Page 34 of Wreckage of Us
“I’ll play with the other baby when I come here,” Ethan tells me. The memory of the dream I had where Ethan was telling me he’d havethe other babyhere slam into me, almost making me break into a sweat.
“Yeah?” I smile at him nervously, my eyes going to Becca. She is looking a little freaked out.
“Yes. I’ll have a baby here and a baby at home,” Ethan grins at me. “Two babies.”
“Two babies,” I smile back. “What do you think Becca’s baby will be?” If he says a girl, I’m gonna lose my shit.
“A girl,” he echoes my dream, making my eyes almost pop out of my head. Maybe I need to see a shrink. Did I dream that? Or did I travel from the future? What the fuck happened?
“Dylan,” I hear Becca’s voice above me. “Are you okay?”
I have an incredible moment of déjà vu when she talks to me after all the information Ethan just dumped on me. It really is like the dream I had.
I pull at the neck of my sweatshirt, feeling like it’s chocking me to death all of a sudden.
“Dylan,” she tries again, and I snap out of it.
“I’m fine,” I almost sneer at her. Fuck, I need to get my head under control.
“Ethan wants to go back to Ali,” Becca informs me, and now I notice that Ethan is clinging onto her hand, waiting quietly for us to take him back to his… parents. Nothing wrong with thinking of Ali and Wyatt as his parents. They will be raising him after all.
“Yes, let’s do that.” I stand up and shake my legs a bit, sitting in the squatting position for too long having numbed them a bit.
We walk back into the house, the sounds of Ma cooing to baby Parker echoing through the warm space. Becca’s house is the perfect place to bring up a family, I realize with a start. I almost feel a panic attack overcoming me, but I push it down. I need to work through this. The fact that I never wanted a family of my own is not stopping the new baby from coming. And its mother is quite possibly the love of my life.
The thought is taking all the air out of my lungs, leaving me staring at everyone as if from far away. Like I am in a dream. Maybe I am. Like when I was sick and I was hallucinating.
“Honey,” I watch with fascination as Ma wraps Becca in a warm hug. “I can’t wait for your baby to be here. I’ll be a good grandmother, I promise.”
Becca’s body stiffens for a second at hearing the words, but then she relaxes and accepts the affection my mother is showering her with.
“She’s great, dude,” Wyatt elbows me from the side. I don’t even know when he walked up to me. “Ali loves her.”
“Yeah,” I agree, continuing to watch what’s unfolding right under my eyes.
“Ethan seems to like her a lot too, right?” My son is sitting quietly next to Alison, plastered to her side, really, but smiling at something Becca just said to him.
“I can’t believe Pops is not my father,” Wyatt gives me a dose of reality.
“Yeah,” I snort, my eyes going to Devereaux. He is watching Ma with an indulgent look on his face.
“Ha,” Wyatt elbows me again. “Jealous much?”
“You have no idea.”
I don’t realize I even said the words until Wyatt turns to face me, a very serious look on his face.
“Dyl,” he calls to me. “You’re always going to be my brother, dude,” he assures me. “I don’t give a fuck who my father or yours is.”
“It does help knowing his DNA doesn’t run through your blood though, yeah?” I goad him. I can’t help it, and the bitterness in my voice proves it.
Wyatt sighs but nods in understanding. “You can only be as evil as you choose to be, Dyl. When I left the club, I really thought I was going to end up dead,” he chuckles with sadness. “Knowing what I know now, I understand all the moving parts at play.” He slaps a heavy hand on my shoulder. The fucker is a bit smaller in size than I am, but in really good shape. “And you were one of the most important parts of it,” he now tells me, taking me by surprise. “If it wasn’t for you, he would’ve never let me go. I am sorry, and I am also grateful to you for it.”
“Wyatt…”
“No, I need to get this off my chest,” he stops me. “Finding out now that Jon Stewart is my father doesn’t change a thing in my eyes. You are my brother, and I would do anything to make sure you end up as happy as I am with Ali.” His eyes search for his wife, mine looking for Becca on instinct.
“Don’t let that girl go, dude,” Wyatt pushes me playfully, but I don’t move, nor do I smile. “I’m pretty sure she loves your asshole ass,” he cracks up at what he says, sounding like he’s got not worries in the world. He’s always been able to put up a happy front, no matter what.
