My control went AWOL and I shoved away from
the table and stomped around to where she sat. I stuffed my hands into my jeans
pockets, because if I didn't I'd wrap them around Sonya's neck and squeeze
until her eyes exploded and then I'd end up in jail.
I stopped next to her. "Not this kind,
Sonya. There were three samples. Yours, mine and Zoey's. There is no way the
test is wrong."
I glanced at my mother. "My parents
had enough faith in me to do this so I could put my mind at rest. This cost
them a lot of money and will eventually cost me, so do me a favor and come up
with something that makes sense."
Moving closer, I stabbed the test results
again. "This proves you are Zoey's mother and that I am not her father. I'll do what I have to,
for now, but you need to find out who she belongs to—that's if you don't know
already."
Sonya got up and folded her arms, throwing
her head back. "Say whatever you want, but I'll take you to court if you
stop supporting Zoey."
I breathed in and my lungs were blazing hot,
as if my insides were burning up. My fury and shock must have
been written on
my face because Mom put up both hands. "Karim, don't say another
word."
The fire in my blood turned to ice and I
folded my arms, imitating Sonya's pose. "Mom, can you leave for a minute?
There's something I need to say to Sonya in private."
Mom's mouth opened and I cut her off before
she got a word out. "Don't worry. I have this."
She walked to the door and pulled the
handle, reluctant to close it between us.
"Trust me," I said. "It'll
be all right."
The door clicked shut, and I moved closer
to Sonya. "I know you feel you're going to lose face or something, but
you're not the first girl this has happened to and you won't be the last."
Her shoulders lifted, but I wasn't taking
any shit from her, so I kept on talking. "I've been looking at Zoey since
Mom laid this on me."
I smiled, although I had no reason to do so
and didn’t feel like it, except for acknowledging myself as the biggest jackass
in town. "I don't know why it wasn't obvious to me before, but if I know
who the father of your little girl is, how can you tell me you don't
know?"
Her head dipped lower and she moved so one
of her hips jutted sideways, which hinted she still had some resistance going
on.
I tipped her chin up with one finger. "You
and I know I'm not Zoey's father."
Her shoulders drooped as if all the air had
gone out of her and she sucked her lip into her mouth.
"Look, I'm sorry this happened to you,
but you need to sort out your business, because I'm not going to keep shelling
out for a child that isn't mine, especially since we're not seeing each other."
She didn't move, but a tear rolled down her
cheek. I watched it, fascinated, as it dripped on her chest and was sucked up
by her tank top. She didn't make any attempt to wipe her face, and I sure as
hell didn't want to touch her and give her any ideas. After staring at her like
an idiot, I patted her shoulder and walked past her.
"You should get Zoey and go home."
I left her standing there and went to my
room, closing the door behind me.
Frowning at the floor, I sat on the side of
my bed. I'd thought about what it would mean if it turned out Zoey wasn't mine,
and how my life would change. I expected to be relieved, happy—joyous even.
Instead, I was empty.
This #NewAdult novel is set in Jamaica and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other platforms.
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