Page 86 of You're All I Need

Her eyes flush with anger at my insinuation. “Fuck you, Caden. I didn’t ask for this to happen, but it did.”

“So you claim.”

Then she throws a figurative punch square in my stomach. “I’m not Dawn.”

And since I can’t seem to control my mouth, I fire back, “Are you sure?”

She stands up straight, her back rigid, her body radiating tension. “You need to leave.”

When I open my mouth, wanting to say something other than more garbage I’ve been spewing the last couple of minutes, she yells, “Now! Get out.”

My heart aches in my chest as I watch the tears fall from her eyes. The anger and hurt are both evident, her face etched with the devastation I’ve just caused. Yet, I can’t stop thinking about what happened all those years ago. The happiness I experienced when Dawn told me she was pregnant, only to have it ripped out from underneath me so fast I didn’t even have time to catch my fall. The bruises and scars have remained, still seen every time I look at myself in the mirror.

“I said leave, Caden,” she demands, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I take a step toward her, my hand automatically reaching out, and even though I have every intention of wiping away the tears I have caused, she flinches and pulls back. That reaction sends waves of realization through me.

“I don’t need your help, Caden. I’ll do this all on my own. You’re not trapped. Go.”

I’m in love with Tyler.

The baby’s not yours.

It’s his, and we’re gonna raise our son together.

Goodbye.

My legs somehow carry me out the door and to my truck. I’m so lost in my own head; I don’t register the slamming of the door or the sounds she makes on the other side when the tears fall. All I can hear are the words once spoken to me. The truths Dawn laid at my feet, decimating my entire life.

I drive, not really knowing where I’m headed. I’m certain it won’t be to my house, however. The last thing I want is to be left alone with my thoughts, which are pretty fucked up right now.

Instead, I drive to Jack’s place. He won’t have the kids until tomorrow, so I don’t have to worry about them seeing my freak-out. Stevie will probably be there, but it is what it is. Maybe she’ll offer some helpful advice. On second thought, she’s best friends with Adrienne, so she’s probably going to kick me in the nuts for being a total asshole.

I pull up in front of their house, noting his work truck is in the driveway. Her car is gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s not in the garage or something. I don’t know how long I sit here, slowly starting to bake in the cab of my truck, since I turned off the ignition. I contemplate just driving off, maybe grabbing a bottle of something to numb the pain and finding some remote field near the river. Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow and my life won’t be a complete shitshow.

Movement catches out of the corner of my eye, and I look over to find Jack standing on the porch. He waves me in, so with the same wooden legs I’ve grown since the whole mess at Adrienne’s happened, I climb from my truck cab and head his way.

He meets me at the base of the steps but doesn’t lead me to the house. Instead, we walk around to the back deck. “Have a seat,” he instructs, pointing to their little patio set in the shade.

I do as instructed, falling into the first chair I approach.

He goes into the house, returning a few seconds later with two bottles of water. “You look like you could use something stronger, but you’ll have to settle for this.”

Taking the bottle, I chug half the contents in one long pull, reveling in the cold liquid sliding down my parched throat. “Thanks.”

He nods, drinking a bit of his own water. I can feel his eyes on me the entire time. “What’s up?” he finally asks as the silence stretches between us. When I still don’t speak, he adds, “Dammit, Caden, if Adrienne quits because you couldn’t keep your dick in your pants, I’m gonna be pissed.”

My ears burn with anger as I turn my glare to my oldest friend. “What the fuck?”

“You breaking things off with Adrienne. I can tell you’re upset, so why do it if you’re going to be miserable?”

My eyes narrow. “I didn’t get a chance to break it off, asshole. She told me she’s pregnant.”

It takes a moment for my words to register. When they do, he smiles widely and reaches over, slapping me on the shoulder. “Really? That’s great! Congratulations, man.” Suddenly, it’s as if realization hits him. His smile falls from his face, and he says, “Oh, shit.”

“How do I know the baby’s mine?” I demand, jumping up and pacing back and forth across his deck.

“Who else’s would it be? You two weren’t sleeping with other people, were you?”

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