Chapter Six
Winter couldn’t hide the tears from her son, no, their son. Felix was the product of both her and Jay, though she didn’t know it at the time when she returned home. She was on the pill, but little did she know that the migraine medication her mother gave her stopped her pills from working. She had suffered from migraines since she was a kid, and so it was normal to get medication from her parents, even back then. Who would have thought one stupid pill could cancel out the other? But, she wasn’t going to cry over spilled milk. If anything, she couldn’t be happier about the mix-up. She had Felix, though it was without the help of her parents who tried to “send her away,” and come back transformed or even get rid of him altogether. Hell, at one point they tried to sell her off to Travis before she started to show, and then trap him with the pregnancy.
Looking at her sweet boy, he looked so much like Jay. All but the eyes, he had her eyes, and that was the one good trait she liked about herself. He smiled and clapped his hands as he danced in the playpen. Felix was such a good baby; she couldn’t even imagine her life without him.
It wasn’t that she was upset with having him or Jay finding out about Felix. She was not happy that Jay had questioned whether she knew which he belonged to. As if she was some bar hopper who jumped from bed to bed, or to find a way to trap a man. No, if anything, she was the opposite. The shyness with her was real when it came to men. That night, she felt desperate to be rid of Travis, and to see what normal looked like without her family hovering and telling her they were beneath her.
No, she was happier now, though she was colder, and her hand hurt like hell. That would have to be something she just dealt with until Felix went back down for a nap. It was easier when she could distract him with cartoons before they moved up to the cabin, but Opal didn’t have a DVD player to play his movies.
So that meant wearing his little butt out playing before she could step outside and cut more wood. However, she wouldn’t be able to focus from the pain right then until she took something. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but Jay made her feel like a giant baby for crying out loud when the stupid wood went into her hand. She had dealt with a pregnancy that wasn’t easy and ended in a C-section, all alone, and then trying to deal with a colicky baby on top of it all. Then coming home one day to find their small studio apartment had been burglarized had sent her spiraling downhill. So, she was left with the last idea she could think of—sell everything she could and come to the first town that had made her feel safe. Who would have thought it was going to be the very place Felix was created? Subconsciously, she had known she would come here. It made her feel at peace and safe, and she wanted to start painting again.
The day Felix got sick, she was down to her last few dollars when she took him to the doctor and met Opal, who had been her saving grace. Helped find her a small job and watched him while she worked, as Winter tried to save here and there when she could. She was good with money, thanks to the years of hiding it from her parents when she wanted to buy art supplies and studio time to paint. So she cut back on things she didn’t need, such as cable, and only used the “pay by the minute” type of phone. Since it was only her, she was able to keep costs down. As long as she had internet and power, she could make it work. The good part was that Felix didn’t eat much yet, so she could live on peanut butter and jelly, and sometimes canned ravioli, too. As long as Felix had enough to eat, she would make do with what she could afford.
Felix babbled about something and ran the cars up and down the little table, laughing as he crashed into her car. He kept pointing to her hand and offering to kiss her boo boo, but she declined and offered her cheek instead. When it looked like he was getting hungry, Winter tugged out the small high chair and made him lunch of macaroni and cheese that Opal had left them.
While he ate, she tugged on her jacket, going outside to snag the few pieces of wood she had cut to keep them warm until his nap. However, when she opened the door, she was shocked to see a giant bundle of wood sitting on her step. Jay must have left it for her, and her heart softened at the gesture. It would be enough for today and tonight at least. It definitely bought her more time, for sure.
Taking the bundle inside, she placed the logs by the fireplace and sighed. Things were going to be strange, living close to Jay. And if she ever got a chance to talk to Opal, she planned on giving her a lecture about meddling with her. Opal asked many times about the father, and each time she told her she only knew his name and that was it. He hated her, and she never knew how to get in contact with him. How was she supposed to know that he was Opal’s nephew, of all people?
