The Journey Home

My head was spinning. I was pissed at Jack for lying to Maddie, I was pissed at Zoey for not telling me she was sick, and I was pissed at myself for not going after Maddie when she walked out of JJ’s. Or when she walked away from me two years ago.

I glanced at Zoey. “No, Zoey, I don’t want you to have an abortion. This is all just hard for me. I mean, I travel so much and I’m probably going to be gone for most of your pregnancy. What if you get sick or something happens? And when the baby is born I’m never gonna be around. How do you see this working out?”

She smiled and took my hand in her hand. “Cale, I know this is hard. It is for me too. I mean, this is my life we’re talking about. But I want this baby.”

“Zoey, you told me that the doctors said you might have as few as five years. Are you thinking about this child? Do you really want her to grow up without a mother?”

Zoey stood and squared her shoulders. “I’m going to be okay. I haven’t been sick in over a year. I’m going to be fine. We’re going to be fine.”

I laughed, cynically. “I’m not even going to know my own child, Zoey. Does that matter to you?”

“You will, babe. I promise, you’ll be very much involved in this pregnancy. I’ll make sure of it. Let me fix you a drink before I leave.” Barely stopping for a breath, she continued. “Oh, and my parents are insisting on meeting you now, of course.” She stood up and walked over to the bar where she poured scotch into a glass.

This is not happening.

I went into the kitchen and grabbed another beer. I downed the whole damn bottle right there in less than a minute. I was going to get drunk and forget this day ever happened.

“Here baby,” Zoey said, handing me the scotch. “Drink this.”

I grabbed the drink and downed it in one gulp. She poured another glass and handed it to me. Leaning against the kitchen island, she looked at her watch. “I’m going to pack a bag and start moving in, bit by bit.”

“What?” I gasped. My heart dropped into my stomach. “What do you mean?”

She turned to me and placed her hand on my chest. “Cale, I’m having your baby.”

I blinked slowly and nodded. “I know, you keep reminding me.”

She seemed angry, but her eyes soon softened. “I’m going to let that comment slide, babe. I know you’re stressed out.” She grabbed my glass and poured me another scotch.

I looked at her and laughed as she walked back up to me and handed me the drink. “Yeah, I’m a bit more than stressed out,” I said as I downed the drink. The room started to spin.

Shit. I never could hold my damn alcohol.

Zoey dropped to the ground and before I could stop her she was sucking my dick.

“Zoey, stop. This isn’t what I want right now.” My words were beginning to slur.

She stopped and looked up at me. “Close your eyes and just relax babe. Just let me make you feel good. Think about nothing but feeling good.”

I closed my eyes and green eyes popped into my head. Maddie.

I went back to the night Maddie and I had spent together. I could hear every sound she made, see every smile, every time she looked into my eyes. I could feel my build up as I heard Maddie calling out my name as she came. Oh God, Maddie.

“Oh, God yes,” I whispered as I felt myself explode.

It wasn't Maddie's moans that pulled out of my fantasy, but Zoey’s. We were in bed and Zoey was riding me fast and hard. “Yes. Oh God, yes. Baby, I’m coming with you!”

She arched her head back and screamed.

“Zoey…” I quickly grabbed her and tried to stop her. I didn’t even remember coming to the bedroom. Did I put a condom on? Fuck! How in the hell do I not remember coming in here? My damn head was pounding and I could feel the buzz of the alcohol.

“Zoey, shit! I don’t have a damn condom on!” I shouted as she snapped her head forward and laughed.

She leaned down and kissed me on the nose. “Silly, I’m already pregnant! No reason to have a barrier between us now,” she said. “That was amazing. Your dick felt so good without a condom on. Besides, you were the one who started it, babe. You were so buzzed that you fucked me on the floor in the living room and twice more in here before passing out. Then you played with your dick in your sleep. I had to get on and ride it.”

She got off of me and walked into the bathroom. I sat up and instantly felt sick to my stomach. The damn room was spinning.

Jack’s words raced through my head. “You don’t know for sure that she’s pregnant.” he’d warned. “She could be lying. Don’t have sex with her without something on.”

I ran my hand through my hair and looked down at my dick. It was covered in cum.

