by Faye Byrd
“I thought it was just my good looks,” he jokes, but I’m not in the right frame of mind to laugh right now. “So, uh … I guess, um,” he stutters, motioning down the hall.
“Wait.” I find my voice just as he turns to go.
He pauses and eyes me warily.
I take a deep breath. “I need to speak with you privately for a moment.” It’s all or nothing, and when it comes to Cameron’s health, nothing isn’t an option.
“Sure,” he replies with a nod. “When?”
“Now.”
9 MERGE AHEAD
Trystan
I follow her into the stairwell having no idea what the fuck she wants. She’s probably going to ream me for visiting Cam, but I didn’t do it on purpose. As soon as my eyes landed on the colorful Metro University Pediatric sign, my feet started automatically moving in that direction. A simple question at the visitor’s desk gave me his room number and floor.
Standing in that open doorway and laying eyes on my sleeping son almost knocked me off my feet. Even if I wanted to forget all about this and run home to Blake, I could never. I have two sons now, plain and simple.
I was so focused on him that I didn’t even notice the young woman who was approaching me. “Excuse me, sir, what do you think you’re doing here?” she demanded as she marched across the room.
I tried to wipe the tears from my face. “I’m, uh, sorry. I was walking and just ended up here.”
As she got closer, her eyes widened. “I take it you’ve talked to Easy then?”
I nodded, still staring at my son. “A little.”
“And was it a good talk?” she prodded.
I met her eyes. “I think so. I’ll be bringing Blake here as soon as I can.”
Holding out her hand, she said, “Hi. My name is Amelia Preston. I’m the best friend extraordinaire.”
I offered her the nicest smile I could come up with and took her offered hand. “Trystan. Trystan Ashby.” I take a deep breath. “The father.”
She smiled and motioned toward Cam. “Would you like to sit with him for a few minutes?”
The relief I felt at that moment was unmistakable; she was going to let me near my son. My approach was tentative, as I had no idea what to expect, but I just took the chair and stared. The peace of that moment can never be duplicated.
Amelia stayed at the doorway for a few minutes before walking over. “I’m going to get coffee. Sit with him until I’m back?” she asked.
The smile I gave her was award winning. I’d sit with him all day if she’d let me.
When his eyes opened, I was nervous, but his curious manner put me at ease within minutes. Our conversation began almost instantly and jumped from subject to subject with no real rhyme or reason, but I didn’t care, he already owned me.
However, following Easton down a couple flights of stairs, I find myself reconsidering my actions. I should’ve waited until she was there to take that liberty. It was hers to give, not mine to take.
I’m fucking shit up already.
When she feels I’ve been sufficiently tortured, she stops and turns. “Have a seat, Trystan. This might take a minute.”
I raise a brow but comply without opening my mouth. I lower myself a couple steps up from the platform she’s standing on. It’s in between floors, so there’s not a door where an instant interruption can occur.
She fidgets with her hands, not quite knowing where to put them, before crossing them over her chest, fists tightly balled.
She’s nervous, not pissed.
Interesting.
Then it hits me. She probably wants to know about Blake. I’ve seen Cam–met him, talked to him–and she knows nothing about Blake. I immediately want to ease her mind.
“Easton, I know why you asked me here and don’t worry, I’m all for it,” I assure her.
Her eyes go wide. “You do? That damn Amelia, I’m going to kill her!” She’s pacing now, mumbling to herself.
I hold up my hands. “Hey, hey, calm down. There’s no reason to be upset. It’s a good thing. The right thing to do.”
She stops pacing and studies me carefully. “Just like that? No questions asked?”
I’m not sure exactly why she thinks I’d give her problems about bringing Blake here. It’s the only thing to do in this situation. Besides, I’m not ready to leave Cameron anyway. “Why wouldn’t I do it? It’s the best thing for all of us.”
She sighs. “I don’t know. I just thought you’d have questions, at the very least, and even considered that you might refuse.”
