23
STEVEN
There’s no hiding now…
I stiffen my stance the moment I spot Russell’s car coming to a halt behind Becca’s. This part of the process had to happen, so why not get it all done and over within the same weekend? I just wish I were more prepared.
“You piece of shit!” Russell yells as he stomps toward me, his finger jabbing in my direction. “My fucking daughter?”
As he approaches me, he nearly slips on the slick snow that still remains on the street. Becca gasps, reaching out to catch him if he falls, but he jerks away from her. The look in his eyes as he stares at her hurts me, so I can’t imagine how she’s feeling.
It’s the look of betrayal, disappointment, and disgust. A fair reaction, but it’s not like we are criminals. So we fell in love? So she has someone who can take care of her and our son? What’s so wrong about that?
I internally chuckle. I know what’s wrong with that picture…I’m his best friend. Someone he trusted.
Russell puts his hands flat against my chest and shoves me hard. I slam back against Becca’s car. “What the hell is your problem?” he shouts at me again. “How could you do this to me? We were best friends…we were brothers.”
There’s a sense of desperation in his voice. Most likely from him trying to figure out why I would betray him this badly.
I can’t think of a single thing to say to him that would help our case or make him less angry at me. At least not at this moment.
My mouth opens to speak, but nothing comes out. What do I say to the man I just betrayed, someone who has been there for me since college?
His jaw clenches, and his hand grips into a tight fist. He draws back and throws a punch at me, but I dodge, causing him to punch Becca’s car. There’s a tiny dent when he removes his hand, and he shakes his hand as the pain sets in.
I’m distracted by looking at the car when Russell grabs me, and we fall to the snow-covered street. He is attempting to wrestle me, but I slip out of every maneuver he tries on me.
In college, he held the title of conference champion in wrestling all four years. He was at the top of his weight class, but that was nearly twenty-five years ago. He’s out of practice. I wasn’t into sports, but since graduating from college all those years ago, I’ve been going to the gym religiously.
Out of desperation, he finally gets me pinned on my back, and as I try to sit up, he throws a punch that strikes me in my lower jaw. My eye closes from the pain that is shooting through my face as I throw him off of me.
“Feel better now?” I ask as I stand back on my feet. “Can we be done?”
He shakes his head, seemingly still fuming. Becca rushes over to me, placing her hand in the center of my chest as she stares at her father.
Becca’s mother is now out of the car, placing herself between Russell and me, trying to calm him down. She seems more worried than angry, unlike Russell.
“I’m so sorry,” Becca says to me before turning her attention to her father. “Dad, what the hell! How did you even know about this?”
He chuckles, but there’s something sinister about the tone. “I had to find out fromhisbrother,” he states, pointing at me once more. “Cam emailed me, telling me everything. I got on a flight and came straight here to see for myself. Becca…he’sDamian’s father? How…How could you guys do this to me?”
His voice is breathy now as he looks around the street, baffled.
Of course, Cam would go to those lengths just to hurt me. He’s still pissed about losing his job and the girl he thought he had. Nothing he does surprises me anymore.
“Did he also tell you that Steven’s parents threatened me, and that’s why I moved away? Did he tell you that it was all because they feuded with Grandpa? I’m sure he didn’t…”
Russell shrugs off everything she’s saying to him. “I-I can’t even look at either of you right now. I’m leaving. I want you out of my damn house by tonight.”
My mouth falls open as they climb into their car before speeding away from us. My eyes shoot to Becca as I try to comfort her, but she just stares ahead, dumbfounded.
I can’t imagine what Russell is feeling, but it shouldn’t warrant him to kick out his own family.
“I’m sorry he hit you,” she mumbles as a single tear rolls down her red cheek.
I shake my head while rubbing my jaw. “Don’t be. I kind of deserved it. Are you okay?”
She wipes her cheek and buries her face in my chest for a moment before pulling away. “I will be, but right now, I need to get home to my son.” Opening her door, she climbs into her car. “I’ll call you later.”
