Vegas Aces: The Wide Receiver Complete Series

CHAPTER 27 TESSA

Tristan seems to crowd protectively over the carrier as we all watch Cameron Foster walk down the hallway toward us.

What did I ever see in him?

He’s still handsome, I suppose, but he looks like he’s aged since the last time I saw him. He’s not the sexy, intimidating doctor he once was. Now he just looks exhausted, with dark circles around his eyes and wrinkles I never noticed before making webs near his eyes. He doesn’t smile, and in some ways it looks like he’s got a permanent scowl on his face.

It’s only been about three months since the last time I saw him, but I’m sure Christine hasn’t gone easy on him in those three months.

I wonder if he’s still out banging nurses in his free time. I wonder if he’s still lying to her about it. I wonder a lot of things, but I also don’t really care. As much as I don’t want him in my life in any capacity, I also know what an incredible doctor he is. I hate him, but he’s caring for Logan.

His eyes meet mine first, and his brows dip together as if he’s wondering what the fuck I’m doing here.

It’s none of his business.

My immediate response is rage, but that seems to snuff out quickly. I don’t need to be mad at him anymore. He served his purpose, and now he’s in my past.

“Nurse Taylor, what a surprise,” he says. He lifts his chin as he looks at Tristan, who stands some four or five inches taller than him. “And you are?”

Tristan lets out a strangled little chuckle, and I can tell he’s barely holding it together. He wants to smash his fists into the good doctor’s face, and I’m right there with him. “I’m Nurse Taylor’s future husband and the father of her child. Oh, and Logan’s bone marrow match.”

At his description, Cam’s eyes move down toward the carrier.

I suck in a breath.

Miranda and James have absolutely no clue that Dr. Foster is looking down at the child he helped create. The child he told me to take care of. The child he wanted nothing to do with so it didn’t ruin his perfect reputation.

What a strange situation. Fallon’s birth father is here, but he will never be part of her life. Logan’s birth parents are here in the hall, wishing they could be a bigger part of his life.

Tristan protectively pulls the sunshade over the baby’s carrier so Cam can’t see in, and I stifle a chuckle. He doesn’t deserve to see her. He doesn’t deserve to know anything about her. He can fuck right off.

Cam raises his brows. “The father of her child. How lovely.” A brief pause follows his words, and he opens his mouth to say something. But then he seems to think better of it and nods down the hallway instead. “Well, this reunion has been something. If you’ll excuse me, I have patients to see.”

“Of course,” Tristan says, keeping the carrier to his side so he can keep Fallon protected as Cam walks past. “Hey, Dr. Foster?” Tristan asks, and Cam turns around with raised brows. “Take good care of Logan. He’s a special kid.”

Cam nods, and his eyes edge over toward Miranda and James. “He’s in good hands.” He turns and walks down the hallway, and I suppose it’s one thing we can all agree on.

We say goodbye to James and Miranda, who promise to send photos and updates, and James can’t believe he has a real NFL player’s phone number.

Then we take the elevator down and head out to the car. I feel like I’m leaving a piece of my heart behind, but I also know Cam was right. He’s in good hands.

And that’s just something I’ll have to live with.

The ride from Chicago back to Fallon Ridge is quiet. Tristan focuses on driving, and I stare out the windshield as I reflect on everything that’s happened.

Nothing has changed.

Not really, anyway.

We know now, so I suppose that’s different in itself, but I still don’t get to be with him. I still miss him and long for him. At least I know he’s safe, loved, and cared for, and that’s what really matters. At least that’s what I tell myself.

“You’re quiet,” Tristan muses about halfway into the trip.

“As are you,” I point out, and he nods, conceding.

“How do you think it went?” he presses.

I shrug. “About as good as it could have. It just doesn’t feel right leaving him. You?”

“Same,” he admits. “I saw so much of myself in him, it was scary. And the way you were with him…it was incredible, Tess. You are incredible.”

Tears fill my eyes. “I didn’t feel very incredible.”

“We’re doing what we have to do to keep his life as steady as possible,” Tristan says. “It feels wrong, but deep down, I know it’s right.”

“It’s like I know you’re right, and in my heart, I know taking him away from the only parents he’s ever known would be so wrong, so messed up. But I wish we could be selfish.” I sniffle as I wipe away a tear.

“Me too. Someday, we’ll get our moment with him. Until then, we have to just let him be happy and be loved. We’ll do what we can from a distance.” There’s something in his voice that tells me he already has things in motion.

“Like what?” I ask, turning to look at him.

He clears his throat. “I may have paid off his hospital bills while we were there,” he admits.

“Oh, Tristan,” I say softly.

He shrugs. “It’s nothing for me. Might be a pretty big deal to the Wesleys.” He pauses, and then he adds, “And it’s also why I’m planning to talk to my financial guy so I can set up a trust fund and a college fund for both Logan and Fallon.”

“Have I ever told you how incredible you are?” I ask softly.

He presses his lips together. “Not today.”

I chuckle. “You’re incredible. Thinking of the future for these kids…you’re setting them up for success.”

He’s quiet a beat as he thinks over those words, and then he glances at me. “That’s all I ever wanted to do as a parent.” His voice is soft. “Set them up with the tools they need to be successful for the rest of their lives. Not just financially, but in every aspect. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally.”

“You’re the best dad,” I say. “And a great man.”

He presses his lips together and his mind seems to drift away for a moment before he glances at me once more. “I learned from the best.” He’s referring to his dad, and I couldn’t agree more.

I wish my own dad had been more like him, but now I get to see Tristan as he fathers our children—both near and far—and I pray we’ll be blessed enough to add more so I can continue to watch him flourish. He’s a great football player, but when I see him with his kids, I know he’s in the lifelong role he was born to do.

And I can’t wait to watch him from the sidelines.