Dean (Face-Off 6)

“Kat, who’s the father?” Austin says. “Just tell us. We won’t get mad.”

“Dean,” I whisper.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Duke sounds as though he’s grinding his teeth as he speaks. “All this time you tried to convince me that you weren’t fucking that asshole and then he knocks you up and leaves you to deal with a baby by yourself?”

“He didn’t leave me, Denny. Dean doesn’t even know.”

“You and Dean?” Austin sounds confused. “So, you guys were together this whole time?”

“Aus, are you that fucking clueless?” Duke yells so loud my eardrum hurts.

“Knock it off, Duke.” Now, Dad is pissed. “Don’t talk to your sister and brother like that.”

“Sorry, Dad, but this is bullshit.”

“Kat, I’ll be home in a few days,” Dad says.

“Me, too,” Austin says. “I can stay for a few nights.”

“Please don’t say anything to Dean. Any of you. I haven’t had a chance to tell him yet.”

“He’s dead the next time I see him,” Duke says.

“Denny, please don’t do anything,” I scream.

“I can’t make that promise right now.”

I lay my head back on the stack of pillows on my bed and close my eyes.

“Duke just needs time to process,” Austin says after Duke hangs up. “You know he’ll be there for you, Kat.”

“I know.” I sigh. “I was hoping for a better reaction.”

“It’s unexpected,” my dad says, “but we’ll figure it out, honey.”

“Okay, Dad. I’ll see you in a few days.”

“Love you guys,” he says before his end of the line goes dead.

“I can’t believe you guys,” Theo says in disbelief.

“So, that was more than a dare at Delta Sig?” Travis asks. “Dean lied right to our fucking faces.”

“He didn’t lie,” I shoot back. “That was a dare. Nothing happened with us until after that.”

“Kat, we’ll figure it out,” Austin interjects. “Try not to let Duke bother you. He has rage issues, you know that. Once he calms down, he’ll feel like shit for acting this way and come crawling back with an apology.”

“You’re right. Thanks for being the normal brother.”

Austin laughs. “I’ll be home on Tuesday.”

Then, he’s gone.

“I need time,” Theo says.

“Me too,” Travis adds.

“Please don’t tell Dean,” I say to the twins.