Page 49 of Might as Well

“I’m calling Sydney,” she says. “I need reinforcements.”

“You have her number?”

She snorts. “I need someone to talk shit about you with when you’re being a pain in my ass.”

I laugh and listen as she explains the shit has hit the fan and I could really use another friend. Sydney doesn’t hesitate to invite us over. Before I can protest because I don’t want to intrude on her family time, Cassie has made me change and forces me out of the house.

I really wish I’d put my foot down when we get to Sydney’s and it’s clear her family is over. Well, Logan and Kayla are here. Kayla and Sydney usher me and Cassie to the kitchen.

“What’s going on? Did Zane call?” Sydney asks.

With a sigh, I recount everything that’s happened since we last spoke. Sydney’s fury on my behalf grows with every word. But then, I get to the reason that spurred us here.

“I’m pregnant,” I whisper. A sob that was lying in wait for the perfect moment to erupt bursts free. “He’s going to think I trapped him,” I cry, releasing the fear that was holding me captive since I saw the positive test. “Or worst, he’ll think it’s somehow Luke’s or someone else’s.”

The women crowd me and wrap me in a group hug.

“Fuck him,” Cassie snarls. “If he is stupid enough to accuse you of that or to walk away for good, then you’re better off.”

“I agree,” Sydney says, surprising me. “I love Zane, but I’m so disappointed in him right now.”

I wish I wasn’t, but so am I. Zane is like me. He wants someone to love and be with. I guess what happened with Deanna is still a bit of an open wound; why else would he snap to judgment like that? Even knowing that may be the case, the longer he lets this fester between us, the more I’m not sure I would even want him back if he was willing to hear the truth.

Zane brings a lot of comfort to my life, but look at how easily he ripped it away.

CHAPTER 16

ZANE

Ibummed it on Cal’s couch that first night and then caught an earlier flight to my parents’. I kept my phone off at first, but then at the airport, I dropped it, shattered the screen, and it landed in a puddle of water, which is why I had to use my mom’s phone to send off a text to Violet.

I’m stopping at Ian’s for just a bit to give Savannah her present before picking up a new phone. Then I need to finally face Violet.

The door to Ian’s swings open and Ian frowns when he sees me.

“Not a good time, Z.”

I return a frown of my own. “Just wanted to give Savannah and Andrew their presents.”

Ian shakes his head. “Violet’s here and the women are all crowding her in the kitchen.”

She’s here? Why is she here?

“Who is it?” Sydney asks a moment before she comes to stand next to Ian. Her face hardens when she sees me. “While I love you, Zane, and you were my friend first, you are not allowed here right now. Violet is here and?—”

“You’re taking her side?” I ask incredulously. “Do you even know what happened?”

She raises a brow at me and counters, “Doyou?”

Time seems to slow down as the thought that’s been nagging me since I walked out on Violet bursts forth. What if I’m wrong about what happened? But if I’m wrong, wouldn’t she have stopped me from leaving? My parents tried to insist I was overreacting, but neither had an answer when I asked them that same question or what could have possibly happened otherwise.

“I don’t want to take sides,” Sydney continues, “and I know you should get priority, but Violet needs me more. And she’s not in the wrong here.” She looks back up at her husband. “He’s not to come in.” With that, she walks away, presumably to return to my wife.

“See if Violet wants to see him,” Ian tells her. She glares at him and then at me.

The women had my back with Deanna, even though Deanna didn’t really do anything wrong. If Sydney has staked a claim on Violet’s side, it’s because she knows something I don’t.

“Fuck,” I mutter.

---