Mike is my father?
Mike. Is. My. Father.
What the fuck?
I pace some more while I run my hand through my hair. With my heart pounding in my chest so fast, I feel like I might pass out at any minute.
Is this a dream?
Some horrible nightmare that I need to wake up from?
Niall was my father, the only father I’ve known. He wasn’t a great father, but he was my father.
Knowing now that I could’ve had a different relationship with my real father, a father who really cared about me, makes me beyond furious. But that father chose not to tell me—he chose to leave me to be brought up by a father who cared only about himself and his damn money. Mike must be ashamed to call me his son.
I trusted Mike with everything.
Now, our entire relationship is built on a lie.
How can we get past this?
Do I even want to get past it?
A bead of sweat runs down my temple and drops to the floor. My breathing is rushed and harsh.
Footsteps on the staircase come toward me, and I look at the door, hoping, but also dreading, that it will be Mike—my father.
My. Father?
I’m so damn confused.
Why didn’t they tell me?
Why keep this big massive secret for my entire life?
And why the fuck tell me three weeks before their wedding?
What the hell is that all about?
Why tell me now?
I rub the back of my neck, the questions coming one after the other, causing my already pounding head to become a scrambled mess of emotions.
Jeni walks through the door, and my stiff posture relaxes the instant I see her. She rushes to my side, wrapping her arms around me. “I had no idea, Aiden, I swear.”
“How could they?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. But maybe you should come down and talk to Callie and Mike? But more importantly, you need to apologize to Chris for punching him. That was totally uncalled for.”
I feel pain in my knuckles I hadn’t noticed before. I rub my knuckles with my other hand and suddenly, I’m beyond angry. Furious even.
“No. Fuck Chris, he deserved it. How long has he known for, huh? And he didn’t even have the common decency of a friend to tell me. No, our friendship is over with them. If Chris knew, Sarah did, too, so she’s as much to blame for this as he is. Fuck them both!” I throw my hands in the air. “And fuck Mike, too. And don’t even get me started with my mother,” I yell.
Jeni bites her bottom lip. I don’t mean to shout at her, but I can’t get my emotions under control.
“Aiden, look… I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting, but don’t take it out on Chris and Sarah. They only found out late last night at the bachelor party. It’s not like they’ve known for years, so you have to give them some credit. They were the ones who told Mike he had to tell—”
“Yeah, well, maybe they shouldn’t have told me. Then everything would be fine right now, and I wouldn’t be here wondering who the hell I am and what this all means?”