Page 36 of Fate

“Jesus, you’ve gotten yourself into a prickly situation, haven’t you? I’ll be there soon and we’ll discuss. For now, get your head on straight. Start thinking about what your next steps are both with Misty and with Kathleen. She doesn’t deserve this after everything she’s gone through.”

“And I do?” My anger rises and unleashes like a fire-breathing dragon. “I fell across her feet so many times wishing she’d take me back. Practically begging. Then finally, finally the universe decides to make it happen, and whammo! I’m tossed into a pit of poisonous snakes with no fucking ladder to escape. I don’t know what the fuck to do. I’m trying to figure it all out, but the very last thing I need right now is you judging me! I didn’t ask for this to happen. It was an accident. A stupid fucking mistake, but I’m doing my best to right a wrong. Okay? Give me a little credit for manningup.”

Chase groans. “No, you’re right. It’s not my place to judgeyou.”

“Cuz… Chase. You know how I feel about Kathleen. Youknow.”

A rumbling sound breaks through the line. “Yes, yes, I do.” He sighs.

“Before I knew about all of this, I finally told her last night. I said the words she has been waiting to hear. And man, they felt sogood.”

“Stop. You’re going to make me angry again.” Chase’s words are clipped and direct.

“Why?”

“Because I care about Kathleen. I care about her health, mental and otherwise. She has just barely started to come back to the person she was, and now this? You tell her you love her, fuck her, make her think life is hunky dory, and now you’re going to lay this shit on her? I honest to God have no idea how she’s going to handleit.”

“Don’t tell her,” I say instantly.

“Unacceptable.”

“Chase. This is my life. I have to tell her myself.”

“And how, pray tell, do you plan to keep this from my wife? There’s no way in a million years I’m going to lie to her. Not to mention, she’s going to find out the second we arrive. You need her expertise in all this. Besides, she’s going to lose her mind when she finds out she has another niece. My wife is ridiculous about family connections. Our family and her soul sisters are the only family she has. This is news she’ll want to shout from the rooftops.”

He is not kidding. Gillian is nothing if not nurturing and family-oriented. “I’ll talk to Gigi. Just give me some time to handle this my way when it comes to Kathleen. I need to be the one who tells her. Otherwise, it will ruin any progress we’ve made. Okay? Promiseme?”

Chase makes a rumbling sound akin to the sound a dog makes when someone tries to take away his food when he’s already eating. “Fine. But you have a week. I’m not holding my wife back longer than that. These soul sister relationships are touchy. You can’t fuck with them. And you putting her in this position is not going to go downwell.”

“I’m sure you can find ways to get her mind off it.” I add a joking laugh to lighten the heavy conversation.

“Are you suggesting I seduce my wife into submission?”

“What? Did you lose your touch? Having a little trouble in the bedroom now that you’ve got two kids and cooking up number three?”

“I won’t even grace that with an acknowledgement. My wife is well satisfied. Always has been, always will be. I can’t keep my hands offher.”

“Then it shouldn’t be too hard for you to earn me some time to figure all of this out before Gillian runs toKat.”

“Fine. I’ll see what I can do, but I’m not forcing my wife to lie to her best friend. And I’m not touching that situation with a ten-foot pole. You’re on yourown.”

“That, I’m used to.” I grumble half-heartedly. Ever since Kathleen pushed me away, I’ve been alone. Now I have something small, perfect, and adorable to put all my effortsinto.

“See you soon.” I hear baby squeals coming from the otherroom.

“Indeed,” Chase finishes formally.

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