Smiling, she ruffled Felix’s hair. No matter what happened, she wasn’t going to fail him. Her son was her life, and if that meant dealing was his ass of a father, then she would do that, for him.
****
Winter had thrown him for a damn loop. Not only was she staying at his aunt’s rundown cabin, but she also claimed she had his kid. He’d fucking asked her about birth control. He hadn’t been with many women without a condom before, but something about her innocence and softness drew him in and made him lose his fucking mind. It couldn’t be his. Shit.
Turning his truck, he went down the path, needing a drink. He got to Woodpecker’s a short time later, parked, and made his way inside. It wouldn’t hurt to eat dinner as well.
Sitting at the bar, he placed an order for beer and burger. As he nursed the drink, he looked around. Many women started filing in like they normally did at night when looking for some company. However, he wasn’t in the mood for them. None of them had the same appeal that Winter did. They were all skinny, which isn’t a bad thing; however, it didn’t hold the same appeal it had before. He knew he liked to fuck rough, and if they couldn’t hold his interest, not only in bed but mentally, they didn’t work for him. Sure, he had done the one-night stands before, and truth be told, he didn’t care too much. Just as long as they didn’t cling to him for more. With Winter, he actually was interested in her a lot more than he probably should have been. Hell, he hadn’t even known her last name when he bedded her.
And look where that got him. He had finished his food before he decided he didn’t want to go home right then. He wanted to drink, and piss the night away. Going home would only let his mind wander with too many what if’s, and stew about how close Winter was to him again.
Jay was only down three shots and his second beer when the asshole of a prick came walking in, taking a seat next to him.
“Hey.” He said before ordering a beer. Jay nodded back, ignoring him. The tequila was starting to affect him before he ordered another. Neither man said anything until Jay couldn’t take the silence.
“Did you fuck her?” He wasn’t sure why he blurted it out as he had, but Jay needed to know.
“What? Fuck who? You need to be more specific, because I have tapped just about every hot piece of ass in here, twice in some cases,” bragged Travis. Fury set in his eyes as he wanted to fuck the ever-loving shit out of the weasel. He needed to know if Winter was telling him the truth. He had seen for himself that his arms were around her when he left the last day in the hotel.
“Winter. Winter Stevens.” Throwing back another shot, he let the burn roll through him, bracing for the answer.
“Ya know, since you seem pretty shit-faced, and I don’t give a shit about you or your fucking little land, though you should’ve let them buy it already and take the money and run, but that’s your shit call. But no, that’s one piece of ass I didn’t get to. Not for lack of trying. Even took her out a few times, but in the end, she didn’t want me. I tried even kissing her, and she slapped me. Like she could find someone better than me with her looks. It doesn’t matter now, though. Heard she got kicked out of the family for something. Figured she either got into drugs, married below her class, or got knocked up. Some shit like that.” Travis kept talking as if he liked to hear the sound of his voice. However, Jay felt like a piece of shit. He just accused Winter of being a slut, when he knew in his heart she wasn’t, and now he had confirmation of it, too.
“Fuck.” He slammed his fist down on the counter, making the shot glasses jump. He needed to talk to her, apologize, and then find out what she wanted to do about the kid. No. His kid. God damn it. He had a kid. A son. He didn’t know how to be a father. What the hell was he going to do?
Throwing some cash on the bar, he paid for the drinks and walked out the door. It was dark now, and he had a few too many to make the trek back to the cabin. Woodpecker’s was known for having cabs free for men, such as himself, who needed them after a night of drinking. One reason he liked the town and the crime rate was always low. He would have to pick up his truck tomorrow morning before he made his apology to Winter. Maybe some wood would help ease the hurt he’d caused. Hell, if he had it his way, he would get them to move into town, where she and the baby would be safe.
Scrubbing his hands over his face, he tried to calm himself. Life sure as hell flipped its fucking switch on him the moment he picked up the damn phone. Aunt Opal knew how to play people. Score one for her, and zero to him.