Page 116 of Stella
My lips part, but no sound comes out. I nod, but I can’t speak. Hearing him sayyoung ladylike that sounds a lot like a telling off from my dad, but arguing won’t get me anywhere with Cash. Eventually I manage: “I’m sorry, Cash.”
“That isn’t fair,” Cale starts. “This isn’t her fault. We should’ve been upfront from the start, but how can we be when you’ll pit us against each other? If this were anyone else butus, we wouldn’t have to sneak around. We’d date like all normal people, and nobody would care. But because you’re all up in everyone’s business around here, you punish her? After her dedication and hard work over these past few months, you go and do this? Don’t take it out on her, take it out on me if you really have to.”
I tug on Cale’s arm. I appreciate what he’s trying to do, but Cash sees this as a betrayal.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do in my own clubhouse?” Cash barks.
“Right, because I’d love nothin’ more than my daughter to be datin’ the likes of you!” Dad spits, getting close to us again. Calli growls, and I can just about guarantee she’s ready to chew on someone soon. She’s been holding back, but she doesn’t like anyone yelling at Cale.
“Why, what’s so wrong with me?” Cale spits back. “I’m not good enough because I’m a cop and do my job? I’ve neverarrested anyone from this goddamn club when I could have. Hell, I was even the first cop on the scene when Cami went missing a couple of years ago, but I’ll bet you all forgot about that and the many times I’ve looked the other way when I could have thrown all your asses in jail.”
Tag holds Dad back, but I see the rage on his face. Although he clearly remembers when Cami was kidnapped, he chooses to forget all the good things Cale has done because he’s a cop.
“Dad,” I say. “Please don’t do this. We need to talk, but right now, Deanna needs to know what’s going on with Cash, and that’s a lot more important than this at the moment.”
His eyes shift to mine, and he shoves Tag off him. “I need to take a walk.” He leaves abruptly, and everyone else files out except me, Deanna and Cale. The whole club is going to be buzzing about this outside these doors.
“How?” Deanna says. “How did all of this happen?”
“It’s a long story,” Cash replies. “I told you about Lauren and the baby I thought was mine.” She nods as he proceeds. “Like I said; she lost the baby, or so I was told. Then it was rubbed in my face that the kid wasn’t even mine. Why the fuck would she lie about that?”
Deanna folds into Cash’s arms. “Because she was a liar — sorry, Cale — but your mom wasn’t a good person. She hurt a lot of people.”
“I know that,” Cale says. “I’ve come to that realization a long time ago when she preferred to get wasted rather than raise me. It was up to my grandparents to take on the burden of a child thrust on their doorstep. Luckily for me, they were amazing and loved me unconditionally. I couldn’t have asked for better substitute parents.”
Deanna gives him a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry.”
Cash’s jaw ticks when he says; “Know this. I would never abandon a baby, whether it was mine or my stepbrother’s.Lauren did many low things to me, but I never thought she’d pull a stunt like this.”
“Maybe she didn’t know who the father was,” Deanna says gently. “She was with Razor at the same time. Who knows what was going on in her mind.”
“Then she should have been more responsible.” Cash shakes his head. “She didn’t give a shit about me the same way she didn’t give a shit about that baby. The only reason she lied was because she wanted her parents to raise Cale, and for me to never know my son. What kind of person does that?” He turns away, and a lump forms in my throat.
“I think we can make something positive out of a potentially bad situation,” I interrupt, wanting to find a solution to this. “I mean, we’re here now. We know the facts, and hating on Cale’s mom won’t make anyone feel any better. If you keep this feud going between the two of you, it’ll just eat you up inside. It’ll fester, and neither of you will find any peace.”
“You think this is easy?” Cale looks down at me. “I just found out a few hours ago that Cash Hudson is my father, and I’m supposed to just be okay with that?”
I raise a hand to stroke his cheek. “No, you’re not. You’re allowed to be shocked, hurt and angry, all those things, but there’s no changing the facts. He’s your dad, and you can choose to try and have a relationship, or you can walk away.”
His blue eyes remain fierce as he keeps his gaze on mine. “I’ve gone this long without a father, so I think I’ll take my chances. My grandpa is the only father figure I’ve ever known, and I’m fine with that.”
“But you haven’t even given us a chance,” Deanna says, surprising me. “You have a sister.” She pats her stomach. “And while we haven’t announced it yet, you also have a brother baking in the oven.”
I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth. “Oh, my god!”
“Deanna,” Cash mutters.
She waves him off as I leave Cale’s side and rush to her, hugging her tight. Tears well in my eyes. “Wow, you’re pregnant at the same time as Indi,” I laugh. “Your kids will be in the same grade!” Momentarily, I forget all of what’s going on with this news.
“Tell me about it. Harlem and Cash are gonna be silver fox daddies together,” she muses.
I pull back. “Congratulations, both of you.” I glance up at Cash, his hand laying protectively over his wife’s stomach. I get a ghost of a smile.
“While this is all exciting news and of course, me and D are ecstatic… I need time to process everything else.” He wafts his hand out toward Cale. “It’s been a hell of a lot of information for one night.”
I nod, turning back to Cale. I mean, he’s a lot like Cash. The same good looks. Blue eyes. Tanned skin. Stature. Height. There really is a comparison that I’m now fully aware of. The twist, though? Wow, I never saw that one coming.
“I gotta head out,” Cale says.
