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“Excuse me? Of course, I’m good at supporting my boyfriend.”
“I’m not your boyfriend,” Shane claims. “You know that, Autumn.”
“Well, it’s not like you’ve been fucking anyone else,” Autumn argues.
And that’s enough. I step into the room and head straight for the tap. After I take a drink of the cold water, I turn to the others in the room. Matt stands by the exit to the backyard.
I’m certain he’s ensuring no one else overhears the conversation. Oli and Shane stand shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed over their chests. Autumn stands opposite them, leaning on the island.
“This is not the time or the place for this horseshit. We just put my dad in the damn ground. Autumn, you’re not welcome here. Get off my property.” I say, looking at each of them.
“You’re right, Sunshine,” Shane says, leaving his post to come toward me. Normally, I’d stop him in his tracks, but a sense of something I can’t quite name keeps me standing still.
At that moment, the storm door opens and Dakota runs through. “Daddy. Daddy.” She calls. “Can I have an ice cream now? You promised.”
Shane leans down and whispers. “Of course, sugar. Go on and tell Manuel to get you one. I’ll be there in just a minute.”
Completely ignoring everyone else in the room, Dakota takes off running back the way she came screaming for Manuel. I watch as she rushes across the grass and throws herself in his arms. He catches her with a laugh and carries her away.
“Daddy?” Autumn asks. “That can’t be.” She says in shock.
None of us says a word as the declaration sinks in. I see the moment it does. Autumn’s face turns red. She blubbers for a minute before any words actually come out.
“Did you at least ask for a paternity test? I mean, the slut left for six damn years. If you expect me to raise a child, at least know for sure she’s yours.” She spits.
I can’t stop myself from stepping forward. My hand flies back and then forward. A resounding smack echoes through the room. “I’m the only one that will raise my child.” I seethe.
“You bitch!” Autumn screams before she throws herself at me. I’m not at all surprised, so I’m ready for her. “I’ll fucking kill you!” If I have to hear her voice for much longer, she may be correct. My ears feel like they’re going to bleed any second.
She doesn’t make it near me. Shane grabs her and pins her arms behind her back so she can’t swing. She struggles in his hold and when that doesn’t work, she changes tactics. She rubs against him seductively. Her ass swirls against his crotch. Shane shows no interest and pushes her away. She turns and tries to grab him, but he steps back.
Shane looks menacing when he says, “If you ever threaten my wife again, they’ll never find your body. I know what you did six years ago. You need to leave and never come near me again.”
“What did you just call her?” Autumn whispers. “Say it again.”
“She’s my goddamn wife!” Shane screams loud enough for all of Rush Springs to hear. Then, in a threatening voice, he says, “Leave.”
Autumn, tears in her eyes, turns on her heel. When she gets to the front door, she turns. “We've been fucking for the past six years. Hell, for much longer than that.” Autumn says. "Did he tell you that, Samantha? Did he tell you his dick's been inside me hundreds of times over the years? This isn't over."
“Yes. It is.” Shane tells her.
I stand motionless. The silence is deafening. I’m waiting for the questions to come, but they never do. Matt and Oli look between me and Shane and then head out to where everyone gathers. Matt squeezes my shoulder on his way past.
I’m at a loss for words while I stand with Shane in the kitchen of my family home. Honestly, hearing Autumn brag about how many times she's fucked Shane makes me want to vomit. If I had anything at all in my stomach, I would probably lose it all over the kitchen floor.
Shane moves a little closer to me. A sigh from his lips has me looking up at him. “Samantha,” he starts.
“Don’t,” I tell him. “I didn’t need you to defend me- didn’t need you to announce to everyone that I made even more mistakes six years ago- and I damn sure don’t need to see that look on your face.”
“What look?” He asks.
“That look that says you wish things were different. They aren’t different, Shane. They never will be.”
“You think I don’t know that, Samantha? I’m well aware. And even if they could be, I wouldn’t want it. I know I fucked up, but so did you. You still kept my kid a fucking secret. I’ll never forgive you for that.”
Shane stomps away after leaving me with that kernel of knowledge. Once he’s out of the house, I collapse. Falling to my ass, I press myself up against the wall, hide my face in my hands and let the tears fall. It isn’t bad enough that I’m mourning my dad. I’m mourning my relationship with Shane all over again.
I thought I was past all of this. I mourned Shane once and felt his loss as deeply as if he had died, but he’s still here. He’s still able to torment me, to remind me of what could have been. Of what should have been, but what will never be. I start to question everything from our shared past. Was he with Autumn the whole damn time we were together?
