Page 42 of Sin Wagon
“Wells! You are smarter than that,” my dad scolds, disappointment evident in his voice. I wince, feeling the sting of his words.
“I know it was foolish, but I wouldn’t change a thing,” I say, trying to stand my ground. “Even with how this is turning out. We were caught up in the moment. We knew the risks and as she told you, Delilah just forgot to get the Plan B.”
“So you’ve been sneaking around with her behind everyone’s back for months?” Jonas accuses. “You never thought that maybe we looked alike or spoke about who your families are?”
Guilt crashes over me like a wave. I hadn’t thought about it, not really. I was too blinded by my feelings for Delilah.
“Jonas!” Mom scolds. “You know your brother better than that.” She looks at me. “Go on, Wells.”
“No. I couldn’t find her. I told you both that I met someone in Vegas and that she was ignoring me. It was her,” I defend, frustration creeping into my voice.
Jonas purses his lips as I continue. “I’m infatuated with her, obsessed,” I admit to myself, the intensity of my feelings surprising even me. “And while we may be strangers for the most part, and telling you guys was difficult and I’m sure the mess isn’t over, I’m all in.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself for Jonas’ reaction. “She will not raise that baby alone and I’m going to continue to see her… if she’ll have me.”
“She’sthe woman in Vegas? The one I called and interrupted you with, to tell you about Claudia?” Jonas whispers.
“Yes.”
Jonas forcefully slams his head against the couch, letting out a feral growl of frustration and pounding his fist against the cushion. “This is so fucked up.”
“I didn’t know, Jonas. I swear.” I stand and begin to pace the room, running my hands through my hair in frustration. “If I had any clue she was yours, I wouldn’t have even looked twice at her.”
Jonas tightens his jaw as he listens, so I continue, needing him to understand.
“But I’m addicted to her,” I admit, my voice dropping. “I want to know everything and anything there is about her. Every time I went to Vegas, I searched for her, but she no longer works at the club… now I know why,” I pause, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t even know her name was Delilah. Her stage name was Opal, and that’s what I’ve been calling her.”
Jonas' eyes flash with anger, but he stays silent, waiting for me to continue. His silence is almost worse than his words.
“Seeing her again at the rehearsal dinner shocked me.” I lean against the wall. “But it also excited me because I could finally talk to her. Then when the shit hit the fan, I was as surprised as you.”
“You came to dinnertogethertonight, didn’t you? You lied when you said you met in the lobby.” Jonas raises a brow in my direction.
Mom and Dad exchange glances, their expressions concerned.
My mom’s expression softens slightly, but I see the hurt and disappointment. “Why didn’t you trust us enough to tell us what happened that night, Wells?”
“I did not intend to tell you like I did,” I continue, my voice shaking slightly. “But then Dad started talking about names and child support, and I got pissed.”
My heart pounds as I direct the next statement to my dad. “You didn’t know you were talking about me, but I did.”
Dad’s face softens, his brows knitting together in concern. I can see he’s trying to process everything.
“I am not going to be some absentee father.” I meet my dad’s eyes. “I promise you that.”
“What does Delilah think about all this?” Dad rubs his temples.
“She’s worried about how you’ll take it and after what you said tonight, Jonas, she’s pissed. Your daughter is smart, driven, and sassy as hell. I didn’t take advantage of her. I would never do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t. I’m sorry I said that, but this is so messed up.”
“You don’t owe me an apology. You need to save all that for Delilah,” I tell him. “So, where do we go from here? Because I plan on being a dad to our baby and if we haven’t scared her off yet, after we discuss it more, I want to be with Delilah.”
My dad’s words shock the hell out of me.
“I know we’ve only thought of each other as family. But the good news is that you’re not blood, Wells. So while it’s still tabooto some, you’re not breaking any laws or doing anything wrong.” I look over at him with a smile on my face.
“I’m with your father. What’s done is done. Delilah, from what I’ve seen, is delightful, and I can’t wait to be a grandma—to her and your baby, Wells. I am refusing to be a great-grandma. The baby will know me as grandma and that’s it.”
