Love Always, Damian by D. Nichole King Read Free Book Online Page A

Because…”
    I lean back against the booth. She doesn’t have to pick up where she trailed off. The name is because of when and why Lia had been conceived. Finally, we’re getting to the point of Ellie’s visit. This little matter she hid from me. What the hell?
    I return my focus to the picture as Ellie finishes, “Lia Kathryn is her full name.”
    “Lia Kathryn what?” I doubt our daughter has my last name.
    And I’m right.
    “Van Zee,” she answers. Then she lets out a giggle. “I call her Lia-Kat, though.”
    I glare at her, and not only because it’s a stupid nickname. This whole conversation is sinking in and getting too damn real. “Like a house pet?”
    “No. Like, short for Kathryn, Damian.” Ellie’s shoulders rise and fall in a sigh. “I guess I thought it fit, considering…”
    I don’t want to delve into where this is heading. I understand why she doesn’t straight-up call her Lia, but Lia- Kat ? Why not gut me all the way through and call her Kate? It’s not like Ellie ever knew her.
    I’m getting irritated, and I’m pretty sure that’s why Ellie wanted to go out for breakfast. She figures I’m less likely to blow up here, though I’m close to the edge.
    “I thought you were taking birth control, Elle. How’d this happen?”
    “It’s not fool-proof, Damian. And with everything going on with my parents and planning out the details of my transfer, I had a lot on my mind. I guess I wasn’t consistent in taking them. Plus, since we weren’t, you know…well, I didn’t think I needed them anymore.”
    Inhale. Exhale.
    My eyes dart around the room as I work to rein in my anger. I realize she had other shit to deal with, but why the hell didn’t she say anything before she let me fuck her? She knows I keep a stash of condoms in my room.
    “Dammit, Ellie,” I say, my focus landing back on her. “What did you think would happen?”
    “I don’t know, Damian. I…the idea of getting pregnant never crossed my mind.”
    “That’s all you got? It didn’t cross your mind.”
    She bows her head before her eyes lock on me again. “What do you want me to say?”
    Not good enough.
    “And then what? After you left, you were too busy living it up in Florida, you just forgot to tell me you had my child?” Hell yeah, I’m pissed. This isn’t something you fucking hide for four years.
    Color drains from Ellie’s face. She sucks her lips between her teeth while she averts her gaze, and one of her biggest tells spawns the realization—her nostrils flare. And I get it.
    “You never intended to tell me, did you?” I say.
    Her pale blue irises flick up to me, and the regret I see in them does nothing for me. “I started a new life, Damian. One with no connections to this place. When I found out I was pregnant with Lia, the last thing I wanted was to drag her into my past. And you…” She pauses. “You were going through enough.”
    “Shit, Ellie.” My appetite is gone. I cover my eyes with a hand and squeeze. What the fuck am I supposed to do with this? And why is she laying this on me now ? I drop my hand. “So, what do you want? Child support?”
    She’s quick to answer. “No, Damian. Nothing. I don’t want anything from you.”
    “Then why are you telling me now, after all this time?”
    She shakes her head in fast, small movements. “I had no intention of telling you. You found the picture, remember?”
    “Well damn. I feel so much better now.” My voice is raising, and it’s caught the attention of some people at the counter.
    Ellie sees them too. “Can we go back to your place and talk about this?” she suggests quietly.
    I pull a twenty from my wallet and toss it on the table next to our untouched food. Without a word to Ellie, I slip the picture of Lia in my back pocket and slide out of the booth. Heading out the door, my head is spinning. This was definitely not the bomb I thought Ellie would drop.
    This one is nuclear.
    I get in my car and Ellie joins me two