After the Ex Games (The Ex Games #4)(14)
Author: J.S. Cooper

Chapter 8

Unknown

I just wanted to call him. I wanted to hear his voice. I wanted to say, “Hi, Dad.” I’d lived my whole life never fully understanding my place in the world. The life I’d lived hadn’t been a bad one, per se. It had just been one filled with grief and sorrow. And now I knew why.

Ever since, Patsy had told me who my real father was, so many things made sense. It all added up. Patsy was heartbroken for me. She’d said that she wished she’d made a different decision all those years ago. She’d said that she’d had the power to make a different decision, but she’d thought it was best. Best for who, I don’t know. She’d said that as soon as she saw me, that night came back to her. She’d said that she can’t look at me without thinking about everything that went down.

The only two people in the world who could make it right weren’t going to. It was hard listening to her ramble on and on about how they’d broken both of us. Part of me didn’t understand why she was still so angry. I didn’t have anger. Not really. I had pain and heartache, but not so much anger.

I sat back and dialed the number, no longer willing to wait for Patsy and her directives. I was taking my destiny into my own hands now. I wanted answers.

“Hello?” a deep voice said, answering the phone, and I froze. “Hello? This is the Hastings residence.”

“Hi,” I squeaked out, not sure what to say.

“Hi, can I help you?” His voice had a slight undertone in it that I couldn’t place.

“Greyson?” I mumbled, suddenly recognizing his voice.

“Yes, this is Greyson Twining.” He sounded so calm, so assured of himself and his place in life that a part of me broke.

“I want to know how you can look at yourself every morning.”

“Excuse me?” His voice was abrupt. “Who is this?”

“How could you have my mother lie and pretend she never had me?”

“Who is this?” His tone was softer this time, but I could still hear the anger.

“Why did you have my mother lie?” I burst out emotionally and then froze as I felt something against my back.

“Hang the phone up,” he whispered behind me, and I turned my face slowly. His face looked possessed, and I could see a manic look in his eyes.

“Hello? Are you still there?” Greyson sounded frantic. “Brandon’s not here right now, but I really think the three of us should have a conversation.”

“I—” I started, but he grabbed the phone from me and threw it to the ground.

“I told you to hang up!” he growled angrily.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to shut you up.” He looked sad then, and I could see that he had reservations about what he was doing. The gun in his hand looked shiny and new, and I had a feeling he had bought it recently.

“What do you mean?” I spoke softly, trying to remain calm, but I was panicking inside.

“I didn’t want to have to do this.” He shook his head. “But now I know who you are. Now that I know, I just can’t let it go.”

“You can’t do this,” I whispered as he walked towards me with a menacing look.

“It’s the only way.” He shrugged while he avoided my eyes. “It’s the only option I have.”

Chapter 9

Greyson

I stared at the phone, willing it to ring again. I needed to talk to her. I wanted to explain. I sighed as I realized that it was all coming to a head a lot sooner than I had anticipated. I opened my phone and called Meg.

“Hey, I was just thinking about you.” She’d answered the phone sounding cheerful, and I smiled, loving the way the sound of her voice made me feel better.

“Hey, can you meet me at the club?”

“The club?”

“Yeah. There are some things I need to show you.”

“Okay.” She sounded curious. “Like what?”

“You’ll see. Hey, I have to go.” I hung up quickly as I saw Katie walking past the room I was in. “Hey, Katie, you got a second?”

“What’s up?” She looked at me politely, but I could tell that she still hadn’t warmed to me.

“Do you know where Brandon went?” I gave her a smile. “I need to talk to him.”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “We spoke this morning and he told me about you and Patsy.” Her eyes narrowed.

“Meg knows I slept with Patsy in the past.”

“Does Meg know about the kid?” Katie hissed at me, and I froze.

“The kid?” I repeated softly.

“Brandon is ready to come clean with everything.”

“He is?” I looked into her accusing eyes and nodded. “I guess it’s time.”

“Yes, it is. I think Meg needs to know everything.”

“I agree. I think it’s time for us to get it all out in the open.”

“You do?” She looked surprised, and I smiled.

“I love Meg, you know. I don’t want to keep secrets from her anymore. I’m ready for the truth to be out.”

“The truth sets you free.” She nodded in agreement. “I wish Brandon hadn’t rushed out,” she sighed. “I don’t know where he went.”

“I’ll call him.” I checked my watch. “I told Meg to meet me at the club, but I’ll be back soon.”

“Tell Brandon to hurry home if you speak to him.” She nodded. “I miss him and I feel bad for cutting him off this morning when he was talking to me.”

“Okay, and thanks, Katie.” I reached out and rubbed her shoulder.

She frowned. “Thanks for what?”

“Thanks for being a good friend to Meg and an even better friend to Brandon.”

“I love him,” she said simply and smiled. “I love them both. When it comes to love, nothing can destroy how you feel.”

“I hope that’s true,” I whispered and hurried out of the house. “I really hope so.”

I walked through the front door and pulled out my phone again. “Pick up, pick up,” I muttered and then hung up and dialed again as it went to voicemail. “Pick up, Brandon,” I muttered as I listened to the phone ringing.

“Hello?” His voice sounded low, and I frowned.

“Where are you?”

“What do you need?” He ignored my question, and it sounded like he was breathing hard.

“I just spoke to Katie. She said you’re willing to come clean?”