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Like mother, like daughter, history was repeating itself.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
Jason
Outside, I jumped into my car, peeling out of the parking lot, much like the first night Gemma and I met. Although, unlike that day, I didn’t have to wonder what it was like to be with her. I knew. A goddamn roller coaster, that’s what it was.
And it was all getting to be too much. The ups and downs, the push and pull. The secrets and lies.
I’d been living my life thinking if I could do everything right, be perfect, the people around me would never wound me. I was an idiot because, of course, that wasn’t true. The one person I loved most in the world had hidden this huge, life-changing thing from me. The one person I loved most in the world had cut me in two.
And then to throw out that line about it being her and not me? Of course it was me. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have avoided me. She wouldn’t have been lying all these days. She didn’t trust me, didn’t respect me enough to give me the truth. And… “Fuck!”
I opened all the windows in the car and blared some screaming emo music, trying desperately to drown out the thoughts racing through my mind as I sped onto the highway. I didn’t know how to process any of this, my anger, my hurt, my surprise, my utter confusion. Just a few weeks ago, she had told me she didn’t want to move in with me, and suddenly, we were going to have a baby.
A baby.
What the actual fuck?
After a few hours of aimless driving, I pulled into my garage, thoroughly windswept and heartbroken. I jostled my keys into the back door and was immediately blown away.
“Surprise!”
A crowd of friends and coworkers huddled in the kitchen, smiling and laughing. I stood stock-still, eyes closed, hoping I’d dreamed this whole disaster of a day.
Although what happened with Gemma was a nightmare.
I opened one eye at a time—fuck, they were still here—to find the group had descended on me. They handed me off, down the line, well-wishes from all. They thrust cards and presents into my hands. When I made my way to the edge of the crowd, Frank encircled me in a bear hug.
“Happy birthday, kid.”
“Thanks.”
“Gotcha good, huh?”
“You got me,” I deadpanned.
He chuckled, smacking my shoulder before moving on to entertain a few of the guests, and Caroline bounded over, hugging and kissing me. “Happy birthday, sweetheart!” She took my coat. “Where’s Gem?”
“Not here.”
“Yes, I can see that.” She playfully pinched my arm. “Where is she?” When I didn’t answer, she narrowed her eyes, smile long gone. “Jason, where is my daughter?”
I met her gaze, unsure of what to say or do. “At her apartment.”
“Why?”
I didn’t know how much Caroline knew about oursituation, and I sure as shit didn’t know how much I was supposed to say. If anything at all. I shrugged.
“Jason.”
Luke and Kevin appeared at my side, luring my attention away. They spoke animatedly about the great tickets they had scored for a Bulls game, but Caroline clenched my arm, holding me in place. “What about the baby?”
I could only meet her gaze with a hardened jaw. I couldn’t answer her question because I didn’t have one.
Caroline rushed away, her hand on her temple, muttering curse words I’d never thought I’d hear come out of her mouth. I didn’t know what a heart attack felt like, but I had a pretty good guess from the shooting pain in my chest. My skin went cold, my knees literally shook underneath me.
“You okay, man?” Kevin asked.
