Easton

Eric pulled up at the curb of the brand-new vegan place that had opened up. Easton hadn’t yet visited, but he’d heard amazing reviews of the food.

He entered in behind his friends.

In the corner, he noticed a child’s birthday party.

He ignored the chaos and sounds of kids. Since making his vow to be childless, he’d noticed kids were everywhere. He couldn’t get away from them.

They took a table as far away from the party as possible.

“What do you guys want?” he asked.

Easton got their orders, and Romeo decided to come and stand with him as they waited to be served.

The place was really busy, and the scents were spicy and garlicky. It was incredible. His mouth was watering.

The woman in front of him had beautiful blonde hair that reminded him a little of Scarlett. This woman’s hair had pink tips at the edges, and it was no longer down to her waist. The dress she wore was blue with multiple flowers on it. There was no denying the full hips and nice, curvy thighs.

Her ass wasn’t too bad either. It looked full and round.

Scarlett had been a curvy girl, but she’d been confident in her body. He’d seen her in a bikini as well, and she’d been so fucking hot. Some of the girls had tried to attack her with snide comments about her weight, but to him, she’d been perfect.

The smile as well. He would never forget that smile.

Telling the PI about her smile hadn’t exactly helped matters as the PI told him most girls you like have a pretty smile. His PI hadn’t been helpful, not even a little bit. His sarcasm was overrated as well.

“Thank you so much.”

The blonde turned around, and Easton felt like his entire fucking world had collided in on itself.

No way.

No fucking way!

The woman his private investigator was supposed to be finding, the one who he said was going to be so freaking hard to find, was standing right in front of him.

“Scarlett!”

“Easton!”

“Coming, Mom.”

Easton turned his head and watched as a black-haired kid with brown eyes came rushing forward. Glancing up at the banner, he saw it read “Eleventh Birthday.”

He turned back to Scarlett, who looked shaken.

“You two know each other?” Romeo asked.

“Mom, you ordered the chickpea patties, awesome.” The kid grabbed the tray, and Easton heard Romeo gasp.

“Oh, fuck. Tell me that I didn’t just see a little Easton.”

Easton looked toward Scarlett, who was staring at him.

“He came when you said Easton.”

She pushed her hair off her shoulder and stared right at him. “And?”

“That’s my kid,” he said.

“And?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.

“Do you guys really think you need to do this here?” Romeo asked.

“Why didn’t I tell you? You really want me to answer that in front of your friend?”

“That’s my son.”

“That is not your son,” Scarlett said. “You contributed to his DNA, but other than that, he is all mine.” Scarlett stepped right up to him. “Today is his birthday. You better not do anything stupid to spoil this for him.”

He didn’t get to say anything else as she spun on her heel, heading toward the party of twenty kids, boys and girls.

“Did I … what … I’m now officially confused,” Romeo said.

“Gentlemen, could you please make your order or allow others to,” the man behind the counter asked.

Stepping forward, Easton placed the order, and as he waited to be served his food, he looked back toward the party.

He had a kid.

An eleven-year-old kid.

A son named Easton.

“Come on, Easton,” Romeo said, grabbing his arm and helping him. They grabbed their order, but he couldn’t look away from the small group.

That was Scarlett. The girl from camp, and she had his son.

“What’s going on?” Axton asked.

“Erm, I don’t know if it’s my place to say anything,” Romeo said.

Easton couldn’t even think. That little kid. The one standing in the center of all of his friends was his son. Scarlett sat off to the side and clapped her hands. To anyone else, she looked calm and relaxed. He knew differently. She wasn’t calm.

Her gaze didn’t once drift over to him, but he had to wonder if she was aware of his presence as much as he was of hers.

This couldn’t be happening. Not right now. He had a son.

He and Scarlett had only been together a handful of times at camp. He’d been her first, and when the time had come for him to leave, well, he’d made sure she knew the truth about him and about their future together.

“That’s my kid,” Easton said.

All of his table looked toward the little boy.

“Holy shit, he looks exactly like you when you were a kid,” Axton said.

“I bet he’s bossy as shit too,” Karson said.

“How can that be your kid?” Taylor asked.

Easton looked toward Taylor. “Because Scarlett and I had sex.”

“He’s eleven. That must mean you didn’t wait long after Carla’s death to move on.” Taylor went pale.