks on the door, calls my name, begs me to talk, but I'm not falling for it. I'm not falling for him. Instead of taking the front, I leave through my sliding glass door. Easily opening the gate and walking away before he can even realize I'm gone.

Maybe it's an overreaction, but I've been lied to and screwed over before. I won't let it happen again.

It takes me close to ten minutes to get to the outer gates of this community and the whole time I'm worried Easton will come find me. He doesn't, not until I see Summer's car pull up. Then Easton speeds toward me, determined and desperate.

"Ireland, please."

"Save it, Easton. Keep your money, I hope you write your album."

He frowns and steps out of his car, but I'm already in Summer's car, heading back to my real life. Chest tight with tears, I hold it in, not wanting to cry in front of my cousin. But when she turns her gaze on me, I lose it. Fat teardrops run down my cheeks as the loss hits me full force.

"I'm sorry, hon," she says.

"I was stupid. I shouldn't have let myself start feeling things for him."

"You started feeling things the moment you saw him."

I sniff and take a shuddering breath. "I did."

"Do you love him?"

Love him? God, do I? "I don't know. How can I love someone who would say his kid wasn't important?"

"Maybe there's more to the story."

"The picture was clear, Summer. He was there, in the delivery room, bracelet on his wrist, holding that kid. I normally wouldn't believe a story like that, but it was obvious."

"God, I'm just... I wish this turned out different for you."

"Me too."