The Opportunity of a Lifetime

Chapter 32 (Patrick's POV)

I look back at my family, and all of them are watching the scene go down with a mixture of pissed and hurt expressions on their faces. I look at Hailey, and she's pleading with her eyes, asking me not to go. That look alone kills me, and I feel a tear roll down my cheek as I turn back to look at Allie, the girl I thought I'd never have to see again.

I look deep into her eyes, trying to read into her; to see if she's telling the truth. All I see is malice. There is no pure intention with her. There never was. I have a sick feeling in my stomach telling me this is wrong. She is lying about something. Don't do it!

I open my mouth, knowing my decision but not sure how to word it. I see Allie's mouth twitch, as if she thinks she's going to win. She won't. I close my mouth again, glancing at Gracie. She looks torn and confused, but mostly lost. I can't do this to her. What is the right thing to do? God, if there even is a god, please tell me what to do!

I open my mouth, more sure of myself this time. "No. You don't love me. Why should I believe everything that comes out of your mouth? You've never proved to me before that I could believe what you tell me. So what's different now? You haven't changed. Were going to see if Gracie is really mine. If she is, then I'll love her and help take care of her. With the help of my family, which isn't you. That ship has sailed. I may have thought I loved you once, but that doesn't compare to what I feel now for Hailey. I am not replacing her with you. So, if you don't mind, take yourself and your lies somewhere else to someone who will actually put up with it."

I turn around, but before I do, I see Allie's eyes widen as if she wasn't expecting that from me. Well, she's not the only one who's changed. I lean down and pick Gracie up, balancing her on my hip. Pete looks at me questioningly, but I nod, looking at him hard, trying to tell him that I have to explain things to her. He seems to get the message, and when Allie tries to come after me, Pete blocks her, giving me time to run out.

"Patrick? Where are you taking me? Please don't hurt me..." Gracie sniffles, and tears silently fall down her cheeks. I feel terrible, but she has to know what is going on.

"I promise I won't ever hurt you. Ever. Just, please trust me, okay? I need to take you somewhere safe so I can explain things to you. Out there is not safe at the moment. Okay?"

She slowly nods, gripping my arm as I jog to our dressing room. Once I get there, I gently set her down on the couch, and I kneel in front of her, trying to get her to look at me in the eyes.

"Well, your mom and I... Well, we used to know each other, and... um..." I start, not knowing how to say this in a way she'd understand.

"I know what the sex is, Patrick," she says completely seriously, and despite the grim atmosphere, I burst out laughing, my face turning bright red out of embarrassment. "What?"

After I recover myself, I ruffle her hair, and she gives me the 'look' and smoothens her hair back out. "Quite mature, you are. But, as I was saying, we were dating, which I'm sure you know what that is. That was a long time ago, and things, um, didn't work out between us. We haven't talked for years. And then she suddenly shows up at our show, with you. I'm sure you remember that?"

"How could I forget that? That scared me."

I frown, the memory creeping back into my mind, when Hailey and Cheryl went complete terminator on Allie's friend. How distorted and terrible that must have looked to a little girl.

"You know, my friends, the girls, really are sorry about that. Something happened before that, that wasn't good. It made them angry. Your mother's friend hurt my friend. That's not good, okay? Don't hurt people when you can choose not to."