“It’s not mine,” Kent insists, wresting his arm from his dad’s hand. “It can’t be.”
Kalvin comes around the table to join the rest of his brothers, all of them now protectively flanking Kent. The only one still sitting is Keaton, and I can tell he’s upset by that. He looks conflicted, and I’m guessing that’s down to whatever disagreement exists between him and Kent.
Looking at the wall of men surrounding Kent and their fierce expressions, it’s hard to understand Kent’s comment about being on the fringes. All I see is a family ready to do whatever is necessary to protect one of their own, and I’m glad they have stepped up for him because Kent needs this.
Kyler shoots me an apologetic look before eyeballing his brother. “I know you don’t want it to be yours, but you’ve got to consider the fact that it could be. Unless you’re saying you haven’t had sex with her recently?”
Kent’s jaw flexes, and the skin on his knuckles bleaches white with how tight he’s clenching his fists.
“Kyler is right,” I say, rising to my feet as I attempt to emerge from the numbed wall I’ve retreated behind. “You need to talk to her.”
His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. “It’s not mine, Pres,” he whispers, collapsing against me.
His entire body is a mass of solid stress, and I wrap my arms around him, offering what little comfort I’m capable of offering when I’m shattering on the inside. “Don’t go in there all guns blazing. Just listen to what she has to say,” I suggest.
“Presley is right,” Alex adds in a soft voice. “And there are ways to prove paternity even while the baby is in the womb.”
Adam hisses, and I’m close to swinging my fists at him myself. He’s a fucking asshole for the way he’s treating Kent. I get he’s worried for his daughter, and it’s blatantly obvious he doesn’t like Kent, but throwing shade when he isn’t privy to all the facts is dumb and spiteful.
“I don’t like the insinuation that my daughter is lying.” Adam pulls away from Kaden, removing a handkerchief from his pocket, using it to stem the blood flow trickling from his nose. “I know what you all think of Whitney,” he adds, glancing at everyone around the table. “And I know she’s got her issues, but my daughter would never lie about something like this.” He fixes Kent with the full extent of his hatred, and I hold Kent tighter, instinctively needing to protect him from this. “I have warned you, time and time again, to stay away from her. You have never been any good for her, and I blame you for the way she is. You have selfishly toyed with her feelings with no regard for how it’s destroyed her.”
“You can’t pin that on Kent,” Eva says, working hard to maintain a neutral expression. “He has always been honest with Whitney. You’re being unfair.”
“I think that’s enough, Adam,” James says in a clipped tone. A muscle clenches in his jaw. “There’s little to be gained from assigning blame at this point.”
Adam snorts. “Of course, you’d think that. Like father, like son,” he sneers. I’ve no idea what he’s referring to, but judging by the shocked gasps and furious expressions from the rest of the family, I’m guessing he’s referencing something horrible from the past.
“Okay, Adam.” Kyler grips his father-in-law by the shoulders, looking like he wants to knock some sense into him. “You’re going to shut up now before you say something you can’t ever take back.”
“It’s already too late,” Alex says. Sorrow is etched on her beautiful face as she shakes her head. “We have welcomed you into our home countless times over the years. We considered you a friend, and this is what you really think?”
“I think you’ve forgotten what a delinquent your son is in your haste to paint my daughter as the villain of the story,” he says, clearly unwilling to let go of his anger.
“How dare you!” Alex’s hands shake with rage. “That was in the past, and Kent has worked hard to turn his life around. He’s studying to be a lawyer for Christ’s sake! I won’t have you taking this out on him, and we don’t even know the facts yet.”
“I know a leopard doesn’t change his spots,” Adam growls, and I narrow my eyes to slits as I glare at him. I run my hand up and down Kent’s back in what I hope is a reassuring gesture.
“He was a troubled kid,” Kyler says. “So was Whitney. So were lots of teens, but that has no bearing on this. Think of Faye,” he adds. “Think of how much this is going to hurt her. You need to stop throwing accusations around and just focus on being there for both your daughters. That’s what you should be doing instead of insulting my family.”
Adam wets his lips, and his chest heaves. His shoulders slump, and no one says anything for a few beats.
Kent pulls me around in front of him, pulling me in flush against his chest, and I circle my arms around his back, resting my head on his chest. He holds me close, like he might need my touch to ground him.
“You’re right, Kyler. I’m sorry. Forgive me, Alex.” Adam looks at Kent’s mom and then his dad. “I apologize, James.”
James exhales heavily, scrubbing a hand across his chin. “Our kids need us. That’s all that should matter now.”
It hasn’t gone unnoticed that his lackluster apology didn’t extend to Kent. Or that neither Alex or James has accepted it. I’ll be very surprised if their friendship remains intact after this.
“Wow. The world truly has gone to hell in a handbasket,” Kalvin says in a light tone, attempting to break up the tense atmosphere. “This day shall forever be known as the day Kyler Kennedy put the oldies in their corner. Nice one, bro.”
Kyler rolls his eyes. “Shut. Up.” His lips twitch. “Idiot,” he murmurs under his breath, but the hint of a smile has broken through.
“Pres.” Kent brushes my hair off my shoulder. “I’m going to go speak to her, and then we can leave. Okay?”
I nod, plastering a reassuring smile on my face. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine here.” He kisses me softly even though it’ll probably aggravate Adam, but fuck that asshole. He is way out of line. I get he’s upset and worried about his daughter, but that does not give him the right to say and do the things he has said and done. Kent kisses me once more, and I know it’s his way of conveying it’ll be all right, even if we both know that’s not true.
If Whitney is pregnant with Kent’s kid, this will change everything.
