“So, you want him to be a father to your child, be your best friend, and warm your bed at night, but you don’t want to have a relationship with him?” My eyes widen. “Don’t look so surprised. No one comes home from work looking like they just had great sex. We could tell and considering you lied, we knew it had to be him.”
My shoulders sag. I ignore that they apparently knew and focus on what he said before that. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Stop being stubborn, Syd. He’s the only one you’ve ever wanted. He hurt you; you’ve hurt him. Consider yourselves even and move on. If he can get over you keeping the Savannah secret, then jump on the opportunity he gives you.”
“Since when do you even like Ian?” None of this makes sense!
“Since I realized hoping you wouldn’t was hopeless. Besides, if he makes you happy, then I guess I can live with that.”
I laugh at his answer. “Good to know.”
“And he’s a pro athlete which means he makes a lot of money. Let him take care of you and Savannah.”
“You had to go and ruin it, didn’t you?” I don’t want anyone to take care of me and I don’t care if Ian has money or not. I’d much rather he be good to Savannah and me.
“Hey, I’m just saying it would be a perk. When does he get back into town?”
“Monday, I think.”
“Then you tell him that you two need to talk and I’ll make sure Savannah is taken care of. You need to figure things out between the two of you and you can’t do that with her around. Go on and text him right now.”
“And say what?”
“Just hand me your phone.” I don’t know why he says this because he reaches over and plucks it off the table before I can hold it hostage. “I’ll do it myself.”
“I think I liked you better when you were Anti-Ian.”
“And I think I liked you better when you were happy and fucking him. Time to get y’all together once and for all even if I have to help. There you go.” He gives me my phone, so I can see the text he sent.
Me: Ian, I’m sorry. I miss you. Can we get together, just the two of us, when you get back?
He shouldn’t have sent the text because now it’s going to be
agony waiting for him to respond. Not to mention that he might say no. Ian might finally give up on me after what I’ve done.
God, I hope not.
We’re on a bus on the way back to the hotel after the game. I’m checking my phone as Scotty takes a seat next to me. There’s a text from Sydney, but I put the screen to sleep and look to Scott.
“What’s up?”
“I, um, first want to say that I’m sorry I’m about to turn into my wife, but it’s one question and I’m only looking out for you.” I don’t like where this is going, so I brace myself. “Are you sure Savannah is yours? I don’t know much about your situation, but—”
“I trust Sydney more than anyone else,” I interrupt to answer him.
He nods. “Okay. That’s good enough for me. I also wanted to give you this in case you might need it.” He hands me a business card for a lawyer. “He’s a fantastic guy, and I can promise that if you tell him you want everyone’s best interests kept in mind, then that’s what he’ll do. He could answer any questions you may have or do whatever you may want him to do. Just tell them I referred you and his assistant will be sure to get you an appointment.”
“Thanks.” I slip the card into my wallet, wondering why in the world Scott knows a lawyer who deals with family situations and has his business card on hand. Maybe there’s something about him and Sylvia that I don’t know.
“No problem. If you need any help in the parenting realm, I’m around for that, too. She can hang out with the girls, if she wants.”
“Thanks.” Then, I realize I do have a question. Probably not the one he’s expecting, but it’ll do. “I was wanting to maybe teach Savannah how to skate.”
Scott starts nodding. “I’ll text you where Stella gets her lessons.”
I nod because I’m tired of saying thanks. Scott returns to his seat and I finally read Sydney’s message. So, she wants to get together. Now that she might lose me, she finally wants me? I scoff. We arrive at the hotel, and I think about this screwed up situation as Zane and I walk to the lobby to wait for the elevators to decongest with people. What’s fucked up about this situation is that both of the people I would discuss this with are the people who screwed me over to start with.
Dad is on the shit list until further notice. It’s somehow easier to shut him out than to do the same thing to Sydney. Dad and I have always had a good relationship, aside from the past few years when he would comment his disapproval over my relationship with Sydney. She’s been the only point of contention between us. That and the fact that now that I’m older I have less to do with my mother and my sisters, who turned out just like my mother. We don’t talk about them that often, though.