Zach
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. My palms have been a sweaty mess since this morning. Easton and Zoey got here before Max came strolling in with Jade and a woman I’ve seen him with before. So much for the “privately.” She’s about to see a spectacle, a side of Max not many have seen. Matter of fact, I’ve only seen it once. It was back in high school when some punk dared to put his hands on Jade at a party. Drunk bastard had cornered her, trying to shove his damn tongue down her throat. Max got to him before Easton or I did and beat the kid into a bloody pulp.
We’ve made small talk, chatting about business, the fucking weather, and every damn thing else. I’m distracted, unable to really pay attention to what’s being said, and I’m downright miserable. Looking Max in the eyes, knowing I’ve knocked up his little sister, is proving to be a difficult task.
Easton bores holes into my head, probing me to just get it over with. And he’s right. I’ve put it off long enough, stalling like a pro. I stride to where Jade and Zoey are lounging by the pool and bend to whisper in her ear.
“I need the picture.”
Worried eyes fall on me. “I don’t want to do this.”
“Better now than delivery. Get the picture, Jade.” I’m stern and she gets up, scurrying into the house where her purse is.
I inhale, turning back to the guys and Max’s date as I wait for Jade.
She looks terrified, her color drained from her face when she hands me the picture.
“He’ll be mad at me. Not you,” I remind her, trying to calm her down. Stress isn’t good for the baby…so those stupid books have told me.
“It takes two to tango,” she mutters.
Full of courage, I grasp her hand and lead us closer to where Max sits. “Max,” I call out and jerk my head for him to come.
Easton stands, moving close to the pillars. Far enough away, close enough to save the day.
Max saunters over, grinning at something he just whispered in his date’s ear.
Suddenly, I’m devoured by nerves. “I…” Have no idea how to do this. “We…”
He chuckles. “Spit it out.”
I scratch the back of my head and flick my gaze to Jade. Her eyes are on her feet. I take a breath. “Dude, there isn’t any good way to tell you this, so…” I hand him the photo of the ultrasound.
He studies it for a moment. Probably trying to figure out what the hell the white blob is. Trust me. Had I not known, I would’ve been lost. “Oh, dude. Who the hell did you knock up?” he asks with humor.
Here goes. “Jade.”
One name and in an uproar, a black storm complete with turbulent clouds engulfs his narrowed glare. “Do what?”
I answer in the form of a frown and a nod. My voice is off being a pussy.
“This true?” He zeros in on Jade, but she’s chewing her thumbnail. “Jade!” he shouts and she jumps.
“Yes.” Her shaking voice is barely a whisper.
“You sonofabitch!” he roars, slamming a fist into my face.
It jerks my head and I stumble. He lunges, slamming his palms into my chest, and then fires off a flurry of punches. I double over from a punch to the stomach and immediately am seeing stars with another hit in the face. I try blocking, but Max is raging. I try not fighting back because I deserve this, but I’m beginning to feel my own rage ride with my adrenaline.
I rush him, wrapping him up by the arms and pushing him backward. Somehow he dips out and rockets another punch against my cheek. In the ruckus, he snakes his arm around my neck and hauls me down. I try grabbing his hands, but he’s a spider monkey in disguise, landing some solid hits.
My restraint breaks…
I send my fist into his face, twist, and yank him off me. We’re tangled, his arms flailing toward me as I try holding him back. He’s cussing as he swings, wrath burning his pupils. Easton swoops in, grabbing Max, and heaves him onto his feet before hauling him backward by his waist.
Max burns his stare into Jade, who has tears in her eyes and fear on her face. “How fucking long has this been going on?” When she doesn’t answer him, he shifts to me. His chest rising and falling as fury billows off him. “How fucking long, Zach?”
I suck in a breath. “Years,” I admit.
“Are you fucking stupid?” he roars at Jade, pulling against Easton. “He’ll fucking hurt you, Jade. Dammit!” He jerks his arms out from Easton’s grip and instead of charging me again, stands there with his fist at his side. “I thought you were smarter than that.”
It’s one thing to take shots at me, but I’m not going allow him to do it to Jade. I reach out and tuck her slightly behind me and into my side. She doesn’t fight me as tears run down her cheeks.
“You were supposed to be my brother,” Max seethes. “How fucking dare you. Played my sister. My sister, Zach!” he bellows. “I trusted you.”
“Max—”
“You’ll desert her like you’ve done everyone in your entire life. Abandon her like you’ve done everything else,” he spits, his tone dripping with acid.
“I’m not deserting her. I’ll be right here,” I say.
“Until it gets hard. Until something else strolls into your life.”
My anger begins to rise. “I said years, Max. I haven’t walked away for years.”
“Yet, you sorry sonofbitch. You had no responsibilities with her. It’s been fun. Just a fuck.”
“Stop!” Jade shouts. “Stop it.” She’s pissed and moves in front of him. “I’ve known the circumstances. I’m at fault too. It’s not like he forced me.”
