Beneath The Lies (13 page)

“During every one of our breaks she went out looking for another man. I don’t know if she is looking for someone better or wants to make me jealous. Either way, she always comes running back with promises that our relationship will change. When we were nineteen and on a long break, she came to me crying that she was pregnant. Carly comes from a shit family. The guy that knocked her up was heavy into drugs and didn’t want anything to do with her or her kid. I agreed to help her out. She moved in but we weren’t a couple. Then she had Callie and I fell in love. Callie looks a lot like Carly but she’s not toxic. She’s...she’s perfect.”

My eyes are narrowed, my heart is racing, and the acid in my stomach hasn’t stopped turning. He has a child, or claims a child, and he didn’t tell me...why?

I finally find my voice. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?” He shrugs, causing my gaze to painfully shift away from him. If he wants me to forgive him, I need more than this.

“Carly listed me as the father on the birth certificate but there’s no way in hell I’m Callie’s biological father. The two of us were going on close to a year since we’d had sex when she got pregnant.

“Carly loves to stick her hand out and take but the second I don’t do what she wants she’s quick to throw Callie’s paternity in my face. Biologically I’m not Callie’s father, but I’ve acted like one since the day she was born. I tried a relationship with Carly a few more times since she had Callie but I can’t. I can’t live like that. I made Callie a room at my place, we have a visitation schedule, and I even pay Carly child support.” He pauses to clear his throat then looks back toward me.

“Sunday morning, Carly called me and told me she was leaving town to take some trip with another guy she met. I either had to come get Callie right then or she was going to leave her with some fifteen-year-old girl that lives in the same building as them.” Gavin’s shoulders tense as he tells me about the call I overheard.

I’m pissed at him for keeping this from me, but at the same time...I’m adopted. When I see someone who unconditionally loves a child that’s not biologically their own, it makes me weak in the knees. The love my parents showed me is every child’s—adopted or otherwise—dream come true.

“I’ll ask you again. Why didn’t you tell me about her?” Luckily my voice didn’t give away how nervous I’m actually feeling at the moment.

“Because I know you.” Gavin pauses and my eyes go wide in horror. “No. No. I know you’ll love her. God anyone who has half a heart loves this little girl. Usually doesn’t apply to her own mother, but every once in a while it does.” Gavin stops and sighs then looks at me again.

“Carly heard I was dating someone. Kiran was joking around with some friends that I was with
the one
and news made its way back to Carly. On some level, I believe that she really wants me, but not in the way a girlfriend or, hell, one day a wife should want a man. I’m more of a trophy to her than anything. But the one thing Carly really doesn’t like is when I see a woman more than once or twice. That’s usually when she starts throwing around threats about taking Callie away from me, which is exactly what she did.” Gavin gives me a smile filled with sadness.

“I knew if I told you what was going on you’d freak and think you were doing me a favor by staying away, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I force a smile of my own. He’s right. I would never stand in the way of him and his child. “Sunday wasn’t your normal day to have her?” Gavin shakes his head no but doesn’t say anything else.

“Does she do this often? I mean, dumping your daughter off on other people?”

“Remember when I disappeared for a few days when you were living with Leeta? Carly heard I was staying there because of you. She told me if I wanted to see my daughter I had to come get her right then or she was going to take her to Phil’s house for a while.”

“Wait.” I shake my head confused. “Who’s Phil, again?”

Gavin’s body goes solid at my question. “Phil owns the place that most of the fights happen at now. He’s shady as shit, and not only does he treat Carly like trash but I almost killed him once for yelling at my daughter. Carly knows I don’t want Callie anywhere near the asshole so she pulled her trump card and made sure I left Leeta’s.”

Leeta’s comment comes back into my mind.
Carly called and asked him to come home.
Only she failed to mention that home wasn’t a place they shared. Seeing how Gavin and Leeta appear to hate each other, it’s possible she had no idea they weren’t a couple anymore. Still, I wish she had been a little more forthcoming when she told me he left.

