Page 52 of Discretion at Its Finest

The seatbelt clicked into place with a soft snap, but Eugene was still squirming in his booster seat, one hand tugging at the hem of my cardigan. I didn’t have much time to change into something more comfortable, too busy trying to keep myinteraction with his new babysitter minimal. I still wasn’t on board with Reid forcing himself into all these areas of my life, but I bit my tongue for the sake of my sanity.

“Mommy,” Eugene said, kicking his tiny sneakers against the seat. “Is Dad still coming?”

I reached down to fix the strap across his chest, smoothing the buckle. “He said he’d try, Lovebug,” I said, my voice gentle. “But he might be stuck at work.”

It was a soft, familiar lie I’d given time and time again. Because the game was starting in less than fifteen minutes, and I hadn’t heard a word from Gregory.

When I returned to the driver’s seat, Eugene was content again, distracted by his soccer ball that he rolled around in his lap. The drive felt longer this time, and unfortunately, my mind never did stop spiraling.

All I could see was the betrayal inhiseyes, the way he looked at me when he asked the question that repeated over and over in my mind.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant with him?”

And now here we were. Driving to Eugene’s game all alone. Me in the front seat, pretending not to fall apart. Him in the back, asking for a man who didn’t care enough to show up…

When we arrived, the field was buzzing, parents in lawn chairs, toddlers in cleats kicking balls too big for them, and Coach Dan already yelling over the chaos. I stepped out, rounding the car to unbuckle Eugene, who was craning his neck to look through the windows.

His small fingers grabbed mine as I lifted him down. He ran ahead a few steps, a small smile gracing my lips as he waved to one of his little teammates. All the while Coach Dan tried to wrangle them along across the field, a clipboard in one hand, holding a sniffling little girl in the other who was wiping her eyes as he consoled her the best he could.

I scanned the crowd, for maybe a sign that Gregory had actually shown up… but of course he wasn’t here. I sat alone in one of the folding chairs, blowing Eugene a kiss as he looked at me in the crowd. His eyes continued roaming the sea of parents as the coach began explaining the game plan.

Then Eugene’s eyes grew brighter, raising his hand as he waved it furiously. I looked in the direction he was waving, my eyes scanning the crowd until I saw him.

Reid. Dark jacket over his shoulders, polo shirt framing him perfectly, winking back as he made his way through the crowd, and in my direction. My heart pulsed in my chest the closer he got.

Ignoring the protests of Coach Dan, Eugene took off toward Reid.

“Uncle Reid!” he yelled out. Reid crouched, arms opening to catch him as parents nearby awwed. “Coach said I’m the goalie today!”

“Goalie?” his dark voice sounded, enough to make my skin feel hot. “You better crush them, bud. I mean it. No mercy, got it?”

Eugene lit up, catching his little fist in his hand. “NO MERCY!” He let out an animalistic growl, though it sounded more adorable than scary.

Ruffling his hair, Reid let his lips twitch into a small smirk. “That’s the spirit.”

Coach Dan called again, and Eugene took off without hesitation, racing back to the field. I stayed quiet, looking away as Reid approached, sitting beside me without uttering a single word.

We watched the chaos commence, children tripping over one another, the parents laughing along the sidelines as they cheered, the coach doing his best to keep his professional composure. But that wasn’t my focus.

I glanced over to him, my eyes moving back as I realized he was fixated on the game, the silence between us filled with a million things unsaid. Of the other night, of the lies still lingering on my tongue and memories I wanted to forget but never could. My fingers twisted together nervously in my lap, distracting my thoughts.

“You… didn’t have to come,” I whispered.

For a moment he didn’t say anything.

“I know,” he replied.

“I thought…” I swallowed, eyes tracing Eugene’s tiny frame as he darted across the grass. “Greg said he’d try to make it today.”

Reid didn’t gloat the fact that my fiancé hadn’t shown. Instead his voice softened. “He’s not coming, Vieve.”

I nodded gently. “I know.”

Reid rested an elbow on his knee, leaning forward slightly, his jaw tight, watching Eugene stumble as he blocked the adorable but sad attempt by one of the kids on the other team to kick it into the net. The slightest smirk tugged at the corner of Reid’s mouth as Coach Dan blew the whistle.

“He was so excited when he saw you…” I murmured, not knowing why I felt the need to fill the silence. “Would’ve thought he was waiting for you.”

Reid’s eyes didn’t leave the field as he stayed silent, but I could see the gears turning in his mind. I forced my gaze away, blinking hard as the ache spread warm and awful inside of me.