“Did I make that bad of an impression? Do you think I’d be so cruel?” I ask her sadly, looking at the floor.
She squats down in front of me to gain my attention. “No, Trystan, I’m sorry. It’s one thing when it’s anonymous, but asking someone you’ve barely met makes it worse. I didn’t know how you’d react. I mean, how do you ask someone you just met to make a baby with you?”
“What!” I jump up, making her have to catch herself to keep from landing on her ass. “What the fuck do you mean make a baby with you?” Now I’m the one pacing back and forth on the tiny landing space.
She rises quickly and steps in front of me, stopping my forward motion. “You said you knew what I wanted to discuss. You said it’s the right thing to do,” she expresses, as if I’ve already made a commitment and she expects me to follow through.
“I meant bringing Blake down to Atlanta. I had no idea you were thinking crazy shit!” I all but yell at her.
She takes a step back. “Oh, of course. Th … thank you. I can’t wait to meet him.” Her voice cracks on the last words. She turns away from me. “Do you still intend to do that now?”
My shoulders sag, all the anger fading away. “Of course I am, Easton. You have a right to know him, and truthfully, I don’t want to leave Cam.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “See, you felt it! You have to understand, then. I need to do whatever it takes to give him the best chance. We need to do whatever it takes.” Her voice is filled with hope and determination. A deadly combo. But there’s another emotion simmering in her eyes.
Excitement.
The thought that maybe I’m just as crazy as her.
I allow my mind to wander down that road.
Can I do that?
Can I make another child in hopes of saving one I already have?
There’s no way I’d want to trade sons with her, give each back to their rightful owner and walk away. Blake is my son, that’ll never change, but he’s also hers. I see it every time I look into her eyes. Cam’s her son, but he’s my mini doppelganger. We’re connected for life. Bound by this horrible circumstance. Can I actually think about adding another child to that mix? One that is half mine and half hers? One that could possibly save Cameron’s life?
I allow my eyes to peruse her, to take her in slowly. Starting from her feet, I work my way up. Though she’s short compared to my six foot plus frame, her legs are long and slender, leading to a blossoming ass that’s perched just below a small waist. Her chest is ample, enough to entice me thoroughly, and her locks are long and wavy, some shade of light brown that fades to purple toward the ends. Her complexion is pale with light pink tinted lips, but it’s those fucking eyes that do me in. They’re so fucking familiar and filled with so much hope that I just want to do anything to please her.
She’s a stunning woman, and her willingness to do whatever her son–my son–needs, makes her even more attractive to me. Blake’s already been burned by one mother, but seeing Easton be a mother to Cameron has given me hope. It’s already clear that Blake will be the luckiest boy in the world to have her in his life, and so will any other baby. I realize then that I can do this. I can share another child with this woman if it means saving the one we already have.
Approaching her, I leave only centimeters between our bodies. “Is this what you really want, Easton? You’re sure about this?” I ask softly.
She doesn’t shrink back but looks at me with fi
erce determination. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
I push even closer still, backing her into the wall. My hands find her hips and my lips lower to her neck. They skim up–goosebumps rise as a whimper escapes. I meet her eyes. “Whatever it takes,” I agree, returning my lips to her neck.
“No, no, this isn’t what I meant.” Her mouth protests, but her body complies. She cranes, inviting me closer.
“Isn’t it?” I whisper, allowing my tongue to leave a trail of fire along her already heated skin. My knee slides between her legs as my hands start their journey up her luscious curves, pulling her even closer.
No space left between us.
“I … I …” she breathes out, unable to communicate more.
“Shhh, Easton, I’ve got you,” I soothe, all the while seducing her with my body.
The heat building between us is natural, easy, not forced or strained. My lips burn their way up her neck and down along her jaw. When they finally meet hers, they touch, tentatively at first, a small nip to test the waters.
Her eyes go wide. “Stop! What are you doing?” She pushes me away.
“What do you mean what am I doing? This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” I pull my hand through my hair, trying to calm my overheated body.
