“Tobias, Thomas Reid isn’t my father.” I swallow. “He’s my husband.”
CHAPTER 32
Tobias
The file slips from my fingertips, every paper inside it falling to the floor.
I feel like I’ve been sucker punched, right in the gut, in the temple, in the fucking chest.
An hour ago, I was confused, angry, and then I thought Bailey was mine, and somehow, through that anger and confusion, everything felt good. Better than.
I suddenly had all the things I didn’t know I wanted, but in the moment of supposed realization, couldn’t imagine life without. Now here I am, staring into the eyes of her mama and all I’m consumed with is loss.
How can sixty minutes’ worth of knowledge ache like a fucking lifetime of having something that’s suddenly been torn away?
I can’t breathe.
“I’m so sorry,” she rasps. “I–”
She cuts off when I hold a hand up, turning away from her ‘cause I need a fucking minute. I take several steps away willing my pulse to calm, my mind to chill, and my body to stop fucking shaking., but it doesn’t work.
Husband. She said husband.
My hand comes up to swipe at my face, and I glance at her over my shoulder. “You’re fucking married?” my brows climb. “You’re someone’s wife. Someone else’s wife.”
Her shoulders wing forward, and she shrinks into herself.
“I might be married to the man, but I’m not his wife, Tobias,” she whispers, her tone thick with shame.
“Oh, come on, Meyer.” I whip around to face her. “Don’t bull shit me, not right now.”
I’m angry, frustrated, but most of all I’m aching.
Everything inside me stings.
To know she loved before me, that she gave all of herself to a man that isn’t me, that she technically belongs to someone else, someone I too loved, has me feeling wrecked. Betrayed.
I never knew a heart could truly ache. I thought that was something people said.
I was wrong.
It’s real.
It’s fucked.
“Tobias,” she pleads, her tone as shattered as I feel. “I can promise you, whatever is going through your mind right now is nothing like the reality of the situation.”
“You could have told me. You should have fucking told me.”
She nods, tears pooling in her eyes. “I wanted to.”
“That’s not enough.”
“I know, I—” she swallows her excuse, and nods again. “I know.”
I look away from her, my head shaking as I try to understand, to process this.
It was one thing when I thought he was her father. I didn’t feel an ounce of betrayal, and I think that’s because the man was a great one to me, or I had thought. He filled the small gap my own left open when I decided to follow my dream. Knowing coach Reid did that for me and disregarded her redirected my anger. I was hurt for her, pissed for her, now I’m kind of pissed at her, a bit hurt by her.
The woman I fell in love with is married. She’s not free to love me back.
She’s not free to allow me to love her daughter.
Coach Reid’s... daughter.
I swallow, speaking that fact in my own mind has my ribs twisting, it’s as if some supernatural being has reached inside my body, grabbed hold and refuses to let go.
My eyes fall to the floor briefly, but then I do a double take.
Custody papers...
Why would she have these? She has Bailey already. She’s her mom. That’s her daughter.
Bending, I pick up a few of the forms now scattered around me feet, skimming over a few lines but I don’t understand what it’s saying.
And then I see the name next to the word ‘petitioner’, and it’s not Meyer’s printed there.
My skin prickles, my chest caving, and I shake my head.
A strong sense of dread washes over me, and my throat begins to clog as I force my eyes up to hers. “Baby...”
A softness sweeps over her features, and she gives a small, sad, side smile.
No...
I don’t have to ask, she tells me.
“Thomas had those drawn up. He, um,” her voice cracks. “He has a way of making himself clear, wants to make sure I know he’s not one to bluff.”
My stomach falls to my feet. “He threatened you ...with her?”
A small laugh leaves her, but it’s more of a cry, and her eyes flick to ceiling. Once they come back to me, the anguish within them burns through me.
I can’t take it.
I stand, go to her, and take her in my arms.
Her soft cries shake her body, and I squeeze her tighter.
“It’s okay,” I tell her, running my hands through her long brown hair. “I won’t let him do this to you.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” she breathes.
“Yes, there is. I can hire the best lawyer out there. I’ll spend everything I have coming. I’ll fucking give him everything. I don’t care. I won’t allow him to hurt you, to take her.”
She shakes her head, looking up at me with those big, brown eyes. “Tobias...”