“I’m not trying to be mean, man. But, are you sure that she even likes you?”

I just shrug and shake my head at Ryan’s question, because honestly, I have no fucking idea right now.

My eyes land on her, in her tiny green bikini, laying back in a chaise lounge chair next to Laci, deep in conversation, and laughing every so often.

And paying me absolutely zero attention.

When my friends arrived, she was very warm and welcoming, introducing herself and Jackson with smiles and offering beverages.

But since she’s settled into the lounge chair, she’s barely said two words to me.

I know that she’s pissed off at me over the car, but for real.

I’m not even remotely budging on that.

No fucking way is she driving around with Jackson in that deathtrap that she was trying to call a car.

No fucking way.

“I mean, she’s fucking hot.  I’ll give you that.” Ryan’s eyes flick over to her before landing back on mine. “But don’t you think maybe you should focus your time on a woman that doesn’t hate you?”

“That’s the thing about it. There’s no one else in the world that I want to focus my time on. I don’t think that she hates me, but I know for a fact that she’s super pissed off at me right now.”

“What’s she got to be mad about? She’s living here with you in this house, spending her day lounging by a pool, getting to drive around in a brand fucking new Land Rover? Jesus, dude. What else does she need from you?”

I glance back at her, before sighing hard and shaking my head.

“It’s not even like that. At all. She’s currently pissed off about the Land Rover, and as far as lounging by the pool? The only way I made that happen was to get Jacks hyped up for it. She pretty much can’t resist him, so.” I shrug. “I’ve been using it to my advantage.”

“She doesn’t want the car?” He gives me a surprised look, before glancing briefly at Laci and Avery, who are deep in conversation behind us.

“Nope. Not at all. Said I should just return it because she’s not driving it.”

“Maybe she’s just saying that.”

Yeah, right.

Avery is a lot of things, and stubborn as hell is most definitely one of them. There’s no fucking way she’s driving that car unless hell freezes over.

Which is probably more likely than the other.

I just shrug, offering no other explanation, when Ryan shakes his head.

“If that’s all real? If she really doesn’t want that kind of stuff from you? Well, fuck man. Better try to keep her around, then.  Because it’s damn hard to find a woman not trying to use us for our money.”

“Obviously. All I’m doing is trying.  And getting fucking nowhere.”

“Why’d you guys break up in the first place?”

I blink, before shaking my head, ready to tell him that it’s none of his damn business. Also, because I hate to even let the truth leave my mouth.

I’m ashamed of the things that I did to Avery in the past. Repeating them forces me to remember that they were real, and not just a figment of my imagination.

Even though I know that I’m not that guy anymore, still.

Repeating them sure as hell makes me feel like the biggest piece of shit on the planet.

“You ever think, you know, what if Audra came crawling back to you? What would you do? Would you consider it? Do you think that you could give her another chance?”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Audra, as in, my whore of an ex-wife?”

I nod.

“Man, over the years, you’ve asked me a lot of dumb ass questions, but that one? Takes the cake. In case your memory is lacking, let me remind you that Audra cheated on me. With, like, everyone.”

“I know.”

“Then why would you...” Understanding dawns in his eyes, and they widen. The look of disgust on his face is plain as day, as he snorts and shakes his head.

“You didn’t.”

“I did.”

He snorts again, before glancing back to Avery.

“How many times?”

“More than once.”

“And she knows?”

My face is grim as I nod.

“Yes.”

“Huh.” Another snort.

He’s silent for a while, focusing his attention on the kids, who are splashing around the shallow end with Jake.

“Did you at least man up and tell her?”

“Not exactly.”

“Huh.” He repeats, before becoming silent again.

“Remember how you found out about Audra?”

His head snaps in my direction as he narrows his eyes.

“That’s how she found out. Showed up one day to my dorm unexpectedly.”

He shakes his head before letting another disgusted sound out of his mouth.

“Yeah. You ain’t getting her back.”

“I still love her.”

“That’s great, bro. But some things can’t ever be forgiven. And I’m pretty sure that is way up there on the list of things unforgivable.”

“But, in my defense, it was six years ago.”

“I don’t care if it was sixty. You may still love her, and hell, she may even still love you, which I kinda doubt since she doesn’t even look at you. But that doesn’t change what you did.”

“I sincerely regret telling you all of this.”

“Listen, Waynsie. I’m not trying to judge you here. You fucked up. It happens. But you have to remember that sometimes, wrongs can’t be righted. No matter how badly you want to.”

I pause for a second, hesitant to share, but desperate to plead my case.

