Page 118 of Severed Heart

My phone rumbles on the floor in my jeans as I curse the fucking timing, and she tenses in my arms, the unspoken reason evident.

“We are none of anyone’s fucking business, and we’re going to keep it that way untilwedecide otherwise,” I assure her without gauging her reaction as I gently ease away from her.

Turning on her side, hand beneath her pillow, she mutely watches me dress. I stare right back as her eyes start to lower before they finally flutter closed. By the time I’m lacing my sneakers, she’s asleep. Kneeling on the mattress, I bend and press one more kiss to her lips.

Already pulled under, she barely registers and returns my kiss. Feeling lighter than I have in years, I race home to shower and change. To ready myself for whatever battle I’m likely to face when she opens her eyes.

Chapter Thirty-One

TYLER

IRELIVE EVERY HEAVENLYsecond of the last few hours with Delphine as I shower and pull on my briefs. Every one of those moments blissful in recollection. Our physical coupling so incredibly natural from the onslaught. The feel of her bare, a first for me, was utter fucking perfection. The discussion of protection unnecessary since I chauffeured her to her OB one afternoon before we went fishing to get her birth control shot. An appointment she said she hasn’t missed since she was a teenager.

The conversation even less pressing for now as my chest thuds steadily at the fact I’m the only one. Not her first, but with the solidified ambition to be her last. Heart alight that our season has finally come, I’m towel drying my hair when I exit my bathroom, stopping short when I see my dad waiting for me.

Perched at the end of my bed, he stares at me expectantly as the anger I tempered last night threatens to rush me. Instead of entertaining it—or him—I continue dressing around the elephant in my room as if he’s not there. Getting back to Delphine and sorting us out is the only thing I’m concerning myself with today. That and a celebration with my brothers—my true family. Especially with Tobias due to pop up at the house anytime this morning.

Tension grows thick as I pull on my jeans, certain my dad’s about to spill some bullshit about Grace. Excuses that, at this point, I don’t give enough of a fuck about to hear, though he surprises me when he finally speaks. “Your recruiter came by last night,” he grinds out. “Says you’ve been visiting him forover a year.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” I quip absently, pulling down a T-shirt and grabbing my sneakers, “you’ve been busy, right?”

“I haven’t fucking slept, Tyler.” I look over to see his eyes are red-rimmed, and his hair is thoroughly picked through. “When were you planning on telling me?”

The rage I managed to suppress since I left that gas station last night starts to filter back in with his demanding delivery and confrontational tone.

“Tyler, when were you going to tell me?” he presses.

Walking over to my nightstand, I feel the weight of his expectant stare on me as I plug my cell in to charge before pocketing my wallet and keys.

“I deserve an answer,” he growls as I make my way toward my bedroom door, and he grips my forearm to stop me from passing him.

“Tyler, damn it. Talk to me.”

Ripping my arm from his grip, my chest bounces with my sardonic laugh as the anger slams into me full force. “You really want to force this, huh, to have a discussion about my future?”

His features twist in confusion at the amount of hostility coming from me. I cross my arms inches from his face, which turns indignant as he bites out his words. “I get that you’re pissed at me, but you need to right your tone and your posture, Son. I raised you better than that.”

“Let’s be honest,my motherraised me, and your fucking demand for respect at this point is laughable,Carter.”

His face reddens. “I’ve had just about enough of you treating me like I’m fucking beneath you. I know I’ve made some mistakes—”

“Mistakes,” I scoff at his audacity. “All right, Dad, I’ll grant you your demandedfather-sonchat to talk about my future, but before we do, how about you answer a question for me first?”

He nods, his anxious eyes weighing my every move.

“So, I had a little run-in with yourmistresslast night.”

His expression immediately screws up into one of guilt as he emits a low, “I ended that a long time ago.”

“Yeah, good on you. But what was news to me is that herhusbandowns a gas station I frequent, and she sings in the choir at First Baptist. Things I’m sure you know, but what really surprised me was thetoddleron her hip.”

“Like I said, I ended that a long time ago.”

“Doesn’t answer my question. That toddler hasour eyes,Dad. Looks a lot likehe could be fatheredby a Jennings.”

“What?” His reddening face immediately starts to lose color.

“That’s what you couldn’t forgive Mom for, right? That’s her only unforgivable sin toward you. So, did you even the score? Is Zach yours? Sure looks like he could be yours.”