Page 67 of Vegas Baby!

“Good vibes only,” I replied with a smile.

She was quiet for a short while, just staring at the others across the hall, before asking, “Do you think Andrew would have loved the baby?”

“I don’t know him well enough to answer that.”

“I wonder sometimes what would have happened if I’d never found out about his wife. I don’t know how he planned to manage two families, but maybe he didn’t plan anything at all. Maybe I’d have moved there and he’d have drifted away. I can never quite make it make sense. Like…why would he have wanted me to move to New York if he could have just left me in California? That would have been easier for him. Heartbreaking for me, but…”

“I get it. I don’t have the answers you’re looking for and we may never know what was actually going on in his head. If I’m being generous, I’d hope he’d have at least taken care of you and the baby financially, though that’s a poor substitute for an emotionally committed and present parent.”

Ava sighed, closing her eyes. “I try not to think about it at all because it makes me really fucking mad. And sad. I hate thinking about how easily he did things knowing it would hurt all of us. I guess I should be grateful that he didn’t dump me on my ass the second he found out I was pregnant.”

“No.” I almost snapped it, but restrained myself. “Youneverhave to be grateful that his behavior wasn’t worse. You and his baby and his wife and kids all deserve better from him. Be as mad and sad as you need to be, but don’t ever turn it around to be grateful he didn’t hurt you more. He was wrong and he knew it. Taking some modicum of responsibility for his choices doesn’t change that.”

A tear slipped over her cheek and she burrowed closer to me. “Everything feels so weird. I’m heartbroken and furious over him, but I’m also so happy for this second chance and getting to know all of you. I didn’t think I could feel all of those things at once.”

“I don’t envy you one bit in that regard,” I said softly, holding her closer. “It’s a complicated situation, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Every single person in this house will do anything we can to support you however you need.”

“What if I want to go to a rage room?”

I chuckled. “Sweetness, if imagining Andrew’s face on a plate before you smash it is part of what you need to heal, I’ll hand you the bat myself.”

Jesse made good on his promise, booking the pack in for a smash therapy session at a local rage room. I had to sign a hefty waiver, and they only let me in while pregnant because Jesse was a paramedic and going to supervise me.

I’d seen rage rooms on TV before, but I’d never gone to one myself. Maybe it wasn’t exactly a healthy coping mechanism, but Jesse had assured me it was an excellent way to vent, and alsothat sometimes breaking stuff that was meant to be broken was just fun.

Luke wasn’t joining us. As fun as it could be for the rest of us, he said the sound of breaking dishes reminded him too much of growing up with his mom. I couldn’t fault that. He would meet us for dinner later.

After getting outfitted in our coveralls, gloves, and goggles and going through the safety tutorial with the staff, we were let loose into one of the rooms with a hard rock playlist blasting over the speakers. They had electronics and kitchenware set out everywhere.

Where was I even supposed to start?

Bryce looked just as lost as I was.

Micah picked up a plate, yelling “Opa!” before hurling it to the ground at his feet. I picked up my own plate, smashing it against the concrete, a zing of adrenaline shooting through me.

“Take a swing at the cups,” Jesse suggested, passing me a hammer and pointing at the chipped, sad row of them lined up waiting to get shattered.

I dredged up all of the hurt and fury Andrew had put me through and took my first swing. The ceramic burst like a firework.

“Damn.” Micah laughed. “Our girl is fierce.”

I worked my way down the line, leaving a path of destruction in my wake.

Andrew was married.

Smash.

Andrew was already a father.

Smash.

Andrew had lied to me since day one.

Smash.

Andrew had put all of his children at risk of a broken family.

Smash.

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