“Of course, text me what you want and I’ll pick it up on my way back.” I pepper gentle kisses on both her and Hayden’s foreheads, before making my protein shake and heading down to the Porsche. I throw my workout bag into the passenger seat before sliding into the driver's side.
“Get it together, dude. She even told you that you’re doing great and they need you.” I say out loud to no one but myself but that doesn’t seem enough to calm my energy. Pressing the ignition and backing the car out of my parking space, I find myself turning right heading the opposite way of the gym.A drive, a drive will clear my mind.
The name Dominic Montez pops up on my screen so I press the little green phone button, “Hey Dom.”
“What’s up, dude? How are y’all doing?” His voice breaks through the car speakers.
“Hayden is not sleeping well man, it’s kind of wild.” I try to laugh it off but even I can hear the strain in my voice, barely keeping it together.
“Why don’t you guys have your Mom come help a little bit?”
“She’s got a cold right now, and can’t make it over for a few days, otherwise she’d be here already.”
“Damn dude, that blows. If Coach wasn’t railing us into the ice for losing our qualifier, I would be offering to come over more.” Would Hayden cry in the arms of mine or Darcy’s closest friends, or is it just me?
“I know man, thanks for checking in.”
“Are… Are you sure you’re good, man? Feels like you’ve been kind of spacey since he was born.”
“That’s what happens when a kid enters the picture, man. Listen, I’m pulling into the gym, call you later,” I lie.
“Yep… Okay bye, good luck!” Dom hangs up the phone and I realize that in the moments that I was talking to Dom, I’ve pulled onto the interstate and am heading West. To what destination? I don’t know. It’s unlike me to lie to my friends.
Chapter28
Six hours
Darcy || 2 weeks old, February
Six hours.That’s how long Tatum has been gone, I’ve called everyone and no one has seen him. I called the gym, he never checked in. After calling his parents, the arena, and every hospital within a fifty mile radius, I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s given up on us.
“Come on, Tatum. Answer the fucking phone.” It rings and rings again, for probably the twentieth time before going to voicemail. He turned his find my friends off and he won’t answer any of our calls or texts.
“D? Where are you?” Kodi comes around the corner of our living room, finding me in a pile of tissues, Hayden sleeping soundly in his baby tot beside me. I see her and my dam breaks, sobs wracking my body uncontrollably.
“Why…” I can’t catch my breath, gulping for air, “why would he do this to me? Why.” Another gulp for air, “wouldn’t he just talk to me?”
Kodi’s arms wrap around me and she speaks quietly, yet firmly, “Breathe for me, D.”
“In.”One. Two. Three.“Out.”One. Two. Three.We repeat the cycle two more times before I feel ready enough to have a conversation.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking but I’m sure he will be back, okay? He never checked in at the gym?” She asks.
“Nope. Hasn’t called anyone and isn’t answering either. Dom said he spoke to him briefly and he sounded jumpy, but didn’t give him any information to lead him to believe he was going to bolt.”
“I can’t get a hold of Harls but Sin is heading over with an overnight bag.” It’s then that I notice she dropped one in the living room as well. “We will stay as long as you need us.”
“What about Bella?” I ask, knowing that she has a child to take care of too.
“Stu is going to help while Mav is at practice and then she will come stay with us Friday if that’s okay.”
“Yeah, I could use some Bella snuggles for sure.”
“I’m here!” Sin gasps for air as she enters the condo, “Sorry it took so long. What can I do? Oh my god, this place is disgusting. I’m cleaning.” While I should be offended at her bluntness, it doesn’t surprise me and she’s not wrong, in the six hours that Tatum has been gone, it looks like a tornado came through here.
“Thank you guys,” I say through sniffles, looking at my son and hoping for his sake that his Dad gets his shit together soon.
“When does Hayden need to eat next?” Kodi’s lilting voice breaks through my brain fog.
