One Simple Step (Journey #3)

She knew me way too well.

Confrontation wasn’t my thing, and even though Ally wasn’t the arguing type, she would probably be pissed that I had kept it from her. Who knows how she would actually react when I told her that I was going to be a dad and I was going to be raising the baby by myself.

At least I hoped so.

I know it would be best for the baby to have her mom in her life, but I really didn’t want Kara to be around. It would probably be for the better, actually. Would I rather that she not have a mom, or for her to have a mom that didn’t want her in the first place just because of some asshole?

I needed to figure this shit out, and I only had a few short months to do it. Not to mention, I had never changed a baby’s diaper in my life. Never fed one. Shit, what do they even eat? I didn’t have a crib or whatever they slept in when they were first born. I had no clothes, no bottles, no stroller, and no car seat. Nothing. And I’m sure there was a shit ton that I didn’t even know about that I needed.

I felt overwhelmed, to say the least, and I’m pretty sure Kara could tell because she was still giving me that smile that I wanted to wipe right off of her face. If anything, I was going to prove Kara wrong. I could do this. Now, I just needed to figure out exactly how, and if Ally would do it with me.





Chapter 20


Ally



“Ally, is that you?” I looked up from my laptop where I had been typing away, on the patio of my favorite café, which overlooked the ocean. What better way to work was there?

I squinted my eyes into the sun, knowing that voice, but needing to see his face to actually believe he was there. “Tyler? What are you doing here?”

I saw him smile as he came closer and then leaned down, giving me an awkward hug. The last time we had seen each other hadn’t exactly been pleasant. I’m sure I was a hot mess, rushing out of the room after finding Teddy and Bleachy together in all of their glorious nakedness. I wasn’t sure I even wanted a hug from him. Did he know that Teddy had a girl on the bus? He had to have, and it made me wonder if he would have told me. I guess we would never know.

“It’s good to see ya, Al,” he responded, ignoring my question as he pulled out the chair across from me. “You haven’t changed a bit, gorgeous as always.” He leaned over the table, pushing his sunglasses down to the bridge of his nose. “Actually, even more gorgeous. I think the Florida sun is doing the body some good.”

“Mmhmm,” I said, pressing my lips together as I looked around the small patio. “I know you didn’t just happen to show up here, so where’s Teddy?” Tyler gave me a guilty look, and I knew I had hit the nail right on the head.

“He’s not here”—he whirled his finger around—“but he is here, in Florida, I mean. He stayed back at the hotel while I came to talk to you.”

“About what exactly?” I flipped the lid down on my laptop, and began unzipping my bag to put it away. This wasn’t going to be a very long conversation, because Teddy and I were done, there was nothing more to talk about. I thought he had gotten the hint when I signed and sent the divorce papers back to him. He acted like he understood the last time we saw each other.

“We-ll,” he dragged out, fiddling with his sunglasses. “He thinks that since you guys are, ya know, divorced and all now, that you two can have a fresh start or something. Here”—he reached down into his pocket, and then handed me a crushed white daisy—“this is from Teddy. He says they’re your favorite.”

“Wow, thanks.” The flower was pretty much ruined but it was the thought that counted. I couldn’t believe he had actually remembered something like that. It was so not Teddy. “Tell him ‘thank you’ for me.” I tucked the crushed flower into my hair.

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll be able to do that yourself soon enough,” he said, standing up and sliding his sunglasses back on. “He’s not giving up, Al. Just be prepared.”

“Wait, what?” I jumped up and grabbed Tyler by the elbow as he slid his hands into his faded jeans. “Not giving up on what, Tyler? We’ve been through for a while now. I’ve moved on with a guy that treats me how I deserve to be treated. Teddy cheated on me. There’s no coming back from that. He can’t just show up in my life whenever he wants.”

“Sorry, Al.” He shrugged his shoulders at me. “You know how Teddy is, he’s used to getting what he wants.” He lifted his eyebrows at me, and I knew he was talking about our situation in particular.

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