The After of Us (Judge Me Not #4)(15)

“I figured that based on Lily’s age.” Chase snorts. “But how’d you end up with her? Cassie’s just A-Okay with you taking her child to another state?”

“Uh, I don’t think she cares one way or the other.”

“What does that mean?” Chase looks worried now.

“Well,” I breathe out. “Good ole Cassie paid me a visit late Thursday night. Guess she heard I was in town and decided it was finally time to let me know I’ve had a daughter for the past five years.”

“Shit, Will.”

“Oh, and there’s more. She gave me Lily.”

“Gave you Lily? Will, really, what the f*ck does that mean?”

I lean forward and brace my elbows on the breakfast bar. Lowering my head to my hands, I say, “Cassie is a f*cking mess, Chase. She’s a total addict these days. I could tell she was high when she dropped Lily off. And she just pushed her on me. What was I supposed to do?”

I look up, and Chase is shaking his head. “Jesus.”

“I know, right? I had no choice but to take Lily. I tried denying it to myself, but then I kept looking at her eyes.” Chase nods, agreeing that the matching color is uncanny. “Even so,” I continue, “I kind of panicked and asked a friend to rush a DNA test.”

“And?”

“Lily is definitely mine, Chase.”

“Does Mom know?”

“Hell, no!” I let out a snort. “And I don’t intend to tell her, not yet anyway. She’s on that extended vacation, so that’s kind of good. I’ll just deal with her when she gets back.”

Chase is well-aware our mom is a spaz, so he doesn’t argue with me on that point.

“So,” he says slowly, “what are you planning to do now?”

“That’s just it, man. I can’t do this dad thing all on my own. I start that new job on Monday. And, I know nothing about kids.” I wave my hand in the direction of the driveway. “You saw me down there by the car. It takes me ten minutes every damn time to get Lily in or out of that damn car seat. Every question I have on what to do with her I have to Google.” I pause and rake my fingers through my hair. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you ahead of time. I admit that was a shit move. But, Chase…” I trail off, swallowing the lump that’s forming in my throat.

My brother places his hand on my shoulder. “Hey, you don’t have to figure everything out today.”

“Thanks, bro.” I let out a breath. “I knew you’d understand.”

Chase pulls me in for a hug and hell if I don’t need one right about now.

“Hey,” he says, patting me on the back. “Everything will work out. It always does, Will. I’m glad you came to me. We’ll get through this together, as a family, okay?”

“I had nowhere else to turn,” I admit, my voice catching.

“It’ll be okay,” Chase assures me as we break apart and step back. “But, for now, let’s head on over to the house so I can get to know this little niece of mine.”





Will



Chase grills up some burgers and Kay makes homemade French fries for dinner. Damn, those two sure know how to cook. I dig into the meal with enthusiasm, as does Lily.

I don’t know, though. Jack and Sarah seem to pick at their food. And Kay and Chase take normal bites. Maybe Lily and I are just famished. After all, the past couple of days have been too hectic to eat a whole lot.

Sitting across from me at the dining room table, Lily talks little-kid shit with her cousins. She’s not shy at all, lending further credence to Cassie’s assertion that our daughter is used to new people. Knowing that makes me glad Lily is away from her mother. Having Lily around family is one thing, and totally acceptable? but passing her off to supposed “friends”—who are probably more like strangers or, worse yet, drug acquaintances—is flat-out asking for trouble.

For not the first time in the past two days, I’m happy Lily is with me. And that gets me to thinking that I may not want to leave Lily in Ohio for the whole summer. Chase and Kay have no idea I plan to leave her with them at all, though, so I guess I may as well bring the subject up while everyone’s in a good mood.

“So…” I cough and clear my throat, garnering Kay and Chase’s attention. “I think we should talk about some things I’ve been thinking about.”

Chase eyes me warily. “Okay, shoot.”

I place the last of a damn good juicy burger on my plate and wipe my mouth with a paper napkin.

“I’ve been considering my options,” I begin. “And I think if I could leave Lily here for a couple of weeks, it might be enough time to secure some decent daycare for her up in New York City.”

Lily, who up till this point has been preoccupied playing—along with Sarah and Jack—with French fries that they purposely dropped on the table, looks over at me sharply.

“Daddy’s leaving me here?” she asks, her little voice stricken with panic.

Lily may be adjusting, and she seems to be getting along with Jack and Sarah well enough, but she clearly doesn’t want me to abandon her, like her mother just did.

“It won’t be for long, sweetheart,” I try to reassure her.

That just makes tears well up in her eyes, and an empathetic Sarah pats Lily on the arm and tells her, “No be sad, Illy.”