30
The soft glow of early morning filtered through the curtains, casting golden streaks across the room. Erin was still fast asleep, her head tucked against Jay's chest, her breathing slow and steady. Jay barely moved, not wanting to wake her, but the buzz of his phone vibrating on the nightstand had him groaning softly.
He reached for it blindly, squinting at the screen.
Antonio Dawson.
We need to meet. Urgent. Call me when you wake up.
Jay exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. He knew Antonio well enough to know that "urgent" wasn't a word he threw around lightly. Whatever this was, it wasn't something he could brush off.
He carefully untangled himself from Erin, pressing a kiss to her hair before sliding out of bed. She stirred slightly but didn't wake, and Jay took a second just to watch her—soft, peaceful, tangled in his sheets.
Damn, he really was in deep.
Pulling on a pair of sweatpants, he grabbed his phone and padded into the living room, dialing Antonio as he ran a hand through his already-messy hair.
Antonio picked up on the second ring. "Finally. Thought you were gonna sleep till noon."
Jay frowned, heading toward the kitchen. "It's barely five-thirty, man. What's going on?"
"We need to talk in person. Can you meet me at my office in an hour?"
Jay leaned against the counter, already not liking the sound of this. "That bad?"
Antonio hesitated. "Let's just say it's… something you need to be ahead of."
That didn't help Jay's growing unease. "Alright. I'll be there."
As he hung up, he glanced back toward the bedroom, debating whether to wake Erin before he left.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead,"Babe,I've to go to Antonio's office real quick,I'll be back soon,okay?" He whispered in her ear,landing a soft kiss along her naked back.
She murmured something completely non sense before covering herself with the sheets,only the top of her head visible. He chuckled,getting dressed fast,already missing the feeling of being in bed with her.
Jay pulled into the parking lot outside Antonio's office, his jaw tightening as he shut off the engine. Whatever this meeting was about, it wasn't sitting right with him. Antonio wasn't the type to drag him out of bed at dawn unless it was serious.
Stepping out of his car, Jay adjusted his hoodie and strode toward the entrance, his mind already running through possibilities.
Was it contract-related? Some PR nightmare brewing? The thought made his stomach knot.
When he reached Antonio's office, the door was already slightly open. Jay pushed it wider and walked in, finding Antonio leaning against his desk, arms crossed, a look on his face that Jay immediately didn't like.
"Alright," Jay said, shutting the door behind him. "What's going on?"
Antonio exhaled, pushing off the desk. "You might wanna sit down for this."
Jay stayed standing, his patience already thin. "Just tell me."
"Do you happen to know a certain Abby Myers? And why the hell didn't you tell me you received a package at your own damn house?"
Jay's expression darkened instantly at the name. His shoulders tensed as he took a step closer to Antonio's desk. "What?" His voice was sharp, edged with confusion and something colder. "What does Abby have to do with this?"
Jay froze, his heart skipping a beat as he processed Antonio's words.
Abby Myers? That name sent a jolt of panic through him, the memories from a chapter of his life he'd tried to bury rushing back like a tidal wave,from that impulsive Vegas marriage right after coming back from deployment.
"Abby Myers?" He repeated.Jay's voice was thick with disbelief, his mind struggling to catch up. He had to be hearing this wrong. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Antonio didn't meet his eyes at first. He was fiddling with something on his desk, clearly uneasy. Finally, he pushed a piece of paper across the desk toward Jay, his eyes heavy with caution.
"Yeah," Antonio said, his tone low, "she sent this to your house and then to my office. I didn't want to get into it over the phone, but you need to see this for yourself."
Jay's stomach dropped as he picked up the letter, the paper feeling like it weighed a ton in his hands. He glanced at it, his heart pounding in his chest as his eyes skimmed the first few lines. His blood ran cold as the words hit him like a freight train.
Dear Jay,
I know you may not want to hear from me, but there's something you need to know. I'm seven months pregnant with your child.
