Justice Falling (Falling #3)(22)

My lip shook. I held in my emotions. “Yes.” It came out in a whisper, but I meant it to sound strong and confident.

“You really are as sweet as a gumdrop on Sunday morning in the sticks.” He took a deep breath. “What in the world had you in such a tizzy?”

I shrugged.

“Oh, no.” He pointed his finger and swung it into a circle in front of my face. “You are not getting out of this convo. We were having a good time, ‘bout to get our Tasty Thai on, then sexy Brit shows up with equally steamy Tyler and you freak out. Bat-shit crazy.” He pinched his lips then continued his rant. “And I’m not leaving here until you tell me why!”

My mouth opened and closed. I didn’t know where to even start. Thoughts of Nate and Tyler were spinning a vortex of regret and fear through my mind, blurring the edges of my vision with unwelcomed tears. Regret that I’d ever been with Tyler and the unwelcome realization that he hadn’t changed one bit in the last five years. Worse was the fear that dug into my heart like an icepick. He’d tell Nate about our past. It made me feel dirty, as disgusting as bugs crawling all over my skin.

Oliver took one look at my face, grabbed my hand, pulled me out of my chair, and yanked me into a hug. I didn’t know how to react. I hadn’t been hugged by anyone other than Jin in years. The tears returned and slid down my cheeks wetting his designer suit as I gripped his back. He stroked my hair, pushed me away from his body holding each bicep. “Sweetie, you can trust me. Whatever it is. I’ve got your back.”

“I had a relationship with Tyler. Years ago.”

“Honey, I think everyone at the table gathered that.” He moved his hands up and down my arms. It felt nice, calming. Normal even. I’d never had a male friend. Hell, I didn’t have any real friends besides Jin. I had mutual acquaintances at the diner and at Gems with the other girls.

“Was it a bad breakup?” I was grateful he spoke. I had no idea how to start. Thank God, Hank was still out and he wasn’t seeing this.

“Yeah, Oliver. It was real bad.”

His eyes narrowed. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not in the way you think. He didn’t hit me, though he wasn’t a gentleman.” He nodded and waited patiently. I looked around the office. Everything was quiet. People were still at lunch. “If I tell you, you have to promise me…”

Oliver gripped my hands tightly. “Cami…not a word. I’ll breathe not a word.”

“Even Mrs. Jensen?” He looked down, guilt covering his serene face. Then he took a deep breath and nodded. “Tyler and I have a history. We were only together for a short time. I got pregnant.”

Oliver’s eyes widened the size of silver dollars.

“He told me to get rid of it and gave me ten thousand dollars to make the problem go away.”

Oliver gasped. “That two-bit, skanky shark, preying on a sweet young thing. You must have been so scared.”

I nodded. “Without going into details, I found out he’d been cheating on his wife with me. Got me pregnant and wanted me to get rid of it. He gave me money and pushed me out the door.”

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry you had to do that, go through that. I can’t imagine having to have an abortion, and do it all alone.” He wiped the tears from my eyes. I shook my head.

“You don’t understand…” My voice cracked, and I swallowed the giant lump that had been built with years of fear and loathing of Tanner’s father.

“What don’t I understand?” His soft brown eyes filled with sympathy and indignation. Oliver was a gentle soul. A genuine human being with a huge heart. I could see why everyone loved him. It was hard not to.

“I didn’t do it,” I whispered and sucked in a sob.

“Didn’t do what?’ His face held confusion as he studied me and held my hands.

“I didn’t have an abortion.”

Oliver’s mouth dropped open, his brows raised in high triangles. “I have a son.” He blinked as if he’d just woken up. “Tanner. He’s four.”

“Holy Mother of God. Fuckin’ hell. I did not expect that.”

I pulled away from him and crossed my arms, hugging myself.

“Does he know?”

I shook my head.

“Does Nate know?”

Again, head shake.

“Does anyone know, Cami?”

“It’s nobody’s business!” I fired back.

“You’ve been raising a child…that rich skanky shark’s child, for four years alone! In New York Mother Fucking City?”

“Yes,” I spat. “Keep your voice down. It’s nobody’s business but mine. I didn’t plan on ever seeing him again. He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me. Called me a whore and claimed the baby wasn’t his! I was eighteen years old; I had no idea what to do. I took the money. I’ve been raising my boy alone ever since.”

Oliver shook his head back and forth. “This is too much, Cami. You should be getting support from that bastard. How are you able to live?”

“That. Is. Not. Your. Concern.” I bit out each word slowly. I hoped he’d hear me and feel the words deep down to his shiny wing-tipped shoes.

He took a deep breath just as the door opened and Hank strode in. “Hey, Buddy, how goes it?”