Page 85 of Accidental Mile High Daddy

The ride was silent. She didn’t ask where we were going, didn’t look at me, and I didn’t offer her anything either. I didn’t know how to, not with the way my stomach was coiled tight with what I needed to do.

I parked across the street from Ryan’s house, exhaling once, sharp, and heavy and stressed.

She turned to mesoslowly. “Matt?—”

“You need to hear the truth,” I said, pushing out of the car.

I helped her out before crossing the road and climbing up the driveway of Ryan’s small suburban home, two cars in the driveway, the porch light on. I didn’t check if she was following — I couldfeelher behind me.

Ryan opened the door with a scowl, his expression twisting into something smugger the second he saw Sienna standing behind me. He leaned against the door frame in his pajamas, crossing his arms like this was hilarious.

“Welcome back, Sienna,” he grinned.

“Shut the fuck up,” I breathed. “You’re going to tell her the truth.Now.”

His brows rose dramatically. “Truth? I already told her the truth.”

“No. You spun some bullshit lie to get under her skin, and maybe that’s what you do best, Ryan, but you don’t get to twistZach’s life around like it’sgossip.You don’t get to use mysonto win your petty little war of making her feel small and causing me as much fucking stress as possible.”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Jesus, you’re dramatic.”

“I’ll release the rest of the assets if you just fucking tell her.”

He laughed — genuine, full-body laughter, and dragged his tongue over his teeth. “Damn, you’re desperate.”

“Matt—”

“No,” I said to her over my shoulder, keeping my gaze locked on Ryan’s.

He glanced from her to me, sighing like this was exhausting for him despite causing it. “Fine,” he huffed. “Zach’s mom was some woman from Buckhead. One-night stand. Met at some business thing? I don’t fucking know, Matt, I don’t remember.”

My jaw ticked.

“You didn’t even talk to her again, right? And then boom, what, a year later? Some guy from child services showed up.”

I turned, slowly, to Sienna, watching as her eyes flicked between us. “Her name was Vanessa. We were never in a relationship, not evenclose. I barely remembered her name until the paperwork was handed to me.”

Her eyes widened, her mouth popping open.

“She’d surrendered Zach under the Safe Haven Law,” I said carefully. “She didn’t leave any of his information, so it took them a little time to find out who he was. DFCS called me when he was about five months old, and I was given the option to step up or let him go into foster care. I didn’t hesitate. I filed for custody immediately.”

She swallowed, her throat working, one hand on her stomach.

“I fought for him. Raised him,” I continued, keeping my voice as level as I could. “There was no cheating. No betrayal. Just me not letting him end up alone in the system.”

Ryan snorted behind me. “Well, that’s your good deed for the decade.”

I glanced back at him. “You’re lucky you’re still standing.”

“Ooh, soscary, Matthew.”

Sienna wasn’t looking at Ryan. She was looking directly at me, and I couldn’t tell what was upsetting her more — the fact that she’d believed the lie, or that the truth wasthisinstead.

“Matt—”

“You know, it tracks,” Ryan said, pushing off the door frame. His lips curled with the same smug venom I’d known since we were kids, his gaze flicking to Sienna like she wasn’tanything. “You, knocking up my ex. Giving me back the shit that’s rightfully mine. Wouldn’t be surprised if she ditches you, too.”

I shot him a glare. “Don’t.”