Page 22 of Jocked Up

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Drake sighed a breath of relief as Bethany left. She trusted him to take care of her boy. Their boy. Drake studied the sleeping boy and knew it; he didn’t know why he hadn’t seen it before. He’d assumed Bethany had found some other guy in college, believing the story she’d put out. He hadn’t even thought about it when the boy had his birthday in March, he’d just gone along happily buying the boy gifts the entire month. But why hadn’t she said anything?

Drake sank into his chair knowing exactly why she hadn’t said anything. He’d run out that morning, eager to get to his friends, and left without a word. He hadn’t called to talk to her before she’d left for college, he hadn’t asked about her, and when his mom split with her dad, he’d all but ignored her existence. Even Amelia had eventually stopped talking about her to him. He hadn’t known she was pregnant, hadn’t known Peter even existed.

Because he was a selfish dick, as usual, he told himself as he squeezed the space between his eyes with his thumb and finger. A giant, douche prick. Damnit all! No wonder she’d been so pissed off with him when he first came back. She’d been raising their kid by herself all that time. And no wonder she’d not told him when she was pregnant with Petra. She’d expected the same exact thing to happen!

How was he going to make this up to her? Could he make it up to her? And could he tell her the penny had finally dropped? She’d kept it hidden for a reason obviously. But Peter was his; he wanted his name on the boy’s birth certificate. He wanted Peter to call him Dad, to know that he was his father.

Sighing deeply Drake wondered how to sort this mess out. Who knew things you did when you were a kid could come back to haunt you like this? He’d thought he was just having fun, alright, maybe even exploring a young woman that had tempted him often in his dreams and his fantasies. He had thought it was just a moment, a game, and he’d conquered her and won. When he’d won he’d lost interest and went on to the next conquest, the next game. What a dick he’d been.

Now he had this little boy to get to know, to love, oh man, a son. Drake’s eyes filled with tears but he brushed them away as a nurse came in. Time to be Dad.

The anesthetist came in, asked a few questions, then came back later with some medicine to put in Peter’s IV. Drake asked a thousand questions before they wheeled the boy away, grateful that Peter wouldn’t feel any pain. It was at that time that he waited, sending texts to Bethany each time a nurse came to update him, that Drake realized he now felt a connection to Peter but his true feelings hadn’t changed. It wasn’t often a father got to know his son before finding out the child was his but it was special. He’d loved Peter before he knew; now he didn’t love him more, he just felt a stronger bond.

The nurse came to tell Drake that Peter was in the recovery room and would be back in his room soon. She told him the boy was going to be groggy and probably would sleep a lot so Drake settled into his hospital “bed-chair” and covered up with a blanket to wait. Why was it always cold in hospitals, he wondered?

Soon enough Peter was back and barely stirred as he was transferred to his bed. Drake sat on the edge of the boy’s bed, looking down at the piece of foam meant to immobilize Peter’s arm and cushion it against any bumps. They’d put a plate and screws in the boy’s arm but Drake couldn’t tell, not with all that foam around it anyway.

“I’m here now little buddy. I know who you are and I know who I am, we can move forward now and I’m never going to leave you again, I swear it.” Drake held his son’s good hand as he made the vow and he felt Peter twitch in his sleep. Drake hoped he heard it.

Peter’s innocent little face was almost a cloned copy of his mother’s but Drake could see a hint of his own features in the boy, maybe his chin, his ears. It might have just been wishful thinking but now that Drake looked he could see it. He’d been so stupid; he knew that now. Breathing deep, he went back to his chair, hoping to get a little rest. His brain needed time to process it all.

Chapter Fourteen

Peter was in the hospital for two days; the doctors wanted to be sure he was there if an infection set into his bones so they could react quickly. Drake and Bethany brought him home when the doctors decided they were confident Peter was healing well, without infection showing any signs of springing up. Drake wasn’t sure if the excellent care was because of him or simply good care but he was grateful.

Bethany was exhausted from taking care of the baby and Peter. She barely stopped over the last few days, and even slept on a pallet on the floor in Peter’s room. Peter was learning to get around with his braced up arm and agreed to stay in bed while his mom slept. He’d only get up to go to the bathroom. Drake saw that they both had everything they needed and packed a day bag for the baby. He was going to visit Bethany’s dad, he needed some answers.

Drake knew where he lived and Geremy Amberson told him to get to riding when Drake called him. Drake had laughed, the older man’s Cajun coming out in a way that delighted him. Geremy was a dying breed of Cajun, speaking both the French patois and English. Geremy had lived the life of the everyday American citizen until Bethany had gone off to college. After his daughter left, Geremy went back to his roots.

Drake pulled up to the houseboat. He looked at the contraption in awe. Getting out of his truck he walked up to meet the man that had tried to do the best he could for a fatherless boy. Drake held his hand out to Geremy but the man embraced him instead of taking his hand.

“It’s good to see you, boy, how you been?” Geremy spoke as he did with his old friends and older family members, in a way that would confuse most Americans. When he was with Bethany or other people he kept to the language they used but when he was comfortable or not being a dad he let his Cajun slip out.

“I’m good, Geremy, real good. How are you?” Drake followed the man into his home and out the back door, his daughter in her car seat in his hand. He took her out and gave her to her grandfather who cooed and mooned over her.

“You want a drink, get it yourself. I’m going to love on this here girl. Ain’t that right mon cher? Oh you sure are a darling.” Geremy’s eyes gleamed in happiness as he held the girl.

Drake walked in and got them both a glass of iced tea then came back out. Petra was asleep in her grandfather’s arms. He set the glasses down on a table and sat down. He looked out into the bayou, feeling himself calm down immediately.

“So, what you come all the way out here for, Drake? Got some questions, I reckon.” The man looked sidelong at Drake, his gaze knowing.

“Yes. First, may I marry Bethany?” Drake blurted out the question.

“Your mother and I have been waiting a long time for that Drake. We saw it all those years ago and when Bethany ended up pregnant, well, we figured it was time to call it quits for us and let you two have a chance.” Geremy resettled Petra and looked over at Drake.

“No way! You two gave up on your own happiness for us two knuckleheads?” Drake looked at the man holding his daughter and realized if it brought his daughter happiness he’d give up his own life.

“Yes, cher, we did. We wanted you to be happy, both of you. We knew you were Peter’s father; we’ve just been waiting a long time for you both to realize you belonged together. Took you long enough.”

“Why didn’t anybody tell me if you all knew? Why?” Drake was a tad bit ticked off now, but he tamped down on it.

“Because you weren’t ready. If you’d known you’d have done the right thing, you two would have married, and you’d be divorcing now rather than having two babies and on your way to marriage. You’d have resented her and she knew that. She knew your star was rising, we all did. So we’ve all been biding our time, though Bethany doesn’t realize we know either.” Geremy took a sip of his tea and shifted again.

“I always did look up to you, Geremy, even when I was being a giant ego with legs, you were always on my mind. You tried and I appreciated that. I wish I hadn’t been such a jerk now.”

“Drake, you had a rough start, boy, a very rough start. You needed to get a lot out of your system and now, well now you know what you really need in life.”