It Was Always You

Chapter Ten

He sat there and watched her reaction. Once he started talking he couldn't seem to stop. It felt good unloading all the baggage that was his life, minus his daughter of course. He will be forever thankful that she came into his life when she did. Because of her it gave him the drive to do better than his mother ever did, and a father who was never present after their divorce.

She was slightly frowning since not once had she interrupted his speech, allowing him to unveil and unwind the emotional trauma he had gone through after everything became a mess. But she listened intently and with spark interest which kept him going.

"So, you were together with Mila, the one who just left a half ago, the one who is now married to your best friend?"

Heat races up his neck and onto his cheeks. "Yes, for a short period of time though. We never went any further than making out."

"You didn't know Jared was in love with her at the time?" She asks.

"Not really no. I'll admit I had a feeling. I guess it was my selfish way to never fully confirm it since I had feelings for her as well back then."

"But you don't now?" She couldn't help asking.

"Not romantically no. Seeing her and Jared together...those two were meant to be. My feelings died pretty quickly after that. She's more like a sister to me now."

"And Kristan...you slept with her, got her pregnant all while being with Mila?"

Shame slams through him like a tidal wave. "Yeah. I was kind of an asshole back then. I was having a good time not really caring about others. I got super drunk that I hardly even remember having sex with her. It wasn't until I woke up the next morning realizing what I had done. I thought I could keep it a secret but then Kristan ended up being pregnant with Shasta."

Looking back up at her from his folded hands he looked remorseful. "I royally fucked up and knew I had to break up with Mila. Her finding out what happened caused her to run away to Arizona where her aunt lives, and we didn't get to see her for six years. Her grandfather having a heart attack is what brought her back."

"So you and Kristan are tied all because of a one night stand?"

"Pretty much. We did try to make things work but she is so obsessed with Jared that she didn't care about me or the baby when she came. Kristan hated being pregnant and the only reason I think she kept her was because it was a way to lord over Mila and make Jared jealous."

"But you made a better life for yourself, and Shasta has a father who completely dotes on her. At least in the end it wasn't all bad." She points out, thinking of her own mother.

"Yeah, you're right." He gives her a smile that still kept giving her butterflies. "What about you? What's your story?"

She takes a deep breath pulling herself up straighter in her chair. "I was raised by my mother. My father passed away when I was just a baby, so it's always just been me and her. In my senior year she got really sick, so I had to quit school and get a job right away to help pay for the medical bills. It's been like that for the past six years now."

Here came the rough part. "I recently had to quit my job that I was working double, sometimes triple shifts, because my boss decided it was a good idea to make a pass at me."

He stiffens hearing that. With a deep frown he asks in a low deep tone, "What exactly did he do? If you don't mind me asking."

"He didn't touch me just so we're clear. I asked for a raise because me and my mom needed it, but his offer was to sleep with him whenever he wanted, and the asshole is even married." She states in disgust. "He made me feel worthless and unappreciated. I gave so much of my time and life to his company that it felt like a slap in the face."

Crossing her arms tightly to her chest she stares back at him. "So, I quit."

"I'm glad."

She tilts her head in confusion. "You're glad?"

"Yeah because then you wouldn't have needed to find a job and see my ad about a babysitter. We never would have met if none of that happened. So...I'm glad."

A flutter starts swirling inside her as her cheeks heated at his confession. Feeling warm and happy she smiles. "Well then I'm glad too. I really am actually. Aside from Kristan, meeting all of you seems like a blessing. Shasta is definitely something special."

"What about me? Am I special too?" He couldn't help asking, making her blush even more.

"I don't know just yet. I mean we did only just meet two days ago."

He chuckles nodding his head. "I guess I'll just have to start working harder than." He scoots the chair back just as Shasta came bounding down the stairs.

"Daddy, can we go to the park since you're home early?"

Watching as he gives a gentle smile with such love in his eyes Isabel couldn't believe someone like him had gotten stuck with someone like Kristan. But maybe it was meant to be. There is always a silver lining in horrible situations. And she was beginning to believe that maybe this was hers as well.

"Sure. Let's go now before it gets too late."

Shasta then looks to her. "You're coming too right?" she asks eagerly.

"I would love too but you should spend alone time with your dad. I'll make us dinner so go on and have some fun."

"Okay, maybe next time, come on daddy!" She starts pulling him after her as he gives Isabel one last look.