26. Luke
CHAPTER 26
Luke
“You want to tag along with us?” the guy I know now as Darnell asks. “You should be closing up soon, right?”
I sling the tea towel I used to clean up the bar counter over my shoulder while I contemplate joining them. With the shots that I’ve been taking with the group, it’s not like I’m fit to drive back home, anyway. And Darnell is giving me loads of useful information about the master’s program. He’s on a scholarship himself, has a kid at home, a wife, the whole shebang. It’s nice talking to someone who knows what it’s like to be in college while having a family.
“Hang on a sec. Let me tell my wife.” I frown when I see that my screen doesn’t turn on. I must have forgotten to charge the damn thing. “I can’t stay for long, though. My phone is out of juice.”
Darnell nods, chuckling a little. “I’m sure we can find a charger at the house where the party is at.”
As his group and the few remaining patrons finish up their last rounds, I pick up a mop and clean the sticky floors. My steps feel lighter than they did before when I started my shift. And my mood a whole lot fucking better, too. After the third shot that the group made me take, I started blabbering to Darnell about Gigi and our situation, forcing a bromance to start with the only other student parent I know. Darnell just laughed with sympathy as I went on and on about my insecurities. I’m embarrassed with myself, but also relieved to know that someone else has been there and done that.
Gigi would be proud of me. I was making small talk and socializing. Knowing her, she probably would’ve said that I was trauma dumping, though. I shake my head and laugh to myself picturing her lecturing me about not doing that to strangers, and then I make a mental note to apologize to her and watch her, seeing if Kai’s assumption has any merit or not.
“I’m really scared about daycare costs,” I admit to Darnell, tuning out the rock music playing in the background and the chatter surrounding us. “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
Darnell barks out a laugh, tilts his head back and everything. Some of the people at the party turn their heads to us, wondering what’s so funny. I also want to know what he finds so amusing about what I just said. My situation is dire, and I freak out every second because of it.
“Oh, man.” He shakes his head, still laughing. “I was exactly like you three years ago. I became an Uber driver, a barista, a manny. Name any minimum wage job, I’ve done it.”
“And you only have one kid,” I mutter. Well, shit.
“Stay calm.” Easy for you to say. “It will sort itself out. You’ll see.” When he notices that I am, in fact, not calm, he shakes his head some more. Darnell is clearly taking pleasure in my misery. “As for daycare, chill the fuck out, alright? This is why we transferred to Ravensfield when we had Otis. The university has a really nice one for students and faculty members.”
“I’m scared to be a dad.” A confession I’ve never told a soul before.
“Good,” my new friend says, his face dead serious. “You should be. Having a kid is some life-changing shit. It turns your life upside down. Your schedule will be different. Your dreams will be different. Hell, your sex life will be different.”
My stomach bottoms out hearing his words, my mind taking me on another guilt trip around the sun. When was the last time I had sex with Gigi that wasn’t a quickie or half-assed? When was the last time we had sex at all?
“I’m going to get myself a Coke,” I say, planting my palms on my knees as I stand up. I need air. “You want anything from the kitchen?”
“Nah. I’m going to look for my wife and head home soon. Otis is with his grandparents. Need to make use of my child-free time. Can’t spend the whole night with you now, can I?”
I laugh and we give each other a quick side hug before going our separate ways.
I’m chugging my drink when the hair on my nape stands up. Zach stands on the other side of the kitchen island looking like he’s ready to swing a punch at me. If he wants payback, he can try his best. He can’t break me like he did Andrew. He’d need to try a lot fucking harder. Life has already fucked me in the ass.
“You’re here drinking, seriously?” His words are venomous and his gaze is filled with hatred.
“What do you want?”
“Do you know how many fucking parties I’ve crashed tonight trying to find you?”
My eyebrows shoot up to my forehead. “A bully and a stalker. Wow. You lucked out on the psycho genes, huh?”
“Gigi’s in labor, you fucking idiot.” Now my eyebrows move for a completely different reason. “Check your phone.”
I quickly run to the breakfast nook where my phone is charging. After the Apple logo shows up and I put in my passcode, sure enough, I see it all. Thirty-eight missed calls from Gigi, ten from Kai, twelve from Zach, five from Gigi’s mom, even Zoey and some other friends got in a few. I don’t bother checking my messages, I already know what they’re all going to say.
“I have to go,” I say and rush to the front door.
My car is still at The Wilted Flower. It’s a ten-minute walk from here. Maybe I should call for a ride. Jesus Christ, how is she in labor now?
“Come with me. I’m driving.”
“I’m fine,” I say in a curt tone. This is still Zach, after all. “My last drink was before we left The Wilted Flower.” Also, the realization that your wife is giving birth sobers you up real quick.
“Don’t be stupid, man.”
“I’ll get an Uber.”
“Luke.” Zach’s tone is getting impatient. “I’m right fucking here. I know you hate me, but your wife is giving birth right about fucking now, so unless you want her to divorce you as fast as she married you, get your head out of your ass and let me take you there.”
“Fine,” I grit out.
We’re walking down the street when I notice that he’s not unlocking his Mazda, but Bianca’s ridiculously out of place Smart car that has been discontinued for ages. “My car was blocked in.” Zach must have noticed my confused expression. “Some asshole with a Porsche.”
“You were at the hospital?” What the fuck?
Zach shakes his head, scoffing. He looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Who do you think drove her there?”
My blood boils knowing that he was the one who took care of her. But the anger is just icing on the cake while the batter is made up of guilt and shame. It doesn’t actually matter who ended up taking her to the hospital, because it should’ve been me.
What kind of asshole spends his night getting free drinks and going to a party while his wife is about to give birth, leaving her with only the option of letting a deranged lunatic take her to the hospital?
I’m going to pay for this one.