“This is not a prank, Dad. Nor is it a Youtube challenge thing. Sometimes, after a vasectomy, an opening can develop in the…umm…vasa that allows sperm to get through.”
Shit, this is awkward.
“So we’re going to have a baby?” Dad reiterates.
“Yes.”
“Calvin will come around. You’ll see.”
“Don’t count on it, Ma. He’s very stubborn and very committed to what he wants. He doesn’t take this lightly. I don’t want you to blame him if he never comes around.”
“Camilla, sometimes people don’t know what they want until they have it.”
“I hope you’re right, Ma. I really hope so.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Hot September nights roll into brisk October days. All along the Palisades, high above the mighty Hudson River, trees are turning so many different shades of red to yellow that they put Pantone to shame. Shortly after Cal’s visit, the Titans’ started losing. Although their season isn’t a total loss just yet; they’re still in second place within their division.
I know Cal is training hard, focusing on work, doing what he’s always done to manage all the emotion he has no idea what to do with. Most days I love and miss and worry about him, praying that in time he’ll come to his senses. Other days I want to buy a ski mask, dress in black, and break into his house to gut him like a feral pig.
Over three weeks have past since the scene at Amber’s place. Meanwhile, I haven’t received a single text, or email from him. My mother’s convinced he just needs time to have his ‘come to Jesus’ moment. I’m not so sure. If Calvin is anything, he’s stubborn and committed. When he makes his mind up about something, nothing gets in the way. That’s what worries me most.
“Camilla Ava Maria DeSantis.” I turn at the sound of a sexy masculine voice. Chuckling, I counter with, “Ethan Fancy McButterPants Vaughn.” I get a heated glare for using Amber’s new nickname for him.
He walks up and hugs me, throwing a heavy arm around my neck as we stroll lazily through Central Park on the way to Sarabeth’s.
Ethan’s been great. I’m not sure if Cal put him up to it, but he found me a part time teaching position. And I’ve already been on a couple of interviews for full time positions. When I explained what an impossible feat that was, he smirked and said I needed to stop underestimating people. He may be right.
“You’re getting fat,” he says and rubs my teeny tiny bump. I slap his hand away.
“If I didn’t love you so much, I’d get Amber to kick you in the nuts.” He feigns fright and I laugh at his dramatics. “That’s how we became best friends, you know. She beat up Jimmy Murphy for me. I’m sure he’s still feeling it.”
“How’s the job?” The part time gig is at a tony, uptown private school. It pays well, and more importantly, I’m back to doing what I love. With the baby coming, time and money will be in short supply.
Central Park is packed. All around us, skaters and cyclist zip by, women push designer strollers while jogging, and people parade their dogs around. I can’t help noticing all the couples out with their kids. Ethan notices it, too.
“Amazing. I can’t ever thank you enough.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find a way for you to thank me.” He smirks suggestively, and I swat him. Avoiding his perceptive gaze, I say, “Are you going to make me ask?”
Ethan exhales loudly and rubs the back of his neck. “Not good. He got in a fight with Harper the other day at practice.” At this, my head snaps in his direction, shock splashed across my face. For all of Calvin’s grumpiness, he never gets violent. There could be mayhem swirling around him and he remains calm and in control, no doubt it has something to do with growing up with eight siblings in a doublewide trailer. “I’ve never seen him like this, not even when he found out Kim was screwing around.”
“What happened?”
“Don’t know. He barely speaks to me. He’s not returning any of Barry’s calls, either. It’s starting to worry his teammates.” Ethan stops walking and turns to look at me. “Let me force the paternity test. Come on, Cam.”
“No.” I start walking again. There’s no way I’m going to coerce an apology, or a reconciliation with a paternity test. He had to come to that decision on his own. “He needs to trust me. If he can’t do that then he doesn’t know me. And if he doesn’t know me, he doesn’t really love me.”
Cal and I have glaring trust issues, no surprise there––with our past, it’s impossible not to––however, I’ve made a conscious effort not to let it influence my future. I would never make Cal pay for what Matt did, and I sure as shit am not about to pay for Kim’s sins either. I turn when I realize Ethan is no longer walking next to me. “Are you coming?”