She looks horrified. “No, well yes, I do want to make a baby, but not like this!”
Fucking women, you can’t get a straight answer out of them. “Look, I don’t know what the fuck you want from me then. One minute you want to make a baby and the next, you’re pushing me away. Just spit it the fuck out. What do you want from me?” My voice is deadly calm. With everything else I’ve learned today, I can’t handle much more of this bullshit.
Redness fills her cheeks, and her fists ball at her sides. “Look, you fucking idiot, first off, even if I did want to make a baby with you like this”–she motions between us–“I’d never do it in a stairwell at the hospital where my sick son is.”
I laugh loud and harsh, interrupting her rant. “You didn’t seem to have much problem with it a few minutes ago.”
She shrieks, and it’s a loud piercing sound. I cover my ears and look around, hoping no one rushes in thinking I’m trying to kill her. “Get over yourself, Trystan,” she spits before turning to stomp up the stairs. When she gets to the next landing, she stops and turns to me. “I don’t know why I even bothered.” With an eye roll, she’s out the door.
“Fuck!” I slap my palm against the wall. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I pitch a hissy fit right there in the stairwell, smacking and hitting the wall.
I can’t win for fucking losing. I don’t know how to be a man in this fucked up situation. I don’t know how to react or what’s expected of me. I don’t know where I’ve been or where I’m heading. It’s all a jumble of uncertainties spinning around making everything seem off kilter.
My whole life has been blown apart in one single day.
There is one thing I am certain of, though, and that’s Blake. I need him with me ASAP. With that in mind, I start making my way back to my hotel room. Fuck Easton and her crazy schemes. I’ll try and talk with her again when she’s calmed down, but right now, I need to break the news to my family.
“It’s about damn time, bro,” Coop says into the phone.
I chuckle, and not because anything’s funny, but because he thinks he’s been put out. I’ve had the most unrealistic day imaginable. “I had shit to take care of. Sorry, man.”
“So it’s taken care of then? You’re coming home?” he asks.
I prop my elbow on the table in front of me and rub my forehead. “It’s not that simple. This won’t ever be taken care of.”
“Fuck, man, has that woman gotten to you? Now you’re the one talking in riddles,” he whines.
I sigh. “I get it, but some things are just hard to say.”
“Well, just spit it out. It can’t be that bad, right?”
I snort. “You have no fucking idea.”
“All right, I don’t, but that’s because you aren’t telling me jack shit! Just say it, whatever it is, and we’ll handle it together,” he demands.
And I get it; this was me a couple days ago, talking to Dr. Scott. Only now, I’m the one who has to share the news, over the phone no less, with my brother. He’s my person. My closest friend and brother all wrapped in one.
“You want me to say it, Coop. You want to hear the news I came to Atlanta to learn? Once you hear it, it can’t be unheard,” I warn.
“Say it,” he insists.
I scrub my hand into my hair and make a fist, hoping the pain will help ease the sorrow of saying the words out loud. “Blake’s not my son.”
He laughs. “Come on, man. Stop this bullshit.”
I stay silent.
“Trystan?”
I grip tighter. “I told you.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yep, and I can’t even say I wish I wasn’t. I met him, Coop. I met my biological son.” I smile just remembering the moment he opened his eyes. “Just standing in the doorway, gazing at him as he slept, was enough to convince me. Then, when I sat beside him as he opened his eyes–my eyes–there was no mistaking.”
“While all this sounds lovely, you need to start from the beginning,” he breaks into my reverie.
So I do.
I tell him everything. He stops me and asks a million questions along the way, but eventually, he gets the full story, right up to me leaving the hospital. When I’m completely done, he sits quietly, allowing his mind to wrap around everything I just said.
“Is she hot?” he finally asks.
I sputter. “What?”
He chuckles. “You heard me. Is she hot?”
“After all I just said, that’s your question?” I’m appalled.