“We made love last night.”

He snorts, before shaking his head.

“Obviously, made her all warm and fuzzy towards you today, right?”

I glare at him.

“Listen, maybe you made love? But to her, it might have just been a hookup. Don’t get too ahead of yourself here. If that girl decides to give you another chance? You’re gonna have to work for it. But I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”

“Too late. I’m not stopping until I win her back.”

“Good luck, brother.” He shakes his head, before focusing on Isaac.

“Daddy! I want you to come swim with me.” Isaac’s little voice rings out, as he kicks hard and paddles to the edge.

“You do?” Ryan grins down at the boy before jumping into the water and splashing everyone.

“Ass,” I mutter underneath my breath as the boy’s laughter rings out.

“Daddy. You come in too.”

My head snaps towards Jackson, who is now paddling towards me.

Did he just...

I glance back to Avery, who is now sitting up on the chaise, her eyes wide as she looks between the two of us.

“Did he...” Her words die as Jackson reaches me and grabs my hand.

“C’mon daddy. Come swim with us.”

Ryan’s eyes cut towards me, and he shakes his head, from inside of the pool. I watch as his eyes dart behind me, towards Laci.

But I only pay attention to him for a second, because it’s impossible to focus on anything besides the fact, that those words just left his lips.

My heart?

Well, fuck. As I stare down at the little guy, who looks so damn much like Avery, staring up at me with his wide eyes and innocent smile?

Well, my heart about explodes.

And then to hear him call me daddy? I may not be his dad, but, if all goes well with Avery then I will most definitely get that honor.

“Ok, buddy. I’m coming.” I tell him, before taking a step back and jumping in, making sure to get most of the wave on Ryan.

When I surface, Avery has moved to the edge of the pool, watching us with huge eyes.

She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t have to. The look on her face is enough to let me know that she is not ok with any of this.

**

“I THOUGHT THAT WAS fun. Did you have fun today?” I glance over at Avery, who has been quieter than normal since everyone left.

“Yes. I did. Your friends are great.”

“Yeah, they are.” I nod, before grabbing the last of the glasses off the table. “They’re all good peeps.”

“They seem like it.” She murmurs, before turning and heading into the house.

“Seems like you and Laci hit it off. Maybe we could hang out with them again sometime. You know, like a double date or something.”

“She is great.” She nods, before tossing a quick glance back at me. “But no double dates.”

“Single dates only then? That’s fine with me.” I smack a kiss between her shoulder blades. “I love having you all to myself.”

“Enough already.” She mutters, before stepping into the kitchen.

I simply smirk at her backside, continuing to follow behind her, taking my time, enjoying the view. She glances at me over her shoulder and simply just shakes her head.

“You’re being creepy again.”

“I tend to do that.” I flash her a smile. “But only when it comes to you.”

She completely ignores me.

She loads the last of the glasses into the dishwasher before turning and heading towards the doorway.

“Well, I’ve had enough fun for one day. I’m going to go to bed.”

“Ave’s. Holdup.”

I step in front of her and she sighs, looking completely deflated as I reach out for her.

“Baby, what’s the matter? You’ve been acting weird ever since...”

“Ever since Jackson called you daddy?”

“Yes. Ever since that.”

She shakes her head before looking away. “How am I supposed to act about that? I don’t like it if that’s what you need to hear. I don’t like it one bit. He shouldn’t be calling you that, and you shouldn’t be letting him.”

“Ave’s.” I grip her arms tighter. “Baby. Look at me.”

I lean down, trying to get her to make eye contact with me, before having to resort to leaning her against the wall and caging her in.

“Seriously?” she mutters, before rolling her eyes. “Enough of all of this. And please. Stop calling me baby.”

She turns her head away from me as I press my body in closer to hers.

“You think just because you’re bigger than me that you can make me do what you want. I hate that.” Her arms fly to her chest, and she continues to look away.

“Fine. Don’t look at me. But at least listen. I love you, Avery. I have always loved you, and I always will. And I love Jackson too. He’s an awesome kid. I’m trying hard here, baby.”

She growls, making me chuckle.

“Listen. I’m trying to show you that I’m different. Why won’t you give me a chance?”

“You don’t deserve another chance.”

“I know that I don’t. But that’s not going to stop me.”

This makes her eyes snap to mine.

“Why Eric? Why now? I just don’t understand you. In the last six years, you haven’t tried once to track me down. Haven’t uttered a single word of apology. And now, here you are, trying to convince me to believe you and to give you another chance. Another chance that you don’t deserve.”

