Page 19 of Fighting Chance

“Nice deflection.”

“Right back atcha, Red.”

“No.” I hold up my hand. “Absolutely not. You will not call me Red, and stop ignoring the elephant in the room.”

“Truck.”

“Semantics much?”

“Persistent much?”

“When there’s a literal child involved, absolutely.”

Kieran bites the inside of his cheek before sighing. “I got a call this morning from a foster home in the city.” His eyes darken as a shudder rolls through him. “Emmy’s mom passed away. Heroin overdose.”

A gasp escapes me as horror slices through my veins.

Kieran’s head bobs up and down as if he’s agreeing with my reaction. “I feel like the biggest piece of shit there is because if I’m entirely honest, I don’t even remember her mom. I’ve been racking my brain all day, searching my memories for even a slither of resemblance but I’ve come up with nothing.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “Are you sure she’s yours?” I ask gently.

He flicks his indicator on as he rolls to a stop at a red light. “I’ve seen the DNA results. She’s all mine.” He barks out a short laugh. “Honestly though, I didn’t need to see the results. She looks like a mini version of me.”

“Except for the eyes.” Her eyes are all her. Shaking my head, his words finally process as he turns into the Target parking lot. “How did they run the DNA test so quickly if you only found out today?”

His body tenses immediately.

“Kieran?”

His head flops against the headrest. He laughs, but it doesn’thold any humor. “Pulling out all my deepest secrets today it seems, Red.”

“Layla,” I correct before fully turning to him. “You don’t have to tell me,” I offer softly. “I mean, you owe me nothing.”

He takes a deep breath before lifting those ocean eyes to mine, searing me to the spot. “They had my DNA on file because I…grew up in the foster home,” he whispers. “I was brought there when I was four.”

If I thought my heart had dropped before, it is nothing compared to this moment.

It feels like I’m riding a rollercoaster and we just plummeted down the face of the hill, my stomach rising into my chest.

I would have never known, would have never guessed by looking at him.

Although, isn’t that hypocritical of me? I’ve suffered from an invisible illness. Most people would never be able to guess that I’ve seen more hospital waiting rooms than I’ve celebrated birthdays. I know more than anyone that you should give people the benefit of the doubt because you never know what they’re battling. And yet here I am, shoving Kieran into the box of a playboy because it scares me how I feel around him.

Peering at Kieran, with his heart on his sleeve as he reveals a secret he no doubt keeps close to his chest I whisper the only thing that comes to mind, “I had no idea.”

“It’s not something I go around telling people.”

“God, Kieran, I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “Today must have been?—”

“A lot,” he finishes for me.

His weary tone has my heart pinching. His world just turned on its axis and if that wasn’t enough, having to pick up the daughter you had no idea existed from the same orphanage you were abandoned at would have sliced open every ugly wound that he’s tried to keep buried.

I sit up a little straighter. “You know what, you’ve probably been hounded with enough questions today. Mine can wait. Let’s go get your mind off things.”

I open the door but when I notice he doesn’t move, I peer overmy shoulder at him. He’s put his chin on his fist, a smile toying along his lips.

Frowning, I mutter, “What?”