“She has a leash around that thick neck of yours and is leading you around like a lost puppy.”
“I’m going to kick your ass up and down this restaurant if you keep yapping.”
“Man, drop her like a bad habit.”
“I can’t.”
“Yeah, you can.” He takes a bite of garlic bread.
“She’s pregnant.”
“You’re kidding me,” he says in disbelief.
“And we’re getting married.”
Josh gulps down the remainder of his wine, then slams the glass on the table. “You forgave her?”
“No.”
“Wow, marrying a girl you don’t trust. I’m sure you’ll have a long-lasting marriage,” he says sarcastically.
“I love her.”
Josh peruses me speculatively, surprised by my admission.
“I wish I didn’t, but goddamn it, I do.”
“Oh fuck.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I knew this day was coming the moment I saw her in your damn penthouse, though I hoped it never would.”
I squint at him. “If you’ve got something to say, fucking say it.”
“It was me who gave away your secret, not Cin.”
“Fuck you say?” My hands form fists, ready to throw down.
“Then, I was holding onto hope my mother would eventually come home, so it was hard to cope when Missy and Cin moved in. I wanted them gone.”
Our fathers selected worthless women to sire children with, and we’ve both suffered because of it.
“My feelings for Cin grew. You see, you’re not the only broken boy she helped. I fell for her hard, but she and Trevor started dating. I backed off because he was my best friend.”
My anger increases as his story unfolds. My need to hear the conclusion is the only thing keeping me seated.
“Jealousy ate at me, so I ratted you out. If I couldn’t have her, neither could you.”
“But who told you about my cutting and the cocaine?” His story isn’t adding up.
“I overheard you and Cin talking in the kitchen after school on Cole’s birthday. That’s how I found out everything—you buying cocaine from Bane, Cin catching you in the dining room, and the cutting. Later that night I went looking for evidence and found the baggie under the table.”
“Why wait to tell Ricky?”
“I felt bad for letting you take the blame for stealing the truck alone. Not telling Dad was my way of making amends, but we had a precarious relationship, so I kept the baggie to use against you if needed.”
“And you searched my bedroom for the razor?”
“I did. I found it in the top drawer.”
“You let me hate her for years instead of being a fucking man and owning up to your bullshit.”
