I frown, momentarily thrown off guard. Suddenly, I’m thinking about my conversation with Hector. What do I want?
I want it all. I don’t want to give up a thing. But what if Nina is right? What if I do have to choose?
Or maybe the choice was just made for me. If I can’t fix this, my career is over.
She continues, “Look, I’m fairly sure my PR gal will agree, but your best defense is putting the blame on Fia’s mother. Hold a press conference or do an interview. Tell everyone you were tricked. This woman saw you as her meal ticket and wanted to set you up for a blackmail situation. You had no clue the baby was stolen goods.”
“Nina, I can’t say that.”
“Yes. You can. You’ve worked way too hard to get where you are, Dean. Are you really going to throw it all away on some bitch you met last year in a bar, and a baby who’s probably not yours?”
Who is this person? “I have to go.” I want to say much, much more to her right now, but it’s not the time. I’m swimming on the lowest rung of Maslow’s hierarchy: survival. Because suddenly, I don’t give a fuck if I blow my career or lose my scholarship.
I just want my fucking baby.
“What the hell, Mike? What do you mean you won’t come down to the police station?” I squeeze my free hand around the steering wheel of my truck while my fingertips attempt to penetrate the plastic case of my cell phone. I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“Sorry, man, but I can’t get anywhere near this,” Mike says.
“Dude! I didn’t do anything wrong! And you were there when Marli dropped off Fia. You have to tell the police what happened.”
“You don’t know where that baby came from, and now you’re toxic, man. Cancelled. I can’t afford to be implicated.”
Sonofabitch. “Mike, I’m going to tell the truth to the police, which means you’re already in this. You were there when the baby was dropped off.”
“Yeah, but dude, it wasn’t like I had a choice to take her. That woman showed up, said the kid was yours, and left.”
“Exactly. Then just say the truth, Mike. Why wouldn’t the police believe us?”
“I’m not going to admit that I took possession of a stolen baby. That’s human trafficking. I’m not getting involved. I saw nothing. I know nothing.”
“We don’t actually know she’s stolen. And you live with me,” I point out. “Don’t you think everyone’ll question your story? Kind of hard to miss a crying baby in your home.”
“You threatening me?”
What the hell? “No! I’m saying if you lie, they won’t believe you. Same for me. Which is why I intend to tell the truth. You have to do the same.”
“No! No way,” Mike protests.
“Stop being a pussy and step up. Do the right thing.”
Mike groans on the other end of the phone. “Dean, I want to, but…”
“What?” I bark.
“My family. They won’t approve.”
“Approve of what?”
“Of me living with a sinner. You had a baby out of wedlock.”
I’m at a loss for words. I don’t see what this has to do with telling the truth to the police. “So?”
“I kinda lied and said you guys are super religious.”
Seriously? So he’s more afraid of his parents knowing his roommate situation isn’t wholesome than he’s afraid of lying to the authorities?
This is the biggest crock of shit I’ve ever heard.
The truth is, Mike is a coward and just doesn’t want to get involved. This story about his family is an excuse.
“Mike, I am trying to do the right thing here. I can’t let them take Fia. I did nothing wrong. Please, I’m begging you to help me here.”
“You want me to fight for a baby who’s stolen?”
“Stop, man. Okay? As far as I’m concerned, Fia is mine, and I want her back.” I still don’t understand what would drive Dannie to make such a wild accusation on social media and then call the police.
“If you go to the mats, bro, it could wreck you. This chick—the mom—could turn out to be a con artist. A baby snatcher.”
“Fine. Then we’ll uncover the truth, and I’ll have peace of mind knowing Fia is with her real parents. But I’m not about to abandon her. I don’t fucking care what anyone else thinks. And neither should you, Mike. You get how important family is.”
“No. I don’t. Mine drives me fucking nuts, which is exactly why I don’t ever want to move back to that shithole of a small town, and why I can’t leave college without a pro contract. If you want the same, you need to distance yourself fast from this shit.”
He’s just like Nina, telling me to save my own ass instead of getting to the truth and doing what’s right for Fia.