"I'm good. Once we get back to work, it’s all gonna be okay."
He looked at me skeptically but then shrugged and went off to pack his bag.
We arrived in California late Friday night, heading straight back to my house and going to bed. The next morning, I woke up and took a walk on the beach, hoping to clear my head. When I arrived back, Max was in the kitchen brewing coffee. I grabbed a cup and my tablet, heading out onto the terrace to reorient myself to our club project.
I was sorting through a to-do list when there was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get it," Max called.
I opened up an email about projected prices for each club renovation. It would be part of the consideration when we decided which building to go with.
I heard an angry voice and a crash. I jumped up, dropping my tablet onto the chaise as I rushed into the house.
Ethan had Max pinned up against the wall, yelling at him. "What the fuck is wrong with you, Sam?"
I rushed over, grabbing Ethan and pulling him off Max. I shoved him hard. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Ethan? You come into my house and attack my brother?"
He blinked, looking between me and Max. He must have mistaken Max for me.
"If you have a beef with me, talk to me, not my brother. Second, I don't know why you think you have a beef with me. Your sister is the one who left." The anger burned hotter, fueling me into aggression. I pushed Ethan again. "Were you part of the plan too?"
"What are you talking about?" Ethan said, pushing my hands away.
"The let’s-get-back-at-Sam plan. Didn't Kate tell you? It worked like a charm. Now if you don't mind, get the fuck out of my house before I call the cops and have you arrested for assaulting my brother and trespassing."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, getting into my face. "I'm here to find out why you're not doing right by my sister. You broke her heart five years ago to do the right thing, but now she's the one that's pregnant, and you want nothing to do with it?"
"I said get the fuck out of my house." I was ready to grab him and toss him out on his ass.
"Wait, what?" Max stepped into the mix. "Are you saying Kate is pregnant?"
It took a minute for Max's question to sink in. I looked from him to Ethan.
Ethan smirked. "Like you don't know. I really wanted to kick your ass when you came back to town, but I’d hoped you would be the one person who could reach her, to help her open her heart up. But all you did was abandon her again."
“I did no such thing. I don't know what she's telling you. She's the one who left."
He gave me a shove and then headed to my door. "It's probably better if you don't come around. You're clearly not in your daughter's life, so why would we expect you to be in this baby’s too?"
When the door slammed behind him, I turned to Max. "What the hell was he saying?"
Max looked confused as well. "I'm pretty sure he just said that Kate is pregnant."
Emotions swirled in a torment in my chest. I was going to be a dad for real. She didn't tell me. For all her talk about honesty, she didn't say a word. Was that also part of her plan? Did she want to punish me for leaving her by breaking my heart and taking my child?
I went over to the bowl by the door and grabbed my keys.
"Where are you going, Sam?"
"I'm going to talk to Kate."
“I'll come with you. I'll drive."
"I don't need a chauffeur or a chaperone."
"You do need a chauffeur. You're pissed. Let me drive you."
The drive to the Sea Siren took forever. "You drive like an old lady, do you know that?"