Page 103 of The Hearts We Fumble
A chill spreads through me. “Changed? What was it before?”
Reed doesn’t have to say it.
Luca Kinnick.
My stomach tightens. “How do you even know he’s my dad’s? Maybe that’s why she changed it—to cover for someone else.”
“Could be,” Reed says with a shrug. “But even after their emails stopped, the payments kept coming. And we’re not talking pocket change.”
It wasn’t just child support. My father was paying to keep her silent. Buying her loyalty. Making sure the truth never got out.
I take a step back, my vision blurring at the edges. The walls feel like they’re closing in, the air thick and suffocating.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
Colter is suddenly at my side, gripping my arm to steady me. “Breathe, man,” he says, his voice firm but laced with concern.
But I can’t. My lungs aren’t working right. Every inhale feels shallow, strangled by the weight of what I’ve just learned.
Luca Calloway isn’t just some asshole who’s been running his mouth.
He’s my fucking brother.
“Yeah, I’m good. I just need a minute. Some air.” My voice is steady, but my hands are shaking.
Colter steps back, giving me space, but I can feel his eyes on me as I take off down the stairs, my legs moving faster than my mind can keep up. I nearly stumble, gripping the railing to steady myself.
The moment I step into the living room, I find Wyatt already on her feet, her brows pinched with worry.
“Zane? What happened? What’s wrong?”
Her eyes flick past me, searching for an answer from whoever followed me down. I don’t need to turn around to know Colter, Reed, and Hayes are hovering behind me, waiting for me to break.
I don’t give them the chance.
I cross the room in three strides, wrapping my hands around Wyatt’s waist, and without thinking, I lift her into my arms.
Her breath hitches. “Zane?”
The room is so quiet it feels suffocating. The weight of unspoken questions, of eyes digging into my back, presses down on me. I don’t stop moving. I need to get out of here, to get away from the walls closing in on me.
Carrying her through the dining room, I push open the back door and step outside. The crisp night air bites at my skin, but it’s not enough to cool the heat rising in my chest. I don’t stop until we round the garage, finding the same quiet spot we stood in the night of the bonfire.
“Zane, please,” Wyatt whispers, gripping my arms as I finally set her down. “Tell me what’s going on. You’re scaring me.”
I don’t answer right away. I can’t.
Instead, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her in like she’s the only thing tethering me to the ground.
“My dad…” My voice barely comes out.
Her hands tighten on my back. “Did something happen to him? Did he call you?”
“No,” I rasp, shaking my head. “He’s fine.”
At least, physically.
But the world as I know it has just cracked open.