Gavin reaches out for my hand and when I look in his eyes I see regret in them. “I’m sorry that you have to deal with this. At the same time, I’m not sure where this leaves us. You had the chance to tell me what was going on Sunday morning and you chose to lie. I woke up and heard you on the phone with Carly, so I knew something was up but then I drove by and saw your car at your apartment while you claimed it was parked at The Hill. I hate that. I grew up with honest people, and I’m positive I don’t want to be with someone I can’t trust.”

Gavin jumps to his feet. “I planned to tell you about Callie. Shit, I’ll need to worry about the two of you falling in love with each other, not the other way around, but I wanted to get shit straight with Carly instead of dropping all of my baggage at your feet.”

Gavin slowly makes his way over to me and brushes his hand down my cheek. “Carly was attractive and convenient but that’s all she’s ever been to me. You, however, have had a piece of my heart from the second I met you and every time since you’ve taken a little more. I’m sorry I lied. I don’t have any more kids or illegal hobbies. What I do have is a psychotic mother, a deadbeat ex-girlfriend, and those two usually keep me from having any sort of normal relationship. But that’s what I want. A relationship. A future. With you and Callie. One that hopefully all three of us will be happy living.”

My heart drops to my stomach. I might be a fool, but a man who cares this much about a child he easily could have walked away from, allowing him to cut ties for good with Carly...well, that’s more than my heart can ignore.

“If you lie to me again—” Gavin cuts me off with a kiss. When he pulls away he has a ridiculous smile on his face.

“Never. You might not believe this but I don’t make a habit out of lying.”

I lean in and wrap my arms around his waist. “Good. I was really pissed when I thought you had tricked me into sleeping with you.”

He takes a few seconds but he finally comments, “I hate that you were upset. That I gave you any reason to doubt me. I’m so sorry, Kate.” His voice is soft and sweet and I don’t want to let go of him but even after sleeping all day, I’m wiped and all I want to do is go back to bed.

“Want to stay over?” His shoulders drop.

“I can’t. Callie is at my place. Carly still hasn’t come back from where ever she went. I called Kiran to come over and sit at my place while I came over here. But—” He clears his throat. “But maybe tomorrow you’d like to come over and meet her?”

“Are you sure?” My voice cracks. “I mean, if Carly is already causing problems, do you think that’s a good idea?”

Gavin seems sure of himself when he speaks next. “Yes. I’ll take Carly to court if I have to. I’ve paid her close to two thousand dollars a month in child support since the day Callie was born. Between that and her listing me as the father on the birth certificate, I have rights until she request a DNA test and moves to remove my name as Callie’s father. If she does go that route then I plan to sue her for the child support payments I’ve made. That’s close to a hundred thousand dollars. Carly does not have that kind of money, plus she can’t afford to lose my two grand a month, money I know she doesn’t spend on Callie like she should. If she wants to play hardball then it’s on.”

My eyes go wide, causing Gavin to chuckle. “I’ve got to look out for my girl. And now I should say girls because that includes you. Stick with me, Kate, and I promise you won’t regret it.”

I pause even though I know I only have one answer I could possibly give him. “Okay.” I take a deep breath of air. “As long as there are no more lies then yes. Yes to sticking with you and yes to meeting Callie.”

Gavin leans in and kisses me softly. “You won’t regret it. Now can I expect you’ll respond to my texts from now on?”

“Yes.” I chuckle.

“Okay. Come over tomorrow after you’re done with class. Be prepared to attend a tea party. They seem to be the in thing right now.”

“Okay.” God, I would love to be a fly on the wall while big, sexy Gavin Loman is at a tea party with a four-year-old. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get my wish.

I make it to school the next day feeling worlds better. Between resolving my problems with Gavin and getting a full night of sleep, I woke up feeling amazing.

