Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Maybe I’m an idiot for not thinking about this, but Jesse’s points are making my stomach feel like a ball of lead about to drop out of my ass. I laugh and shake my head. “What are you trying to say, man? That Walker is my kid and Caroline has just been too scared to tell me? You realize how fucked up that would be, right?’
Jesse shows me his palms. “I’m not saying that’s what is going on. She has stuck with the story of this mystery guy with me. Unless Andi is actually managing to keep a secret from me, she’s sticking to it with her, too. I’m just asking questions. And would it really be that fucked up? You practically backed her into a corner. Any sane woman would’ve been scared to death to tell you the truth at that point. She was at her most vulnerable point, and you made her feel even more alienated and alone.”
I drain the last of my drink and set it down loud enough for the bartender to notice. I nod for him to get me another.
14
CAROLINE
“They are so cute together,” I say, standing in front of the bed where Walker and Jude are lying side by side. They’re both on their backs, kicking and fidgeting. “He was good for you?” I ask.
“He was an angel,” Andi says. “He mostly just slept. I need you to get him to teach Jude that trick. Amelia was a good sleeper, but Jude makes it his mission to stay awake as long as possible. Then, he gets too cranky to fall asleep. It makes so much sense,” she says sarcastically. “We spend the first part of our lives struggling to sleep. The middle is spent wishing we had more time to sleep. Then, in the end, we can’t stay awake, even if we want to.”
“That’s deep. Unless your Grams. Then everybody just wishes you would sleep more often.”
We both laugh, returning our focus to our fidgeting babies.
“At least they’re cute,” I say.
“So cute,” she agrees.
“Speaking of… You came in here looking like you were on cloud nine. Did something happen?”
I bite my lip. “Um, well, it was kind of the most amazing night of my life. So there was that.”
Andi narrows her eyes. “Okay… But this whole thing is still pretend, right?”
“I mean… Yes. Maybe. We’ve just always kept things so discreet. It was different tonight. Like I was his to show off, and he seemed so proud to do it. Almost like he’d been wishing he could this whole time.”
“Dude,” Andi says. She’s smiling now and wiggling her eyebrows.
I laugh. “Stop that.”
“Dude,” she repeats, shoving me playfully now.
I lift a pillow from the bed and whack it against the side of her head, nearly knocking her over. “Sorry, Jude, but your mom deserved that.”
Andi’s hair is hanging in front of her face as she leans forward, laughing. She straightens, fixes her hair, and points a finger at me. “You know none of us ever believed you two weren’t banging in secret, right? It was so obvious. You’ve probably already hooked up dozens of times.”
Try hundreds, I think. “And you just let me believe that you believed me? How could you?”
She laughs. “Listen to yourself! How are you the victim here, exactly?” She’s still smiling, and I can see there’s no venom in the question. She’s just highly amused by this whole thing and probably has been for years.
“I’m not saying that. I just… ugh. Was it really that obvious?”
“Pretty much. And Caroline, there’s one thing… I’ve let you off the hook for this for too long. But now, given everything that is happening with you and Jake, I’m going to ask you point blank. And if you lie to me, I swear to God, I will end you.”
I brace myself because I know what’s coming.
“Is my brother Jake’s father?”
I swallow, and I haven’t even said a word before Andi’s eyes light up.
She leans forward suddenly, pointing and gasping. “Holy shit! Are you freaking serious?” she gives me another outraged shove, but she’s laughing and standing now, dancing from foot to foot. “Are. You. Serious?” she asks, punctuating each word with another little shove.
“You’re going to bruise me!” I complain, laughing along with her. “I didn’t even answer your question.”
“You didn’t have to. I saw it in your face.”
“Okay, okay. Maybe he’s the father.”
And flops down on the bed, her amusement shifting suddenly to wonderment. She’s staring at the wall and then jerks her gaze up to me. “I’m an Aunt! That means I’m Walker’s Aunt! Did you hear that, Walker? I’m your Aunt Andi. Hmm. She says. That doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Aunt Summers? Is that too weird, like something you’d call an old lady?”
“Not exactly the most pressing question right now…” I say. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to. I really did. But I didn’t want you to have to keep that kind of secret from Jake.”