Page 10 of Verdict

I sighed. “A lot.”

“Uh-oh. That bad?” she teased. “Which girl’s heart did you break this time? Did she key your car?”

I forced a laugh. “Not quite." I paused, not quite believing the words that were about to come out of my own mouth. "I got someone pregnant.”

Silence.

I pulled my phone from my ear and glanced at it to make sure the call hadn’t dropped.

“Cal? You still there?”

“…Yeah.” She exhaled. “Sorry. Are you serious?”

“Yeah.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “And it gets worse. It’s Walker’s sister.”

“Goddammit, Cohen,” she said. “Please tell me you mean the youngest one and not the married one.”

That got a laugh out of me. “Yes, you idiot. I slept with Ava. The night we won the World Series.”

I could hear her pacing. “Shit. Okay. What are you going to do? What do you need me to do?”

Some of the tension in my shoulders eased just hearing her voice. Being able to say it out loud, knowing I had someone who wouldn't let me fall, prevented me from having a full-on breakdown.

“Nothing,” I said. “She’s keeping the baby. Said it’s up to me if I want to be involved or not. No expectations.”

“Wow,” Callie said softly. “That’s… really mature of her.” She paused. “But if I know you—and I do—you won’t let that kid grow up without their dad. Not like we did.” Her voice broke at the end.

Painful, unwanted memories rushed in. Father’s Days we didn’t celebrate. School events where our mom showed up in place of our dad. Baseball games where every other kid had their dad in the stands—coaching, cheering—while mine never showed.

I swallowed. “I asked her to tell me when the next appointment is. We’re also telling Walker together this weekend.”

“Good luck, bro,” she said. “That’s going to be brutal.” She paused for a beat. “And I know it’s probably too soon, but I’m going to be a kickass aunt.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “You definitely will.”

“Call me after you talk to Walker. I’m here for you," she assured.

“Thanks.” I exhaled. “I’ll let you go. I’ve got forty-eight hours until I potentially meet my death, and I need to plan my last words.”

“Oh, shut up,” she snorted. “Maybe Walker will surprise you.”

I scoffed. “He’s been telling me to stay away from Ava for the better part of a decade.”

“True.” She sighed. “All right. Love you.”

“Love you too, Cal.”

I tossed my phone onto the side table—after checking, once again, for any missed texts.

Nothing from Ava. Just a few messages from some of the girls I usually spent time with.

Lyla (Big Tits): Hey Jordan, want to come over tonight? It's been a minute.

Kate (Nice Ass): Hey, Cohen, been a while…did you lose your phone?

Danielle (Flexible): Where have you been? Call me.

Ignoring their texts, I pushed myself up, heading toward the kitchen when my phone chimed. I lunged for it like a dog after a bone.