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I sit back and she falls in my lap, groaning. “I don’t feel so good.”
I ignore her and think about what she just said. Penny has blackmail on Jase and East? Is that why they hurt Cara? If so, why was Cara the target? I need to talk to them.
Snores sound from my lap. Great, first I need to put this drunken mess to bed. I gently lean her along the railing and stand. I look down at her and contemplate leaving her there, but the southern boy in me knows that’s not right. Plus someone could take advantage of her like this. I bend low and scoop her up, grateful she’s lighter than Connor.
I don’t know what it could be. I had put Ella to bed then went searching for Jase and East. I couldn’t track them down so I went back to the dorm to talk to Connor. But he was gone.
I stomp into the gym on campus and don’t bother wrapping my hands. I find an empty punching bag in the corner and take out my aggression. Someone comes up behind me and smacks me on the shoulder. I turn and take a swing and just miss Nate by a centimeter.
“What the fuck man, why would you sneak up on me?” I growl and he steps away with his hands up, and a cocky smirk on his face.
“Whoa there Bruce Lee, watch it with those weapons,” he jokes, moving closer to me to whisper. “I heard your boy quit the brotherhood. Sorry bro, but I have some good news that might cheer you up a bit. There’s a huge party at the Kippa Nu’s tonight. Let’s get wasted and laid.” A party? In the location of where Penny might have her dirt? I think about it for a minute before giving in. Maybe if I bring Connor proof, he'll finally forgive me for whatever and talk to me again. I miss him. I didn’t just lose my girl. I lost my best friend.
Twelve
Easton
My phone rings again but I send it to voicemail. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey next to me I take a few more gulps as I watch the object of my obsession. Even with her bloodshot eyes and messy bun she’s gorgeous. My legs twitch just itching to open this truck door and chase after her, but I know that’s not a good idea. She enters the local pharmacy and my stomach drops. Is she sick? I wait a few more minutes contemplating if I should reveal myself or keep following her. I’ve been in town two days now, but this is the first time she has left her house. I never planned to come here, but she’s not answering her phone.
She needs to know about Lay. Even if she punches me in the damn face, I have to tell her about him. He needs her right now. Jase is a total mess about him trying to unalive himself again. And I’m sick of the fucking bullshit.
I wait a few minutes and am about to hop out when Cara reappears and runs into a girl her age. She drops something and the girl picks it up. Cara looks horrible; pale, sweaty and is that vomit on her hoodie? I climb from the truck and move closer, but keep far enough back she won’t see me. I’m glad I kept the shades and my hat on.
“Cara, what's going on? Are you pregnant?” The girl asks her and she freezes, looking into her eyes.
“I don’t know. Maybe?” she whispers, before breaking down into sobs. I watch frozen as the girl wraps her arms around Cara and moves them closer to the wall. A man bumps into me, pulling me back to the present. I spin on my heels and run back to the truck, climbing into the driver’s seat. I slam the door shut then lock it for good measure.
Oh fuck! Holy fuck!I grip the strands of my hair tight and let the panic take me. Cara, pregnant? No. This can’t be real. No, she said maybe; she doesn’t know yet. I take some deep breaths in and let them out. I grab the bottle again and take another deep gulp. I watch as they leave and walk around the corner. I’m in no state to drive, so I lay my seat back and decide a nap is in order. I’ll see her when I sleep some of this booze off.
e
My phone ringing wakes me from my impromptu nap.
“Hello,” I grumble and Jase starts swearing from the other line.
“Where are you? Are you seriously day drinking East? What the fuck? Lay decided to have himself committed, and I need you and you're nowhere to be found. What could be more important than your own brother, your twin?”He chokes on the last word and the sobbing begins again. Don’t get me wrong I love my brother and I would kill for him, but the depressive state he’s been in this past week is too much. I lost Cara too, but I’m not allowed to show my grief and guilt, because technically I broke her heart months ago when I decided to start sleeping with the enemy.
Well newsflash, I haven’t touched Penny with my dick. Fingers, that's another story, but my cock has stayed away from her greedy little paws, no matter how much she’s begged.
“Jase, I love you brother, but I can’t do this right now. There is bigger shit going on than you having a breakdown. Nut up and get over it. Lay will be okay. Listen to what he said. He wants to go there for help. Yes, I talked to him as well. He knew you would freak out. Just let him get better, brother. Then you can work things out, okay? I love you but I have to go. I’ll be home in a few days.” I hang up before he can respond, and I know it’s a dick move, but it’s the right move. He’s been watching, protecting and taking care of Layton for too many years. I don’t think he knows what to do with his impending free time. Maybe he can work on fixing things with Cara, because I know this won’t be a one man job. Especially if she has a bun in the oven.
e
I knock on Cara’s front door and wait for someone to answer. She just walked inside so I know she’s there. Fuck it! I turn the handle and slowly open the door. Voices sound from the other room and I take a deep breath. I know I need to stop following her and just nut up and go talk to her. I still don’t have a clue what I’m even going to say. I love her. There's no doubt about that, but is that enough? Will she ever forgive me? Want to be with me? And what if she’s pregnant? I know I can’t be the father since we haven’t slept together in months, but that wouldn’t matter to me. I push the door farther waiting for someone to catch me. I open my mouth to shout hello, when Cara speaks.
“I’m pregnant.” Something shatters and it feels as though I may throw up. I walk back outside and hurl over the banister. When the contents of my stomach have covered Frankie’s rose bushes, I turn and quietly shut the front door, before racing down the steps and back to my truck.Holy fuck! A baby. Cara is going to have a baby!I start up the engine then crawl down the gravel driveway til I reach the main road then I gun it until I reach the highway.
If there is going to be a baby, then there's someone I need to talk to. I think it’s finally time to come clean about what happened that night. To get Penny off our backs for good. I hit the button for my bluetooth and wait for the beep.
“Call Dad, mobile,” I say and let the tremble in my hands shake the wheel.
“East, what can I do for ya son?”my father barks out in his gruff, no bullshit tone. I take another deep breath, then reply.
“We need to talk. I’m on my way to you. See you tomorrow.” I swing by a local gas station and grab some energy drinks, snacks and gas. I also fill up a gas can. I ain’t stopping till I reach Terrell Hills, TX. My hometown. This is too important. It can’t wait any longer.
e
I reach the large iron gate and groan. I don’t have the beeper and it’s super late. I roll down my window and hit the buzzer. A soft, tired voice answers and I tell her my name. She buzzes me in, and I start the five minute drive to the front door. Okay it’s more like three, but after driving for fifteen hours you tend to become delirious and exaggerations are allowed. Would have been here sooner but of course there was fucking construction.
