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***
“This guy was renting unit ten. Where did he go?” I hold a picture of Austin to the man behind the desk of the motel. I’m fucking pissed that I can’t find the piece of shit, making him pay for hurting Brooke.
The old man holds up his hands in surrender. “I don’t know, man. He left early in the morning a week ago and I haven’t seen him since.”
“Did he leave with anyone?” I ask, trying not to lose my cool.
His brow furrows, and he taps his chin. “She was blonde, I think. I’m almost positive she was wearing a hoodie with the hood up over her head.”
“Do you have security footage of it?”
He leads me into his office. I watch him type away on the computer while Derrick stands guard at the doorway. A moment later, he stops the footage. “Is this the guy?”
The guy is wearing a baseball cap pulled down low, but I’d recognize that fuckwad anywhere. “That’s him.”
The man fast-forwards the footage and stops when a Camry pulls up. There are no license plates, and the driver is clearly female, and like he said, wearing a hoodie. I look closely at the screen, but there is never a clear shot of her face.
Austin climbs in and then they take off. “That is the last time I saw him.”
I shake his hand, slipping him some money to keep quiet in case Austin comes back asking questions. Derrick and I head out to his truck, both of us quiet until we’re back on the road.
“Who do you think the girl is?” he asks as we head back toward the shop.
I scrub my hand over my face. “I’ve got no clue. Brooke isn’t the type to have enemies. My guess is it’s someone he knows that he’s conned into helping him.”
“How are things going with you two? I feel like I’ve hardly seen you.”
Smiling like an idiot, I turn to look at him. “Fucking great. I love her, man. She has always beenit for me. I’m just grateful that she’s willing to give us a second chance.”
“I still think that bitch slipped something into your beer. You never would’ve done that to Brooke.”
I shake my head. “I still did it, man. I swore to her I’d never betray her, and I did in the worst fucking way. My son is the product of my infidelity. It is just something I am going to have to live with.”
“You can’t beat yourself up over it forever, man. She forgave you, she loves your son, and now you have to forgive yourself.” Thankfully he drops it. I can’t think about all of that right now. It has been a wound I’ve refused to let heal.
“I do appreciate your support, man. Thanks for always looking out for Brooke, even when she didn’t know you were.”
***
Mom hugs Brooke, rocking her back and forth. We just got done telling my folks about the baby. Actually, Tripp was the one to tell them with his “I’m the Big Brother” shirt.
I wasn’t expecting my mom to burst into tears, but I know they were happy ones. She’s always hoped that we would get back together. Dad pulls me into a back-slapping hug. “I’m happy for you, son.”
“Thanks, old man.”
We switch, and Mom comes to me and Dad hugs Brooke. The whole time Tripp just jumps up and down cheering and clapping.
“Sweetheart, I am so happy for the three of you.” Mom grabs my face, pulling it down to kiss both cheeks.
Mom insists on us staying for dinner and before she even started cooking, Brooke and Tripp are asleep on the end of the sofa. I set the table while my parents finish up dinner, opting to let them sleep until dinner is done.
They place the fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots on the table, and I head into the living room. Squatting down next to them, I stroke a hand over her hair. “Brooke, baby, it’s time to eat.”
Her eyes pop open comically fast. “Whas going on?” Fuck, I love when she’s like this when she wakes up. Brooke looks down and sees Tripp is cuddled up to her. I watch as her eyes soften, and she leans down, kissing his forehead.
They get up and disappear into the bathroom and when they come out, we sit down to eat.
By the time we get home, Tripp is asleep in the back seat, and Brooke is nodding off in the front. I get him out first, and with him in my arms, I go around and help her down.
