WEEK 74: Apologize

Prompted by: Ember-Raine Winters

The crazy author says: I had this scheduled for tomorrow by accident. Genius, eh? 🤓 A huge THANK YOUUU to the lovely Miss Jess for letting me know 😘

I wish I had an extra set of hands.

Or a dozen extra sets.

It’s no easy feat dragging an overfilled suitcase up a flight of stairs with a passed out four-year-old on your hip. I actually do pretty well though. I manage to reach the top before my grip gives out and our luggage goes tumbling.

It doesn’t go quietly either.

“Mommy…”

“Sorry, champ,” I apologize, kissing the crown of his head. “Go back to sleep, okay?”

He does, almost immediately, and I turn around, praying everything we own isn’t scattered across the parking lot.

“Hello, Sidney.”

My heart stops dead at the deep, husky voice.

No.

This can’t be.

Impossible.

This can’t fucking be.

It’s the one person I never expected to see again. Wild blonde hair. Clear blue eyes. The one man I’ve never forgotten.

Not once breaking my gaze, he bends to retrieve the suitcase and takes the stairs toward me two at a time. His handsome face remains expressionless when he halts a few feet away.

“Why are you here?” I whisper.

Glancing at the perfect little boy nestled against my neck, his nostrils flare. He steps closer. “I came for my son.”

Panic surges through my body, but I fight the instinct to run. I stand my ground. I don’t even stutter. I’ve rehearsed the line a million times, “He’s not your son, Twitch.”

His mouth twists into a cruel smile. “You’re not a good liar, Sid.”