Page 86 of Needing to Fall

Andi rose, wrapping me in a tight hug. “You should take some of your bags with you.”

I pulled back. “What, kicking me out?” I teased.

“Never, but it’s the right thing for you.”

I nodded, went into the room, and packed two big bags, stuffing them full.

Walking out to the truck, I was only balanced because the bags were level on each side.

As soon as Lynx saw me, he jumped out of the truck and rushed to me, taking the bags from me.

“I guess I’m moving in,” I told him.

Lynx dropped the bags at my feet, picked me up in the air, and kissed me hard and deeply. “Best fucking news I’ve heard in a long time.”

***

Wearing a doctor’s latex glove wasn’t ideal for working behind the bar. My grip on the bottles didn’t feel right, and I would be lucky if I didn’t drop anything. Plus, the pace at which I normally moved was slowed way down. No one complained, though, which was good, and I was pretty sure I got some sympathy tips along with it. Fine by me.

I closed out my register and stocked the back just as the text from Lynx came in, saying he was outside. I smiled, feeling extremely happy.

“Leaving,” I called out as I moved to the door, heading for my man’s truck parked in the front of the lot.

The pitch black night was only lit up by the parking lot lights casting a glow on Lynx. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him deeply. Damn, I loved him.

“Have a good night, babe?” he asked, helping me into the truck.

“It was decent.”

He nodded, shutting my door and getting in the driver’s side.

“Tips were pretty good. I think the customers were taking pity on me.”

He chuckled. “I bet.”

Something was off with Lynx. He wasn’t lost in himself, and he wasn’t angry, but something wasn’t right. It made my insides constrict.

“What’s wrong?”

He smirked. “Sometimes, I hate that you know me so well.”

“I do. Spill.”

“I found your father,” he said, rocking me to my core.

“Really?”

“Yeah, Reign. I’ve been digging. Your mother worked at a shit-load of places, or it wouldn’t have taken me this long. Sometimes, she only stayed weeks at a job then moved on to the next. It just so happened that when you were conceived, she had four different jobs during that time. I extended it out, not knowing if you were born on time or what.” I didn’t know any of that, either, so I was grateful. “Some of the men who worked there twenty-one years ago moved on to different jobs, so I had to track each of them down. Therefore, it took me awhile, but I found him.”

“Are you sure it’s him? Because after Drew and Devin, I can’t deal with it not being right.” That wasn’t exactly the truth. I could deal with it. I just didn’t want to go down that road again. I knew I was stronger than before, but I still didn’t want to go through that heartache.

Lynx put the truck in drive and headed toward his place. “He’s in Seattle, Washington. His name is Weston Cheeseman.”

“Cheeseman?” That was an odd name.

“Yep, be happy you were stuck with Owens.” Lynx chuckled. “He runs a software company, has a wife of thirty-one years, two sons, and one daughter.” He paused. “They are twenty-five, twenty-two, and nineteen.”

The weight hit me hard. He was a cheater, too. He was with my mother while he was married and had children at home. That rock settled in my gut like a boulder.