Page 13 of Oblivion

She placed the bags down in her living room, then headed to the kitchen, returning with three wine glasses and a bottle of white wine from the fridge.

“How about we rain check on the dinner and clubbing? Girls’ night in?”

I scrunched my poor red nose. “Is that okay? I really don’t feel like going out now.”

“Babe, it’s totally okay. And Vivi will understand; I’m thinking movie, wine, sleepover on the panty-remover.” She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

A little snort escaped. The futon in question had seen some action over the years. There was just something about it that dared drunk people to have sex on it. Hence, it was appropriately named “the panty-remover.”

“Girls’ night and sleepover, yes. Fucked-up friend threesome, no.”

Lydia threw her head back and laughed long and hard, then referred to her casual sex buddy.

“Caleb would wish he was here for that!”

“Is he coming over later?” I asked.

“Nah.” She waved me off. “He knew we were going out, and although I gave him a heads up that I’d probably end up at his place, our plans have changed. He’ll get over it.”

I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. “You sure?”

“The beauty of casual sex, Pen, is that it’s on offer when it’s convenient. Tonight ain’t gonna be convenient for me anymore.”

Receiving a fierce, hazel-eyed look, I smiled and tucked myself into an armchair. Lydia chatted while pouring the wine, and while I was listening, I didn’t really hear anything she was saying. I accepted a glass on autopilot and held it as she took a long swig from her own glass. The lull in the conversation made reality hit home all over again.

Tears prickled in the corners of my eyes and a sob burst free.

Lydia immediately set her glass down on the coffee table and engulfed me in a hug.

“Awww, babe!”

I clung to her, comforted by her scent and the slight rocking motion she created, until I got myself under control again.

“Sorry, Lyds. I’m all over the place at the moment.”

“Wanna share the deets with me now, or wait until Vi gets here? She just went to the store so won’t be long.”

I sighed, then took a large mouthful of the chilled wine. The crisp citrus flavor washed over my tongue and soothed some of the constant emotional ache from the back of my throat.

“Now. I need to get it off my chest. I’ll tell her when she gets back.”

Lydia plucked up her phone. She voiced her text out-loud as her thumbs worked. “S.O.S. with Pen. Long story. Girls’ night in. Bring extra wine.” She pressed send, then tossed the phone aside. “There. Now, spill.”

While balancing the wine glass on the arm of the chair, I rubbed at my chest. The action did little to erase the hollow ache pulsing within.

I took the deepest breath I’d taken in the last hour, and started with a wavering voice.

“I took one load of shopping inside, then went out for the rest. I was inside for literally two minutes, but when I went back outside, there was an envelope under one window wiper that hadn’t been there before.

“At first, I didn’t know what I was looking at, but quickly figured out it was a paternity test.Mypaternity test, that was apparently done a few months ago.”

Lydia’s eyes grew round with disbelief as she drank in each word. “You’re sure it’s yours?”

I tilted my head back and blinked until the tears were in-check. “Without a doubt. The document had my name on it, stating loud and clear that Paul Prescott was not a conclusive match. Someone else was.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. The name was blanked out.” My hands shook as I lifted the wine glass to my lips. The long sip allowed us a few quiet moments to collect our thoughts.

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