“You’ve hidden this from me for years.” His tone breaks, sounding more hurt than mad.
She blinks and lowers her head shamefully. “It never got serious until now. It’s only been a thing.”
His chuckle rumbles with malice. “A thing? Out of all the men you could’ve fucked around with, you choose him? Someone I think of as a brother? How the hell is he going to be a dad? If it isn’t gratifying or bringing in money, he bounces.”
“Being a father is different,” I snap my defense. Pissed. Wounded. He knows me better than that.
Max straightens himself, pulling his shoulders back. “You might know how to run a prosperous business, but we both know your life is in fucking shambles.”
I narrow my eyes but keep my mouth shut.
“Fuck you, Calloway. You’re so fucking dead to me,” he grinds out, burning me with hatred, before storming off.
The house shudders when he slams the door behind him. His date, paled with wide eyes, springs to her feet and chases after him.
“Congratulations. You’ve officially pissed off Max. I’m surprised you’re not dead, but I’m certain you should sleep with one eye open for a while.” Easton cackles. “I’m proud of you for taking those hits. Had to be hard as hell.” More than he’ll ever imagine. He leans down and kisses Jade’s cheek. “He’ll come around. Let it settle in that he’s going to be an uncle. You know how he is.”
She sniffles, wiping the tears with her fingertips. “I know.”
Hooking an arm around her waist, I squeeze her. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
I kiss the top of her head. “He’ll calm down.”
Her body tenses under my hand, and she takes off running into the house. I’m right behind her as she rushes into the bathroom and hurls into the toilet. Quickly, I grab her hair, holding it out of the way as she heaves. I stretch, not letting go of hair and grab a wash cloth, turn on the faucet, and run it under. I try wringing it out with one hand, squeezing like I want to do to Max’s fucking neck, and then place it on her forehead.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I try soothing her.
“He hates me,” she sobs. “He’s so mad.”
And then she pukes again.
“He’s mad at me. I’m the one he hates. Not you. He loves you,” I say, dragging the cold rag to the back of her neck.
“Zachary?” Zoey sticks her head in with compassionate eyes. “What can I get her?”
“There’s some ginger ale in the cabinet beside the fridge. Grab us one, please.”
As she disappears behind the door, Jade sucks in a breath. “Why does she still call you Zachary?”
I chuckle. “Because she’s weird like that. I don’t know. Maybe to make me feel like I’m in trouble with my dad?”
“I’m sure asshole has been on the tip of her tongue,” she jests with a weak smile.
“That’s my middle name.” I rub her back. “You good?”
She slides her back down the wall, pulling her knees to her chest and resting her head on them. Zoey hands me a glass. “Baby, take a sip. I read in one of those pregnancy books that ginger helps calm your stomach.”
She keeps her head down and blows out a giggle. “Calloway reading a pregnancy book? That sounds hilarious.”
Ignoring Zoey still standing in the room, I join the wall beside Jade. “I don’t know anything about pregnancy or being it. I had to do what I know best.”
“Study,” she states.
I tighten my lips. “Yeah. Other than my dad, who else do I have to ask?”
She blinks up to me, her eyes wet. “Me.”
I scrunch my face playfully. “You don’t want me calling you. Remember? And with all the questions I have, you’d never get a thing done. I’ll just fall back on my best quality besides my dick.” I tap my forehead, indicating my brain. Studying has always been my forte. I studied so much in school, I damn near memorized each book. I push the drink to her. “Take a few sips.”
She does and then drops her head back to her knees, placing the glass beside her feet. I hate seeing her this way—brittle and sick—partly my fault. I pull her into my side, resting my head on top of hers to comfort her.
“I’ll be outside with Easton if you need me,” Zoey whispers quietly and hell, I forgot she was here.
After a few moments of silent solace, Jade stirs. “Go back out to Easton. I’m fine. I’ll be out in a moment.”
She slowly raises to her feet and turns on the faucet, splashing water on her face.
I hand her a towel. “I’ll wait on you.”
“No. Please. Just give me a minute alone.” There’s a sense of urgency and irritation in her tone and like a good boy, I do as I’m told and leave her be.
Outside, Zoey is sitting with her feet in Easton’s lap. When she spots me, her smile melts morphing into concern. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah. I’m assuming the excitement of the day pissed off the baby,” I lift a shoulder.
“How about you?” Easton asks.
Exhaling, I dig my palm into my forehead to relieve the headache in the shadows. “I’ll be fine. He clocked the fuck out of me. Pretty sure I’ll be wearing that one.”
“Give him a chance to calm down before you talk to him again.”
Max is emotional, more so than the rest of us. “I will. It’ll be weird for a while, I’m sure.”
Easton stands, pulling Zoey up with him. “Well, it’s been entertaining, for sure, but we’re going to take off. Go take care of your girl.”