Jay's grip on the letter tightened, his vision narrowing as a swirl of panic, confusion, and guilt took over his body. The memories of Abby came flooding back—what a mess that was. He hadn't been in the right headspace then, grieving his mom and spiraling after his deployment.
He glanced at Antonio, trying to find some kind of clarity in his expression. "You said she hasn't gone to the press yet?"
Antonio nodded grimly. "Not yet. But this—this could blow up, Jay. She said she didn't want to do this in public, but if she's reaching out now, it could mean she's getting ready to. And we need to figure out what the hell you're going to do about it."
Jay nodded absentmindedly,shocked by the news.
"Man,you need to get your head straight,you ever saw her this year?In the span of seven months ago or she is lying and that baby is not yours."
Jay ran a hand through his hair, frustration and confusion tightening in his chest. He tried to piece everything together, but the details felt like shattered glass in his mind—too many broken fragments he couldn't quite put together.
"I saw her at a reunion with Mouse..I think it was October..maybe."
"That means more or less... seven months ago.This baby could be yours." He pressed a hand on his face."You were with her?"
Jay stayed silent,looking at the ground.
"Jay answer,dammit!"
Jay's fingers tightened around the edge of the chair, his knuckles white. His mind drifted back to the reunion with Mouse seven months ago, a time when everything was supposed to have been behind him. He'd tried to move on from that chapter of his life, especially after everything with his mom.
"I… yeah, I saw her," Jay muttered, the words feeling foreign coming out of his mouth. "It was at the reunion. I didn't think anything of it then, but now…" He trailed off, frustration tightening in his chest.
Antonio's eyes widened with realization. "So you were with her. Seven months ago?"
Jay nodded slowly, his jaw tight. "It wasn't like that. We didn't plan it, but yeah… I saw her. After everything, we had a conversation. And then—" He swallowed hard. "It was a mistake. But I didn't think there was anything more to it."
"Jay," Antonio said, his voice softer now, but no less urgent. "If she's seven months along… that means that night at the reunion, something happened. You need to face it. That baby could be yours."
Jay's heart hammered in his chest. He couldn't wrap his mind around it, couldn't make sense of the past few months—meeting Erin, falling in love with her, and now this. He had never imagined this would be his reality.
"I was spiraling,you know that," Jay muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "And then Abby…seeing her again brought back memories."
"Yeah, I know," Antonio interrupted, "but that doesn't change the fact that if you and her were together seven months ago, there's a baby on the way now. You have to get your head straight. You need to decide what you're going to do about this."
Jay stared at the letter again, the reality of the situation sinking deeper. He had been reckless, and now it was coming back to haunt him in the most unexpected way.
"I'll talk to her," Jay said quietly, finally meeting Antonio's gaze. "I have to. This is on me. I'll handle it."
Antonio nodded, still cautious. "You can't let this go public, Jay. Not yet. And don't do anything without knowing what you're walking into."
Jay exhaled, rubbing his face in frustration. He had to figure this out, no matter how messy it was. He owed it to himself, and to Erin, to make sure everything was out in the open.
"I'll take care of it," Jay replied, his voice steady. "But I need time to. I'll handle it."
Antonio gave him a nod, but the concern in his eyes was clear. "You need to face Abby, and figure this out before it blows up. Trust me, Jay. You don't want to be blindsided."
Jay nodded silently, his mind already racing with thoughts of what his next move would be. One thing was clear—he couldn't run from this anymore. It was time to face the consequences of his past.
Jay sat back in the chair, the weight of the letter still heavy in his hands, but his mind had already drifted back to that night—seven months ago. The reunion with Mouse, the endless noise of people, the drinks flowing freely, the blur of it all. He hadn't wanted to go, but his mind had been in a haze after everything that had happened—after the loss of the Super Bowl and the usual fights with his dad.
That night, he had felt like a failure, like the words his father had thrown at him were going to stick, that maybe he really was just a loser. The sting of that argument still burned deep, and the anger, the frustration—it had nowhere to go. So, he turned to the one thing that had always been an easy escape.
