28. Daddy Bear #2
I’d offer to take a walk, but there’s no way I’m ending up on the news tonight and facing Diamond’s wrath when she comes to drag me back from the afterlife just to berate me for getting myself murdered out here.
“Whatever it is, I’m just going to tell her anyway, so spill.”
“It’s not easy, Princess.”
“Nothing ever is,” Rogue bites out. “But I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
Bear sweeps his leg over the bench, straddling it. The wood creaks under the strain as he leans forward, curling his arm around Rogue’s mom’s shoulders. “You know I’ve known your mom for a long time.”
“If you’re going to tell me you’re a couple, I already gathered that.” Her foot taps the ground incessantly.
“It’s more than that.” Bear’s brows droop. “Your mom and I were a couple a long time ago, right before she met your dad.”
Oh fuck. I wince and slip my hand into Rogue’s, already sensing what’s about to come.
“Your dad took a liking to me, and Bear and I hadn’t put labels on what we were.” Her mom hesitates, looking to Bear for reassurance.
“So, you were with them both?” Rogue crinkles her nose.
“No,” Bear shakes his head. “I was away on a run for a while, and things with your mom and dad got serious fast.”
“So, she cheated on you with my dad,” she snaps on a harsh breath.
“There weren’t labels on what we were. It wasn’t cheating,” her mom defends.
“I don’t get why this is something I need to know about.
” Rogue frowns, looking at me before turning back to them.
A gentle breeze stirs, swaying the trees.
Leaves fall around us, swirling at our feet like dancing mice.
Rogue’s hair gets caught in the current, tossing auburn strands across her cheeks.
“I found out I was pregnant with you a month into that relationship, Princess.”
“So, you stayed with dad because you were pregnant with his kid?” She fingers her hair back into place, her gaze narrowed on her mom.
“No, I was eight weeks pregnant.”
And there it is.
“What?” Rogue wrenches her hand from mine and darts to her feet, heat rising in her cheeks.
“I carried small, and he never questioned the paternity,” her mom utters on a whisper.
“Oh my fucking god. Are you telling me the man I grew up with and idolized wasn’t my dad?”
Tears leak from her mom’s eyes, but I don’t feel sorrow for her. She kept an awful secret from Rogue and the man she loved as her dad.
“He was your dad, but Bear is your biological father.”
Rogue’s mouth drops open, her eyes glassy, staring at the man who has always loved her like a daughter because she is.
“Did you know?” she chokes out, her voice breaking.
Rubbing a giant paw down his face, he says, “Not until you were ten. Someone joked that you looked like me at a party, and it got me thinking. It was too late by then. You loved your old man, and so did I. You know our life, Rogue. No good would have come from me trying to claim you as my kid.”
Silence stretches across the divide of the table so loud it pounds in my eardrums.
“What about Harley?” Rogue finally speaks, her throat raw with emotion.
“I was faithful to your dad,” her mom says with conviction. “I’m so sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you, but what good would it have done?”
“I don’t know what to do with this information.” Rogue backs away, and before I can get to my feet, she takes off running back the way we came.
“Rogue,” Bear calls out, getting to his feet.
Holding a hand out, I say, “Let her go. She needs time.”
“I don’t want her alone out here.” His mouth thins.
“She’s not alone. I’ll take care of her. Just don’t leave the country.” I raise an eyebrow and take off jogging after her, almost dying by the time I get back to the car. My ribs are on fire. My back throbs in agony.
She’s propped on the hood, her head in her hands. “Rogue, talk to me,” I urge. Placing my hands on the hood, I take a deep inhale.
“I need to get my mind straight.” She lifts her head, pain leaking from her eyes. “I fucking worshipped my dad. He was my dad.”
“And nothing will ever change that. Family isn’t made of blood. Look at us,” I remind her. “That man loved you and was a great dad, and Bear has always been there in the background loving you too. Do you know how lucky you are to get two dads?”
“Take me home?” She clears her throat, her features stilling.
“Of course.”
Folding into the driver’s seat, I wait for Rogue to put her seat belt on then pull away from the shithole. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No. But I’m glad you were here. Can we put the radio on? I need a distraction.”
“I have one.” I flit my gaze to her then back to the road.
“Is this about Cutter coming to your room this morning? I didn’t want to ask what happened.” She sticks her nose in the air like she smells something bad.
“I didn’t fuck him.” I roll my eyes.
“Then what happened?”
“He told me he loves me.”
My mind swims at the memory, and my guts clench. I’ve been trying not to focus on it in case it all goes tits up and he backs out. I don’t think I could survive getting over him again.
“Has he ever said that to you before?” Her voice is wispy in awe.
“Not in those words.” I shrug. “He said it’s the real deal.” My hands squeeze the wheel. “He’s telling Claire.” My heart flips, emotions tightening my throat.
“Is this what you want?” she asks, reaching over and placing a hand on my shoulder.
“He’s my soul mate,” I state. “Damn, I sound like you.” I laugh to shatter the thick cloud of emotion filling the car.
“I’m happy for you.” The smile in her voice offers me relief. I know she’s not a fan of Cutter and me. But it’s my choice. He’s my choice.
I just hope he doesn’t let me down.