“Well, it’s obvious from your tone when talking about him, that you know he’s yours, so that’s a given. You know the whole family will come down and be tested, that’s a no-brainer. I know you’re not planning on trading kids, right?” he prompts.
“No. Never,” I answer forcefully.
“Well, that’s the only thing left to ask. She wants to make a baby with you, and you tried to fuck her in a stairwell. I’d say my brother has the hots for his boy’s mom.”
I roll my eyes. “Coop, this whole situation is fucked up, and she just sprung that shit on me. I don’t know what I was doing when I did that. It just … happened.”
He barks out a laugh. “Because she’s hot!”
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up all you want. Look, I need you to do me a favor,” I say seriously, bringing us back to the important shit.
“Of course, you know I’ll do whatever you need.”
I’ve already decided what needs to be done and while it isn’t the most practical thing I’ll ever do, I feel it’s my only choice right now. “I need Blake here, pronto. If I need to come get him, I can, but I was hoping you’d bring him. But I also need Kari and the kids here for testing as soon as possible. I’d like all of you to come and stay for a few days later in the week maybe.”
“You know we’ll be there. Let me work it out with Kari.” He clears his throat. “You want Blake as soon as possible I take it?”
“Yeah, man, if you can swing it. I need to let Easton meet him, and honestly, I just need him close,” I reply, the thought of hugging my son tight making me emotional.
“Let me talk to Kari and look up some flights, and I’ll text you the information. Maybe we can come back for the weekend. What about Mom and Dad?”
I take a deep breath and blow it out. “I think I’m going to call and ask them to come down, too. They need to be tested anyway, and that way I can tell them in person. I really don’t know what to expect from them.”
“I hear you. I have no idea how they’ll react, especially given the last Atlanta debacle. You going to college and marrying Kennedy down there,” he points out.
“Thanks for the boost of confidence.”
He chuckles and lifts the heaviness
from the conversation. “Just keeping it real, man.”
I smile to myself. “That’s why I love you, and I’m going to miss all of you so much.”
“We’ll work it out,” he assures.
“I know we will. So you’ll text me the flight times?” I ask.
“Sure thing. Hopefully, we’ll be there by tomorrow night.”
Just hearing those words makes the ache in my chest lesson. “God, I hope so. Is the little dude around so I can talk to him?”
“Nah, man, sorry. Kari took the boys to a movie,” he answers.
“Okay, let me know your flight plans as soon as you can,” I tell him.
“Will do. I’m already looking them up, and it looks like there are a few tomorrow,” he replies
Just knowing Blake will be here soon sets my mind at ease. “All right, see you then.”
“Later,” he says.
After hanging up with Coop, there’s one more phone call to make, and this one hurts a little, but it’s necessary. My life just exploded, and everything that was is no more. My priorities have been obliterated, and I can’t even find it in myself to be bothered by it. I have so much more that matters now.
“Trystan?” Brandon questions when he picks up his phone. “I thought you were on a trip. Did you make it back early?”
I blow out a deep breath. “No, I’m not back yet,” I reply, pushing down the guilt I already feel. “I’m actually in Atlanta, and I don’t know when I’ll be making it back.”
“Okay,” he says slowly, not sure what to do with that information. “Did you need me to do something?”
“Brandon,” I say, hoping just to lay it out for him. “Look, something big has come up, and honestly, I don’t know when, or if, I’ll be back.”
The line is silent for a few seconds while he processes my words. “If? What the fuck does that even mean, Trystan?” His voice is snappy now, demanding a fucking answer.
“Shut down the restaurant,” I respond, my voice just as demanding. “Stop all progress. Don’t worry about staff or the remodel. Just shut it down.”
“What the fuck would I do that for?” he snaps.
“Because I fucking said so!” I bite back, and then I fucking sigh. “Look, call Coop, he can fill you in. I don’t have the energy to rehash it tonight. But, trust me, when you hear, you’ll understand.” I swipe end on my phone, and toss it to the sofa as I stand to pace.
