Chapter 340: Meeting My Baby Daddy

Kayla’s POV

The clock on the microwave said it was already way past eleven in the morning when we finally stepped out of the apartment.

We were both dressed and ready, like we were heading into battle instead of a lunch meeting.

My hands had shaken a little when I read Caleb’s message earlier, right after that long, sleepless night.

The text had popped up on my screen at 6:02 a.m.

“Kayla, I know I messed up last night. That was stupid of me to try and break in. I just want to talk. Peacefully. No drama, no lawyers. Just us figuring this out like adults. Name the place and time. I’ll be there.”

He was only apologizing because he didn’t succeed in getting in.

The text was respectful. Calm. Almost polite. It still made my stomach twist.

After everything he’d pulled…showing up unannounced, the break-in at my previous place…he was acting like we could just sit down and chat over coffee. Yeah, right.

I wasn’t stupid enough to face him alone. I’d picked a small, public restaurant downtown…bright, busy, lots of witnesses.

And Holly was glued to my side. No way in hell was I walking into that without her.

I’d dressed for war, just in case things went sideways. Black jeans that I could actually move in, a fitted gray hoodie that hid nothing but gave me room to swing if I needed to, and my sturdiest sneakers. Hair pulled back tight and wrapped in a bun so nobody could grab it.

Holly had gone full ride-or-die too…dark leggings, an oversized denim jacket, and boots that looked like they could kick teeth in.

I knew she had a small knife tucked in her bag (legal-ish) and a bright pink pepper spray canister she kept fingering like a lucky charm.

Before we left, I glanced at her in the mirror. “You told David about this?”

She shook her head, zipping up her bag. “Nope. He’s already buried with the company stuff and tying up loose ends from that police case. I don’t want to pile more on him. He’ll just worry and try to play hero. We’ve got this.”

I nodded. She was right. We’ve got this.

Minutes later, we stepped out of the unit, locked the door twice, and headed for the elevator.

Holly kept up a steady stream of pep talk the whole ride down, her voice bouncy and alive like we were heading to a concert instead of a confrontation.

“Head up, Kay. Chin high. Don’t let that son of a bitch bully you or twist your words. He’s gonna try every manipulation trick in the book…guilt, sweet talk, the ‘I’ve changed’ nonsense. You stay firm. You’re the mama bear here. We won’t give him the satisfaction he’s seeking for. Don’t even think about yielding to his nonsense. I’ve got you. Ava’s got you too. Even David. And Nathan,” she went on and I almost laughed.

I nodded, fists clenched at my sides. “If yielding means giving up Caden, then it’s over my dead body.”

Holly grinned wide, bumping her shoulder against mine. “Good. That’s my girl.”

The elevator doors opened into the lobby. Two security guys were already there, looking apologetic as they talked to a couple of other residents who had come down at the same time.

“Sorry again about the alarm last night, folks,” one of them said, voice tired but professional. “False alarm on the perimeter. We’ve increased patrols. Hope it didn’t mess up your sleep too badly.”

I forced a small smile and nodded along with everyone else.

Inside my head I was screaming, You have no idea it was because of me. My baby daddy was trying to sneak his ass in like some cheap villain.

The guilt sat heavy, but I swallowed it down. I did pay for security…so.

We waved them off and kept moving, heading straight for the underground parking.

David had helped us park the car neatly in a spot before he left last night. Holly slid into the driver’s seat without asking.

“You’re not driving,” she said firmly when I reached for the keys. “Relax those muscles, girl. You need loose arms so you can punch Caleb square in the face if he tries anything. Or I’ll do it for you…bonus points if I break his nose.”

I laughed despite the nerves, punched the restaurant address into the navigation, and leaned back.

Holly drove like she was on a mission…confident, a little fast, windows cracked so the city air could whip through.

Forty minutes later we pulled into the parking lot in front of the restaurant.

It was a cute little spot, big windows, outdoor seating half-full with normal people having normal lunches. Holly killed the engine and turned to me.

“Look at me, Kay.”

I did. Her eyes were bright, fierce, and a little wild in that Holly way.

“You’ve got this. You’re strong. You’re smart. You built a whole life for you and Caden without him. He’s the one who ran. Not you. Walk in there like the queen you are. If he even breathes wrong, we’re out. Or we fight. Your call.”

I smiled, the first real one in hours. “I’m really glad you’re with me.”

“Of course. Where else would I rather be?” she said, squeezing my hand.

“David’s arms?” I teased.

She blushed hard, then laughed. “Absolutely. Which is exactly why we need to get this asshole out of the picture fast. So I can go back to work… and fuck David in his office like a proper stress reliever.”

I groaned, covering my face. “You’re a maniac.”

“Proud of it,” she winked.

We got out of the car and walked into the restaurant hand in hand, shoulders back, steps steady. The automatic doors slid open with a soft whoosh.

The place smelled like fresh bread and garlic…normal, almost comforting. We scanned the room, eyes moving over tables and booths.

It only took a minute.

Holly nudged me lightly with her elbow and tilted her head to the left. “There.”

I looked.

In the far corner booth, half-hidden by a big potted plant, sat Caleb.

After all these years, he still had that same sharp jaw and expensive haircut.

But he wasn’t alone.

You’d think he’d come by himself to apologize and talk like a normal human. Hell no. The bastard brought backup.

Good thing I brought mine too.

And Holly was more than capable.