“I figured you wouldn’t let that fly, especially at fifteen. I can only imagine how feisty you were with raging teenage hormones.”
“Add pregnancy hormones on top of it, and I was a handful,” I say with a small chuckle. “I always thought he’d go off and become some rich businessman. He had nothing holding him back.”
“Can I help with Bernie? Or help you?”
I’d love it. In fact, I believed he wanted to do this from the very start, but not right now. “No. I’ll get through this. I always do. But thank you for stepping in with Ben. I doubt he’ll come near Bernie again.”
“If he does, he’ll be taking a fucking dirt nap.”
I glance up at him, and I wish I believed he was exaggerating. But I know he isn’t. I know enough about him and about bikers to know the truth. He’d do that for Bernie.
“Thank you for helping her understand that I did what I thought was best.”
“Just so you know, Ben made her think that maybe she shouldn’t have been born. That’s when we talked about how sad the world would be without her.”
My heart breaks. “I hate him.”
“I told her Mama lied to me, too, and it was worse than what her dad said.”
“You told her what happened?” I ask, my eyes wide in horror.
If I have my way, my daughter will never know the dark parts of the world. Especially that dark. I love how Bernie sees the good in everyone and everything, and I want her to keep that innocent view of the world as long as possible.
“Not specifics. It’s one of the only times she’s ever let me off the hook for saying it was complicated,” he says, laughing. “Plus, I have no idea how to explain that to a child.”
Relaxing, I lean against the railing. “Thank God.”
“I think it helped that I could relate. And because of you, I know Mama made the right decision. She didn’t want me to know for the same reason you never wanted Bernie to know.”
At least something good came out of all this. No matter how hurt I am, I’m thankful for Zep. I hate what he went through, but it kind of feels like it might’ve been the universe helping this mom out.
“Thank you.”
“She also heard him call her defective.”
I groan. “Of course she did.”
“I said he’s defective. And an idiot for not wanting to be part of your lives.”
This comes across a bit ironic considering Zep had both of us and kissed Chanel when he thought I wasn’t around. He had us and made a decision that cost him what we had. What we were building.
“He’s clearly an idiot if he’s turned to drug dealing. God, I can’t believe he’d be that stupid. He’s going to get himself killed. I guess it’s not a bad thing Bernie knows the truth now if that’s where he’s headed.”
“Misty?”
I look into Zep’s eyes. “Yeah?”
“Can we… talk?”
“We are talking.”
“Later. When you’ve decompressed from today. I need to explain what happened. There’s an explanation, I promise.”
Shaking my head, I stand. “I don’t think there’s any good that will come from talking.”
“I don’t want to lose you.”
I sniffle and stand. Walking to his front door, I sigh. “You’ve proven you can be a friend, and that’s what we’ll be. Eventually.”
