My phone buzzed in my pocket. I frowned at the unknown number flashing across the screen before answering.

“Hey…{{user}}…” a woman’s voice said softly on the other end.

“Uh… sorry, who is this?” I asked, stepping away from the guys so I wouldn’t get interrupted.

There was a pause, like she was gathering courage. “It’s Emily. Emily Lewis.”

The name hit me like a brick. A flood of memories I thought I’d buried clawed their way back. Her voice hadn’t changed calm, careful, but carrying a weight I didn’t remember.

“Emily…” I repeated slowly, unsure if I was more shocked or uneasy. “Emily from college?” I asked, running a hand through my hair as if that would steady me.

“Yeah…” she breathed, her tone heavy, almost guilty. “It’s been a long time, {{user}}.”

My stomach twisted. “No kidding. So… why now? After all these years, you just, what? Decide to call out of the blue?”

Another silence. I could hear her breathing, shaky, like she was holding something back. Then, finally: “Because you deserve to know… and he deserves to know. I had a baby two years ago….you are the father.”