Jey sat on the edge of the couch, his fingers running over the edge of his phone in a nervous rhythm. The living room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner, the sound of the rain tapping against the window. He was alone with Alexis and the little girl who, according to Alexis, was his daughter.

Lily.

The girl was sitting on the floor, playing with a few toys, completely unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts swirling around the room. Her blonde curls bounced as she moved, her little voice humming to herself as she played. It was hard to believe that this sweet child could be his, but the resemblance was uncanny. Every time she smiled or looked up, Jey saw the same eyes, the same expression that he saw in the mirror every morning. His stomach twisted at the thought.

Alexis was sitting on the armchair opposite him, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She had been so calm when she dropped the bombshell on him earlier. And now, Jey couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He wasn't sure what to do, how to react. He had never been faced with something like this. He hadn't been prepared for this.

"Jey, I know this is a lot to process," Alexis said, her voice gentle. "But I wanted to give you the truth. She deserves to know her father."

Jey exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He didn't know what to say. His mind was racing, replaying every moment with Alexis, trying to piece together how this could have happened. And now, here he was, sitting across from a child that might-might-be his daughter.

Lily looked up from her toys and smiled at Jey. There it was again, that damn smile. The way her eyes lit up-it was like staring into a mirror from another life.

"Hi, I'm Lily," she said shyly, holding out her little hand in a gesture of polite greeting.

Jey blinked, unsure of how to respond. He swallowed, trying to keep himself together. "Hi, Lily," he said softly, shaking her hand. "You... you're really something, huh?"

Lily giggled, her laughter like a small bell ringing in the quiet room. She had a sweetness about her, an innocence that made his heart ache. But that didn't change the fact that he was unsure. He couldn't just let his emotions take the wheel without answers.

Jey turned to Alexis, his gaze intense. "I need to be sure, Alexis. I'm not gonna just jump into this without knowing for certain. This isn't something I can take lightly."

Alexis nodded slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "I understand. I never wanted to force you into anything. I wanted you to have the choice to be a part of her life, not just because of some resemblance, but because it's the right thing for both of you."

"I can't just assume, Alexis. I'm not going to pretend to be her father without knowing. That's not fair to her, and it's not fair to me," Jey said, his voice low but firm. "I need a paternity test, and then we'll figure out where we go from here."

Alexis's eyes fell, and Jey could see the hint of disappointment in them, but she didn't argue. She had been patient, too patient, and now it was time for answers.

"I know you're right, Jey," she said quietly. "I just wanted you to have the choice. She deserves to know, even if it's hard."

Jey nodded, his chest tight. "I get it. I do." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "But I can't give her something I'm not sure I can give. Not yet. I need time to process this."

Lily looked up at him with wide eyes, her head tilting to the side as she tried to understand. "Are you gonna be my daddy?" she asked, her voice so small, so vulnerable that it made Jey's heart ache in ways he hadn't expected.

Jey froze. Her words hit him like a truck, knocking the air from his lungs. He wanted to tell her yes. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and promise her everything. But he couldn't lie. Not when everything was still so uncertain.

"I don't know yet, sweetheart," he said softly, his voice breaking. "I need to find out for sure first."

Lily's smile faltered slightly, but she nodded, as if she understood. Alexis's gaze was soft, but there was a sense of finality in it, like she had heard this answer a thousand times already.

"I know you're doing the right thing," she said, her voice low. "I never meant to throw this on you like this, Jey. But I couldn't keep it from you anymore."

Jey nodded. He didn't know what the right thing was, but he couldn't just leap into this situation without answers. He wasn't ready to be a father to a little girl he barely knew, no matter how much she looked like him. Not until he had the truth.

"Once I get the test, we'll go from there," Jey said quietly, looking over at Lily again, this time with a little more resolve in his voice. "I'm not walking away, but I need to know for sure."

Alexis reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "I understand. Thank you for being honest with me. I know this isn't easy, but I wanted her to know her father."

Jey stood up from the couch, his mind still heavy, but there was something more solid about his resolve now. He wasn't going to run away from this, but he wasn't going to dive in without the answers either.

He turned to Lily, his eyes softening. "We'll figure this out, okay? But I need you to understand, I can't be everything you need until I know for sure."

Lily nodded, still unsure but accepting his words. "Okay, Jey."

As he stepped toward the door, Alexis called after him. "We'll take the test as soon as possible. You'll know soon enough."

Jey gave a small nod and turned back one last time before leaving. There was no magic in the moment, no sudden sense of certainty. But there was something else-something he could hold on to. A promise that, no matter what, he'd face this head-on.

Outside, the rain had started to pick up, but as Jey stepped into the storm, he realized that no matter how heavy the clouds, there was always a way through.

And for now, that was enough.