“Jesus, C-man. What in the hell is going on?” He pulls back, runs his hand over his thick, graying hair, and then grabs my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
“I just left the apartment,” I sigh, getting a hold on my emotions. “I’m sorry. I was doing a good job at keeping my shit together.”
He just looks at me, confused, before a flash of understanding flickers through his eyes. “I see. I know it must be quite shock. I’ll admit your mother and I were just as surprised.” His tone gives nothing away, clearly letting me run this show.
“I don’t understand. I can’t even seem to wrap my mind around what I saw, let alone everything that I’m feeling right now.”
He gives a soft laugh. “Yeah, it was a shock for me, too, when it happened to your mom and me.”
I’m explaining what seeing Dani like that did to me when his words register. “What?”
“When I first found out she was pregnant, shock was my first feeling, hands down, but then, when I realized what our love had created . . . Fuck me, that was one of the most incredible feelings in the world. I’ll admit it even made me cry, son. No shame in how you’re feeling.”
“What?” I repeat, shocked.
“Christ, Cohen. Did finding out you’re about to be a dad knock you stupid?”
“What?” I offer lamely, that feeling I had finally rid of in my gut returning.
“Uh, so I take it you didn’t just see Dani?”
“Yeah, I fucking saw her—wrapped up in Chance’s arms,” I snap.
His brows crinkle and he looks at me, waiting for me to continue.
“Wrapped in his arms, Dad. What more do I need to give you. They looked cozy enough that I didn’t stick the hell around.”
His eyes harden, and he shakes his head. I wasn’t expecting the hard hand against my head.
“The fuck!” I shout at him.
“The fuck about sums it up. I never thought I would say this to you, but damn, you sure did fuck things up big time with that idiot move.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask, rubbing my head. “That hurt, old man.”
“You really thought she’s with Chance? Had been with Chance? Son, she’s six months pregnant. Do the fucking math.”
“Yeah? I left almost seven months ago.”
“Did you even pay attention in school?”
My mind starts spinning, trying to remember what little I know about the female reproductive system. When the truth hits me—hard—I have to stabilize myself with one arm on the truck.
“Yeah, son. Some stupid shit about the adding two weeks here, taking the time of conception and then adding some weeks—I don’t really know how the hell it works, but I assure you that she is very much pregnant with your baby. Trust me. It was a shock to us as well, but not once did we lose the faith you did in your girl.”
“I fucked up,” I exhale deeply.
“You sure did. Come on. I’m shocked your mother hasn’t broken down the door to see you, and we need to give Dani some time to cool off before you rush over there. I guarantee you, if she’s anything like her mother, the lack of trust you held for her will piss her off, maybe more than it will hurt her. Either way, you have some serious making up to do.”
He walks away, muttering something about raising me better than acting like a douchebag.
“MY HANDSOME BOY!” MY MOTHER screams when I walk in the door. She slams herself into me and gives me a hug tight enough to knock the wind out of me. Then she follows it up with a slap on the side of my head that rivals my father’s in pain.
“Dammit, Ma!” I exclaim and move away from her vicious hands before she can get another slap in.
“I heard every word, you silly boy. How could you even think that?” She jabs her fist on her slim hips and gives me a hard look. “I can’t even imagine what she’s feeling right now. Not after the day she had.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“Oh no, you don’t. She’s fine where she is. For now, you’re going to tell me how in the world you could even think that she had been unfaithful.”
Jesus. Where do I even start?
I follow my parents into the kitchen, where Mom starts a pot of coffee. Thirty minutes later I have it all laid out.
My rush to get home, the exhaustion that months of stress and worry had placed on my shoulders, and the feelings that seeing her with another man had rushed to the surface.
“I snapped. There isn’t an excuse, but fuck. I let my jealousy get the best of me.”
“Not an excuse, but it’s forgivable, Cohen. It couldn’t have been easy being away when you knew that you’re needed at home. I get what you’re saying, but that still doesn’t explain how you rushed to the thought that she was with another man,” Mom says with a sigh. “It wasn’t right, but given everything you’ve been through, I understand.”