Son. Of. A. Bitch. How many damn scotches did I drink?

My cell started ringing as Zoey walked by, already dressed. “Here ya go babe,” she said, handing me my phone. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you before you leave town. Love you!”

I didn’t say a word to her as she walked out the door. I looked at the missed call.

Jack.

I hit his number as I got out of the bed and headed to the bathroom.

“Jesus, Cale. I’ve been trying to fucking call you. Where have you been?”

I shook my head, attempting to clear my mind. “I’ve been home.”

“I’ve tried like ten times.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. I found out something you might be interested in. I pulled the recent sales in the Beaver Lake area. Guess who just purchased a house across the lake from you?”

I reached for the Tylenol and took out three. Jesus, I need to not drink so damn much.

Sighing, I said, “I give, dude. My head hurts too much to play this game. Plus, I’m somewhat drunk.”

Back in my bedroom, I glanced at the clock.

What the hell? It had been over six hours since we’d gotten home from JJ’s. I sat on the bed and tried to think back to my conversation with Zoey. Had we talked that long? And how many drinks had I had?

“Maddison Powers.”

Hearing her name from Jack made me totally forget everything else. “What about Maddie?”

“Dude, where you even listening to what I was saying? Maddie, she bought the house across the lake from you. You’re fucking neighbors.”

I swallowed hard. “Holy shit,” I whispered.

“Holy shit is right. Now, what the hell are you going to do about that Zoey bitch?”

I walked to my window and looked out across the lake. It was one of the houses I’d looked before buying mine. It was tucked back into the trees, like this one, but smaller. Maddie’s house. I’d wanted this girl for two years and now she was practically under my nose and I couldn’t have her.

“I got drunk after we came home. Zoey started coming on to me,” I took a deep breath. “I closed my eyes and started day dreaming about Maddie. Before I knew it, Zoey was moaning and I was coming…without a condom.”

“No. No. Why in the hell where you drinking?” Jack yelled. “Dude, you had three beers at lunch and then you went home and drank? I told you I didn’t trust her, Cale. I told you not to screw her until you saw a damn test!”

I shook my head. “I don’t think Zoey would lie about this, Jack. She isn’t evil.”

Jack laughed. “I call bullshit. I saw the way she looked at you and Maddie when you shook her hand. I’m telling you, she knows your past. She got way too much satisfaction out of telling Maddie she was pregnant.”

I didn’t want to believe Zoey could do something like that. I wouldn’t believe it.

“Jack, what the hell am I going to do?”

There was silence for a couple of seconds before I heard Jack let out a breath. He mumbled a few curse words.

“The right and honorable thing, if she really is pregnant. You’re going to stand by Zoey.”

I nodded in silent agreement. I knew Jack was right. There was no way I could dump my pregnant, dying girlfriend for someone who might not

even be interested in me.

“Jack, do me a favor. Keep your ears and eyes open, and let me know when Maddie moves into her house.”

I could hear Jack moving papers around. “The offer still stands if you want to use my friend, the private detective. Let me have him poke around a bit.”

Jack had offered a dozen times to search out Maddie for me. It just never felt right. Like, if it was meant to be, it would be. But things were different now. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I had to know. I had to know everything about Maddison Powers.

“Okay. Do it. Get him to find out as much as he can.”

ONCE I WAS on the plane, I found my seat and sighed in relief as I sat down. I was flying home from Seattle after meeting with suppliers. My boss was nice enough to upgrade my ticket to first class, and I was going to give her the biggest hug and kiss when I got home.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and pulled it out. When I saw I had a text from Zoey, I rolled my eyes.

Zoey: When are you headed back home? I’d love to go out and have a drink.

Me: Today. And did you forget that you’re pregnant?

Zoey: Ugh. No, I didn’t forget it. I’m starting to have to buy those nasty clothes.

Me: Maternity? Is that what you mean?

Zoey: You’re snippy! If you don’t want to meet up that’s fine. It’s just that Cale’s been gone for three months. He left pretty much immediately after I told him I was pregnant. I hate his house and I’ve been staying at my place in the city.

Me: Why did you move in with him if you don’t like his place?