Page 71 of I Wanna Be Your Lager

Lach tenses under my grasp. I tag myself in and step out from behind Lach. “This isn’t how we wanted to tell you.”

Jake directs his wrath toward me. “And how the fuck exactly were you going to tell me? By letting me catch you actually fucking?”

I flinch at his words. That almost happened once. His arm sweeps me away.

Lach steps forward, putting himself between me and Jake. “Don’t push her.” His voice is strained like he’s holding back his anger.

Jake ignores me and gets in Lach’s face again. “I confided in you to watch over her. Keep her safe. Instead, you sleep with her. And behind my back! You’re my best friend! And this is how you repay me!” Jake’s fingers clench into a fist.

“I know.” Lach’s face falls. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”

“But you still did it anyway!” Jake seethes, his face flushing molten. The muscles in his forearms flex with every clench and unclench of his fingers.

Oh shit. He’s going to punch Lach. I don’t even think. I just spit out the next words, hoping to take some of the heat off Lach. “I’m pregnant!”

Both Lach and Jake freeze. Lach pinches his eyes shut. I hold my breath.

“Excuse me? You’re pregnant?” Jake turns his head so fast toward Lach I’m surprised he doesn’t get whiplash. “You got my sister pregnant?” He glares at him so hard the vein protruding from his neck is seconds away from exploding.

“No.” Lach shakes his head. “It’s not mine.”

Jake jerks to face me. “You cheated on my best friend?”

“No!” I sigh. “It’s not like that at all.”

“Then someone tell me what the fuck it’s like then!” Jake roars.

“It’s my ex-boyfriend’s, but I only found out recently that I’m pregnant.” I do my best to remain calm with hopes to keep Jake from hulking out.

“What the fuck is going on?” He pushes his hand through his hair. Jake jerks to Lach, his jaw clenching. “Are you having your fun now, and you’ll leave after the baby is born since it’s not your responsibility?”

Without missing a beat, Lach answers, “No. I’m not leaving her.”

My heart soars as much as it can soar, given the circumstances.

Lach clears his throat. “I apologize for not telling you, but I will not apologize for doing it. Because that would mean I regret it happening, and I don’t regret a single thing when it comes to?—”

Time slows to almost a standstill. Before Lach can finish, Jake rears his arm back, and it shoots forward like a bullet from a shotgun. His fist connects with Lach’s cheek with a sharpthwack. Lach stumbles backward, and I jump out of the way to avoid getting toppled to the floor.

When I collect my balance, I turn to Jake. “What’s wrong with you!?” I race to Lach’s side. Blood seeps from a cut on his lip. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” His words are soft. He brushes his thumb across his lip, smearing the blood.

I’ve only seen Jake lash out a handful of times, and that’s when someone threatens the things he cares about, like his bar and me. But Lach is his best friend. He should know he’s not the bad guy. I jerk to face Jake.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I jump to my feet and stomp the two steps toward Jake. “If you’re going to be mad at him, you have to be mad at me. This is just as much my fault.” My heart pounds a million miles a minute. I stab my finger at his chest, and he doesn’t flinch. “Actually, I’m going to go out on a limb and say this is all my fault. I pursued him. He didn’t want to start anything between us, but I couldn’t help myself?—”

“Eve,” Lach interrupts, his hand on mine.

I turn to him. His eyes are soft, pleading that I don’t take the blame for this. “No. He doesn’t get to be mad at only you.” I return my attention to Jake. “No! If you’re going to be mad at anyone, be mad at me.”

“He knew exactly what he was doing!” Jake jabs his finger at Lach. “I trusted him! And he does this?” He directs his anger at Lach, taking a step closer to him. I’m afraid he’s going to punch him again. “Get out. Get the fuck out of my house,” Jake spits, the vein in his neck throbbing.

With a hand on his forearm, I attempt to spin him around, but he doesn’t move because he’s a brick. “Where is he supposed to go? He has nowhere else to go.”

Jake scoffs. “I don’t give a shit, but he’s not fucking staying here. He betrayed me. Lied to me. He can’t do that shit andexpect me to also give him a place to live. He can leave now and get his shit tomorrow when I’m not here.”

Panic pounds in my chest. This can’t be happening right now. None of this. “Jake, you can’t be serious. You’re being irrational.”

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