Page 110 of The Lessons

She nodded and looked a little surprised. “Yeah, you know her?”

I tried to cover my tracks. “No. I mean, I just remember you saying her name.”

“Oh, right! Well, remember how she was pregnant? Guess what? It’s Derek’s baby. Can you fucking believe that? After we tried so hard…” A tear launched itself down her cheek.

“Hey, hey there, Renee, it’s gonna be okay. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s kind of good that you found out now.” Passing her more tissue, I kept that assurance on repeat as I reviewed her words over and over in my mind.

Had she really just said that Lisa’s baby wasn’t Ryan’s? If that were the case, why’d he pretend that it was? My mind started racing. Were they even dating? He’d professed they weren’t, but I hadn’t believed him. I was more confused than ever. None of this made any sense.

None of it.

Chapter Thirty-eight

Late Wednesday Afternoon

Ryan

“Please don’t hate me Ry, I can’t handle that right now.”

I exhaled and glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. My thesis defense was scheduled to start in less than an hour. Ainsley had promised to be there, but over the last few days, her depression had reared its ugly gray head.

“It’s almost four in the afternoon, Ains,” I said over the phone. “When was the last time you got out of bed?”

Silence.

“Ains…”

“God, I don’t know,” she groaned. “Sunday? Monday?”

“Ains, you’ve been in bed since this weekend? Have you called Dr. Katz?”

More silence.

“Ains, look. I have to go; otherwise, I’ll be late. I’ll swing by once I’m done, but I want you up and showered. I’ll take you out for dinner.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Well, then you can watch me eat. You can’t just stay in bed.”

I heard her sigh over the phone. “Yes, big brother.”

“I’m serious. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Later that evening…

They say people often do stupid things when they’re high. Now, I’ve never done drugs, but I was fresh off the exquisite high of my thesis defense when I followed suit. As all my earth-bound problems seemed to fade, what stupid thing did I do, you ask?

Isn’t it obvious?

I called Natalie.

That’s right. I called her. I called her as I jumped down the stairs of the brick building where I’d just kicked my thesis defense’s ass. Eight long years, and I was finally done.

Did I have a plan of what to say to her?

Not a chance. I knew I needed to head over to Ains, but right now I also knew there was one thing that could send my high even higher, and that was hearing Natalie’s voice. And I did get to hear her voice.

On her voicemail.

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