Middle Fingers Up // Billy Hargrove x Reader

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑻𝒀-𝑭𝑶𝑼𝑹

"You... have a kid," He states the obvious, showing how awkward he feels in that moment and it mirrored your own emotion. "So, you met someone. Congrats." His tone didn't match the dullness of his eyes, or the way his shoulders slumped.

You couldn't seem to articulate the words you needed to say, nor was it the right time to do so in the middle of a freaking store. "No," You tell him quietly, unable to avoid the piercing gaze he was drilling into you. Your chest hurt and you knew your hands were shaking as they held your son close to your hip. "Eddie?" He raises a brow, but not in surprise. Just curiosity.

"You know Uncle Eddie?" Theo beams up at Billy, seemingly warming to the man talking to his mom at the mention of his second favorite person. "Sure I do. Great guy," Billy speaks directly to Theo and it has you feeling a little protective. You wanted so badly to shrink away and not be here right now, facing your own lies. Well, you hadn't lied -- you just hadn't told him at all, and you felt guilty now that you were having to fess up.

"Not Eddie." You tell him, hoping he'll fill the rest in for himself. He was quiet for a moment, head tilting slightly as you watched the pieces fit together in his mind. He looked at Theo for the longest time, and then something changes in his expression. It dawns on him and he drops the bag of frozen peas he'd been holding as he takes a shaky breath. 

"Billy. This isn't the time for this..." You state, not wanting Theo to have his world rocked while out getting groceries. The proverbial cat was out of the bag and there was no putting it back in there, but you could control what came out and where from here on out. 

Billy just stood there, staring at an oblivious Theo. You duck down in front of him, feigning the best smile you could to make him feel at ease. "Baby, why don't you go grab some candy? You've been so good today, I think a bar of chocolate is much deserved." 

"Thanks, mommy!" He grins and wraps his tiny arms around your neck, planting a kiss to your cheek before he goes hurtling off to the candy aisle. His little curls bounce as he runs and Billy's gaze is fixed to him as he disappears. 

When he turns back around to you, he looks mortified. "I... is he..?" He could hardly speak, and was breathing heavily. The deep frown was permanent on his face as he stepped closer. 

"He's yours." You tell him, confirming his suspicions. His lips drop open once more and he steadies himself against the door of one of the freezers. "I--" The words die on his lips as he stares off in the direction Theo had trotted off to. 

Your chest felt heavy with guilt. All this time you'd told yourself Billy would want nothing to do with him and that Theo had enough people in his life to not need his father around. Now? You were starting to realise how stupid that was, and how it should have been Billy's decision, not your own.

Risking a step closer to him, your eyes begin to water with unshed tears that you force back. "Meet me tonight. I'll tell you everything."

"Where?" He speaks through gritted teeth, jaw tensing as he rights himself and stands up tall once more. "Skull rock. It'll be private there, so we can talk. I'll be there at nine." 

Of all the things you'd expected to do the next time you saw him - organising a private meeting in the middle of the woods wasn't among them. Still, he agrees and leaves you with a brisk nod and not another word, dipping to pick up the bag of peas along the way. 

You felt strange - like a heartbroken teenager all over again. He drew that out of you. You missed him so much and you hadn't realised that until the smell of his cologne hit your nose as you stepped closer. It had been so long since you felt anything for anyone and now it was all coming rushing back.