Home is Where the Heart is(15)

“Is he mine?” His question pierced through her veins the same way she imagined it would if she were on trial for murder. Jordan shook his head as frown lines formed on his forehead. He looked furious, and he probably had every right to be, but she wasn't going to feel guilty for choosing to become a single parent instead of consulting Jordan about his role in raising their child.

Cassie didn’t say a word. What else could she say?

“You know what? Don’t worry. I already know the answer,” he said shortly, and deep down, she knew that already.

He turned to walk away as Cassie let out a deep breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Everything happened so suddenly. Jordan stopped, turned toward her, and walked back until he was standing in her doorway again.

“Fuck, Cassie! Why didn’t you tell me I had a kid? I had a right to know I’m a dad." The frown lines slowly disappeared from his face, but he still didn't look happy. In fact, his eyes looked troubled and tired. This time, he was expecting her to answer his question.

“You’re asking the wrong person that question, and it’s late, Jordan. Go home. We can talk about it tomorrow.” She pushed him out onto her front porch.

Jordan threw his fist against the half-closed door, shoving it open a little more. “No, I want to talk about everything now.”

“Shh, Jake is asleep; you’ll wake him up. Can you please keep your voice down?” Cassie tried to quiet him in a hushed tone.

Jordan cleared his throat, lowering his voice. “Who am I supposed to be talking to about it then? You’re his mother.”

Okay, so there was no hope getting him to leave her house just yet, but she couldn’t have Jake waking up either, so she pulled the door almost closed behind her as she stepped out onto the porch. She was standing directly opposite Jordan, wrapping her jean jacket more tightly around her body, suddenly conscious of how she might look at this very moment.

There was definitely a wintry chill in the night air; she could feel it. Or maybe it was because she was having to face questions from her ex-boyfriend—questions she didn’t feel like answering right now.

“Why don’t you try your father?” Cassie prompted softly.

“What does my dad have anything to do with it?”

“He knew I was pregnant with your child. He begged me not to tell you because it would ruin your fledging career.”

Jordan shook her off, trying not to believe the words coming out of her mouth. It had to be a mistake. His dad was powerful, but he wouldn’t hide something as big as his own son having a child.

“No, I don’t believe you. You’re lying.”

Cassie shook her head, tears almost ready to fall down her cheeks. “I’m not lying. I would never lie about something like this.” He could hear it in her soft, timid voice. Deep down, he knew she could never say something like that and it be a lie. “Go ask him yourself. He even tried to buy me off with money, just so you wouldn't find out about our son. I guessed at the time it showed him just how committed I was to being with you and I should have been grateful to know that he knew I wasn’t seeing anyone else and the possibility that my son was really yours, not someone other guy. According to him, it was my dirty little secret, not yours. I guess he didn’t want you to have to pay for the consequences of one of our nights of passion that turned into an unplanned occurrence in life.”

Cassie hoped her words didn’t make it seem like she regretted Jake because not for one second could she ever regret the life she had created with Jordan. Jake was her everything.

Jordan was stunned.

“I didn’t take his money. I’m not desperate or dirt-poor enough to actually accept his money in exchange for pretending you didn’t have a son. I simply chose to become a single parent with plenty of support from Gabby, Nick, and Gabby’s parents too. They’ve become like surrogate grandparents to Jake since his paternal and maternal ones either live too far away to travel to see us a lot of the time, or the other ones think they are too good to bother acknowledging their only grandchild’s existence. Gabby’s parents have been really great to us. They even let us stay with them for as long as we needed until I could afford my own place.”

Cassie hadn’t meant to sting Jordan, but she knew her words had burned a little. He could try to be as angry with her as he liked, but she refused to allow his words and actions to affect her choices in life. She wasn’t really to blame for him not knowing Jake was his child.

And she certainly wasn’t going to allow Jordan to stand outside her front door yelling hurtful remarks at her. Not tonight.