My mind keeps wandering back to Gavin’s lie. It still pisses me off that he lied, but another part understands why he did. He wasn’t ashamed of his daughter or of me meeting her. In his mind, he was protecting both of us from Carly.

I still haven’t met Carly but I would bet anything she was the brunette I saw talking to him at The Hill. That woman was trying to get Gavin’s attention and not only was it not working, he acted angry with her. That fits the story Gavin has told me.

I’m about to knock on Gavin’s door and as ridiculous as it sounds, I’m nervous. I love kids and I’ve never met one that didn’t love me in return but this is different. When Gavin spoke about Callie last night, I could tell how important she is to him, which makes the pressure for her to like me even greater.

I try my best to turn off my aching stomach and knock on the door. Seconds later, all the pressure I was feeling leaves my body when Gavin opens the door. He’s standing in the doorway wearing a pink scarf, tons of fake jewelry, and a sparkling tiara. I can’t help but burst out laughing.

“Yeah. Yeah. Laugh it up. This is the proper clothing one wears to a formal tea party,” he says in an annoyed voice.

I continue laughing to the point tears fall from my eyes. This big and at times mean looking guy even has fingernail polish on. I don’t think Gavin understands that even the most loving and wonderful fathers would draw a line at nail polish, but not him. Geez, I wish he could see himself the way I see him, which is someone he should be proud of.

As I gain control of myself I see a movement in the hallway. Gavin follows my eyes and we both see a beautiful brown haired little girl watching us closely. “Hello there. I’m Kate. What’s your name?”

Callie’s eyes immediately go to the floor and she starts twisting her hair with her fingers as her body rocks back and forth. I guess I’m not the only one who’s nervous.

“Hey, sweet pea, what’s wrong?” Gavin squats down so he’s eye level with Callie while she mumbles something I can’t hear. “No, princess, Kate is wonderful, you’ll love her. Plus Daddy would never allow you around someone who’s mean.” Callie’s eyes shift from Gavin to me and back to Gavin. “I promise. Plus, I’m not going anywhere. Kate isn’t here to babysit you like uncle Kiran does. She’s here for a tea party.”

Callie’s body slowly starts to relax. “Why don’t you and your dolls go brew up a new batch of tea and Kate and I will be in soon.” Without saying a word Callie turns and walks down the hall and disappears into a bedroom I didn’t look in the last time I was here. That must be where Gavin stores all the pink, girly stuff I see lying around his living room.

“God, I hate Carly.” I look up at Gavin and I see anger or maybe pain in his eyes.

“Why? I mean I know why, but why would you say that right now?”

Gavin takes a couple deep breaths, “Carly told Callie that any woman I bring here is mean and that she should stay away from them. And the kicker...Carly told her she needs to be mean in return.”

“What?” I blurt out.

“God, she’s a piece of work.” I’m still wondering why any mother would behave this way when another thought pops in my head. “How has she treated the other women you’ve brought here?”

I look toward the bedroom where the adorable little girl disappeared in. I’m having a hard time picturing her acting mean. When Gavin doesn’t answer, I look back over to find him staring at me. Instead of answering me he shrugs his response.

“You don’t know or you don’t want to tell me?” Gavin looks uncomfortable as he rocks back and forth on his feet.

“I...I’ve never brought a woman around Callie before.” My eyes go wide with shock. “I didn’t want to confuse her the way Carly does. Kiran is the only person I’ve allowed around her.”

My heart starts beating faster as understanding of what he said settles in. In the last four years, Gavin claims Carly and him have spent more time apart then together, and he doesn’t seem like the type of man to abstain from women and sex altogether, but he never brought any of those women around his daughter, until now...until me.

I try desperately not to show how excited I am. “Oh,” I mumble before looking away.

“Kate.” He waits for me to bring my eyes back to his. “You’re different from any other relationship I’ve had. I’ve known this for a long time. I trust you with my daughter more than I trust her with her own mother. Now it’s time for Callie to learn she can trust you, too.”