Page 75 of Biker Orc Baby Daddy
He looks up. Eyes wide. "You named him after. Me?"
"I didn't name him Ridge."
"But you thought about it."
"For five minutes." My voice cracks. "Before I remembered you were a stranger who disappeared."
"Cecie—"
"I was so angry." The words spill out. "You left. No name. No number. Nothing. And I was pregnant and terrified and I wanted. Something. Some piece of you for him. So I wrote it down. Then I crossed it out. Because you didn't deserve it."
He's quiet. Staring at the page.
"I'm sorry," he whispers.
"I know."
"I didn't know. If I'd known?—"
"You would've what? Stayed? You didn't even know my real name."
"I would've tried." He stands. Faces me. "I would've tried, Cecie. I swear."
I want to believe him. God, I want to.
But belief is terrifying.
"It doesn't matter now."
"It does." He steps closer. Close enough I can see the gold flecks in his eyes. "It matters because I'm here. Now. And I'm not leaving. Not unless you tell me to."
"Gunther—"
"I know you don't trust me. I know I have to earn it. But please. Let me try."
His hand's still on the journal. On the name I scribbled out.
I reach out. Touch his wrist.
He freezes.
"You're really staying?"
"I'm really staying." There's that confident smile, his absolute assured expression.
"Even when it's hard?" I'm digging now.
"Especially then."
I search his face. Looking for lies. Doubt. Anything that says he'll run. All I see is hope.
"Okay," I breathe.
"Okay?"
"Okay. We'll. Try."
His smile breaks like dawn. "Thank you."