“I know that. You think I don’t fucking know that I don’t deserve another chance? But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to try.”

“Why?” She turns her head towards me, cutting her eyes at me. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Because I love you. I fucking love you so damn much, and even though I don’t deserve it? I’m gonna work really hard at this. Because I’ve never wanted anything in my life more than to be with you. You have to know that.”

“Well, I don’t know that, Eric. All you’ve been trying to do since I got her is control me and every situation. You use your body against me, and...that’s bad enough. But now, using my son? That’s just low. Even for you.”

“I’m not...”

“Yes, you are. You can’t even say it with a straight face. You are totally trying to use Jackson to win me back. And anyways? I don’t even know what this is. Is it a game to you? Try to win back the one woman that you can’t have? Because I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why you had to come back into my life and try to shake things up. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to get over you the last time?”

She blinks hard before finally closing her eyes.

“Eric, you broke my heart. I loved you, and you threw me away when something better came along. The hurt you caused me? It’s the kind that I can never forget. Ever. And I refuse to let you cause that kind of hurt to my son. Because unlike a lot of these people? I know you. I know how selfish you can be, and I have had to witness first-hand what it feels like to see you only think of yourself. And I cannot do that again.”

“Baby. I know that I hurt you...”

“Do you really?” She opens her eyes slowly, before finally meeting mine. “Do you know? Because I really don’t think that you do. You don’t understand what that kind of hurt feels like, because you were so quick to throw me away. But Eric, I remember. And my heart will never be the same. I will never be the same. Your love hurts. And I refuse to do it again.”

“But last night...”

“Last night was a mistake. You caught me at a vulnerable time. I had too much to drink and then, of course, you used your body against me. And I have a hard time resisting you. I always have. I gave you my body last night Eric, but that’s it. You’ll never have my heart again.”

Her words slice me, deep down into my core.

And they hurt the most because I know that she means them.

“I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“Just say that you will stop. That you will let me go about my business here, and that we can forget that last night happened. Say that you will correct Jackson if he calls you that again. Say that you can stop doing this, otherwise? I will quit, for real this time. Because I can’t continue on like this.”

**

“REAL NICE, WAYNSIE. I can’t even believe that you would have a party and not invite me.”

“It was a family party, Brock. It wasn’t like you would have had fun anyways.”

I’m so not in the mood to talk to him. In fact, I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone.

I want to just sit here, and mind my own business, sulking in the fact that I will probably never be able to win Avery back.

I thought that I had her where I wanted her. I totally did.

After we made love?

Well, fuck. I was pretty sure that would have sealed the deal.

Turns out Avery used me...and that knowledge?

Really fucking sucks.

“I create fun.” Brock mutters, making the dugout groan.

“The fun you create gets people into trouble. Nobody wants your kind of fun.”

“Are you kidding me?” He rolls his eyes before reaching down and grabbing his glove. “You guys just don’t know how to have fun. That’s the problem. If you did, you would always want to hang out with me. Because my kind of fun is epic.”

He starts to ramble on about something else, when Jake jumps to his feet.

“The fuck?”

He slides his phone open before typing in a number furiously.

“What’s the matter, man? Everything ok?”

“Fuck. I don’t know. My phone just tracked Laci at the hospital.”

“You track your wife?” Ryan’s eyes widen. “Dude. My wife was a fucking whore and I still didn’t track her. That’s kind of creepy...no, actually?  That’s really fucking creepy.”

“My wife is eight months pregnant, asshole. You’re damn right I track her. I don’t care how creepy it is.”

“He’s been tracking her since before he knocked her up.” Brock mutters with a smug smile. “He’s just playing it off like it has anything to do with Brock Jr. It doesn’t. Jakey’s just a class one stalker.”

“What in the fuck is going on?”

I’m assuming Laci answered, because Jake’s face is bright red as he nearly yells into the phone.

“Why are you at the hospital?”

He listens intently before glancing up at me.

“What? Oh...shit.”

My heart plummets to my feet. Jake snaps his eyes off me, but it’s too late. His face gave him away, and I know...I just know that it has something to do with Avery.

“Baby, I can’t do that. He’s right here, he’s already got his freak out face on. It’s...I’ve got to tell him. Just calm down.”

“Tell me what?” I’m already standing about an inch from Jake, my heart beat thundering in my ears.

Jake holds up a finger to me before finally sighing and handing me the phone.

“Listen, man. Just don’t kill the messenger, ok? It’s not Laci’s fault...Avery didn’t want you to know.”