“Okay.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Please hurry.”
“I’m coming, bud. Don’t worry.” Once I’m armed with the address, I do a quick check around the house before locking Clarissa’s door, knowing Dante has a key in his backpack for emergencies. Kevin meets me as I bound down the porch.
“I’m not going. Take off. I might catch up later.”
His demeanor shifts. “What the hell, man? We were counting on you to help pay for the hotel.”
Annoyed, I pull some twenties from my wallet and hand them to him. “There, that’s enough for one night.”
“You’re hard up for her, aren’t you?”
“Kevin, I don’t have time for this shit.” I pull out my keys and start toward my truck when he blocks me. “I have to go pick up Dante.”
“This, this, is why you’re bailing on everything? You’ve fallen for her?”
“I’ll explain later, okay?” I move around him, and he blocks me again.
“No, not okay, we’ve been planning this trip for a hot minute. What the fuck is going on?”
Kevin, though clueless most of the time, has been my wingman for four years. I get why he’s pissed, but Dante’s cries have my heart seizing.
“Get the fuck out of my way!”
“Fuck that,” he slaps my shoulder, and in a flash, we’re toe to toe.
“It’s not that fucking serious,” I say, pushing at his chest. “But it’s about to be.”
“Just tell me.”
“He’s mine!”
“What?”
“Dante is my son.”
Kevin rolls his eyes. “Dream on.”
“He’s mine,” I repeat as Kevin swallows, his expression turning to disbelief.
“You’re serious?”
“Yeah. It’s a long story. But Dante needs me like right now.”
“Y-yeah,” he says, stepping out of my way. “Yeah, you gotta go.”
“Don’t tell a fucking soul, Kevin. No one.”
“You need me to stay back and help?” And that’s Kevin, that’s the kind of friend he is.
“Nope. Go. Have fun. Just tell no one, I mean it.”
“Yeah. No problem. But why?”
“Kevin!”