Page 204 of We Can't Be Friends

The box I put myself into my entire life was purposeless. The love I craved false. The constant seeking of approval only to be brushed into the shadows. Expectations higher and harder to reach—yet I reached them every time—than my siblings.

All of it makes sense.

I never had a shot at gaining her approval or love, and she utilized my brothers to put me down.

“George. Liam,” my father greets my mates, clapping each of their shoulders. “Thank you for finding him. I can take it from here.”

The guys move to settle their tabs, but Dad tells them not to, that he has our bill for the night.

It’s taken me a few days to figure out what I want to say. How to address Dad and Sienna. They’ve called and I’ve avoided answering.

Before leaving, Liam says, “Let me know when you’re heading home.”

Home.

Home to the only place, the only person that has truly ever made me feel as if there isn’t anything else they need from me except who I am.

Home is Chloe. Chloe Henry is my home.

It’s been a little over a week since she left. We’ve called and texted here and there.

Looking over at Liam, I nod. He must see it on my face, the wave of uncertainty that she’ll be upset, or worse, will finally see me how everyone else sees me. “She loves you, mate. She’ll be there. And all of this–” Liam makes circles with his hand. “Doesn’t change anything.” He gives me another hug. “For any of us. We love you.”

George and Liam leave. My dad replaces Liam in the seat to my right.

“I made a mistake veering away from your mother,” he starts as soon as they are out the door.

“She isn’t my mother,” I bite back.

“Callum,” he exhales. “Let me start again. I made a mistake when I veered away from Sienna. No one saw our struggles—the pain we were inflicting on each other. Bitterness and jealousy were at the center of our relationship. We were still in love; it was just buried under burdens that neither of us were willing to work through.

“I started a new job when I met your mom. Everything that I was missing at home, she returned. Easy conversation, laughter, and camaraderie. An emotional life jacket. Whenever I thought I was drowning at home, there she was to breathe life back into me. Over time, we drifted further together until I crossed a line.”

“How long were you sleeping with her?”

“Six months before we found out she was pregnant with you.”

“You were with her for fifteen months?” Dad shakes his head no. “When did you call it off?”

“The month prior to learning about you after I came clean to Sienna. At the time, your mom understood. She was gracious and forgiving about it. Then we found out she was pregnant. She was told she wouldn’t be able to get pregnant. You were a miracle for her.”

I shake my head. How could I ever be seen as a miracle?

Dad keeps going. “Sienna wasn’t thrilled to find out. It took several months, almost a year, of counseling to rebirth life into our relationship.”

“Did you want that? Did you ever think about leaving?”

“Not once did I ever consider leaving. I had your brothers, and Sienna is the love of my life. My faults aside, she truly is.”

“What happened. . . how did you end up with me?”

“Your mom had a complicated pregnancy. Pre-existing medical conditions flared.”

My throat goes dry, my eyes coated with a thickening layer of moisture. I close them, trying to fight off any tears. What was so wrong with me that my mother died during labor?

A light bulb must go off in my dad’s head, realization striking across his face. “Oh, no. She didn’t pass during labor. You were almost a year when she passed. The conditions her pregnancy flared up never went away. She fought every day for you. I promise.

“When she knew she had limited time, she asked me to take you. But she never needed to ask. I loved you the minute I found out about you. Sienna was uneasy about bringing you into our home. The image. How your brothers would feel. None of that mattered to me. You were mine, and that was settled.”

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