Alcohol.
Jay cursed under his breath. He had promised himself that after everything with his mom, after the deployment, after the long road of grief, he wouldn't slip back into old habits.
But that night, he did. He drank more than he should have, trying to drown out the weight of the world on his shoulders. And in that haze, Abby was there. She had always been a familiar face, someone he knew from the past.
In the state he was in, he thought, Why not? He hadn't seen her in years, but there she was, standing in front of him with that same smile, the same pull. They talked, laughed about the past like everything was fine, and somehow, it led to them slipping away from the crowd. And what happened after that? It felt like the inevitable result of him being in a bad place, emotionally shattered, angry, and confused. It wasn't love, it wasn't even clarity—it was just there, like a brief moment of escape from everything crashing down.
Now, seven months later, he was left to deal with the consequences. A child. Maybe his child.
Jay's fingers dug into the edges of the letter as he replayed the events in his head. He had acted out of impulse, out of desperation, and it was a decision he regretted more with every passing second. He should have never let himself go that far with Abby, not when he was in that state. Not when he wasn't ready, mentally or emotionally, to even handle his own demons, let alone bring another person into the mess he'd become.
The thought of his father's words echoed in his mind, and he gritted his teeth.
You're always going to be a loser, Jay.
Was this how it was always going to be? Messed up decisions, broken promises, regrets?
Jay slammed his fist onto the desk, the force making him flinch. He couldn't change the past, but he could sure as hell face the future head-on. He wouldn't let his mistakes define him, no matter how big they seemed. Not now, not when there was so much more at stake—especially with Erin.
Oh god,Erin.
As Jay sat there, staring at the letter, his thoughts drifted to Erin. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to ground himself in the feeling of her—warm, soft, steady. The way she looked at him, like she believed in him, like she saw the good in him even when he couldn't see it in himself.
It was all so new, this thing between them. But it felt real. So damn real. Erin had become his anchor, the one person who had shown him what it meant to be loved unconditionally, the one person who seemed to understand him in a way no one else did. And now, with this bombshell about Abby, he could already feel the weight of it crushing him. How could he explain this to Erin?
The guilt was unbearable. He had finally started to let himself believe in something with her, something that wasn't just about fleeting moments or careless decisions. He cared about her—he cared so much that it scared him.
But how could he face her with this? How could he look her in the eyes and tell her that he had been a different person, someone who had made decisions he wasn't proud of, and that the consequences of those decisions were about to crash into their lives?
Erin deserved better. She deserved someone who had their shit together, someone who wasn't haunted by their past or weighed down by mistakes. He couldn't let her think for a second that this—this—was going to derail everything they had.
His heart ached just thinking about it. What if she couldn't understand? What if she walked away?
But then, another thought came crashing in. Erin had always been more than just understanding. She was strong, independent, someone who had faced challenges head-on in her own life. She didn't shy away from the hard stuff. And while he didn't want to put her in a position to have to deal with this, he realized that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't about protecting her from the storm. Maybe it was about facing it together.
Jay's fingers tightened around the letter again. He couldn't keep running from the past. He had to fix things with Abby, whatever that meant, and he had to figure out how to bring Erin into the fold without losing her.
He dialed his phone real quick,asking Will to meet up.He needed his brother,and a friend,fortunately Will was both.
Jay stepped out of Antonio's office, his mind still swirling with the implications of the letter, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't tackle this alone. Not when the weight of it all felt so heavy. He needed someone who understood him, someone who wouldn't judge him for the mistakes he'd made. Someone who had seen him at his worst but still had his back.
As he walked toward the exit, he pulled his phone from his pocket, his fingers dialing Will's number without hesitation. He needed to talk, to unload, to have a moment of clarity before he dove into whatever the hell came next.
Will picked up on the second ring. "Jay? You good?"
Jay ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady his breathing. "I need you to meet me. Now."
There was a pause on the other end, and Jay could almost hear Will's brow furrow. "What's going on?"
"I'll tell you when you get here," Jay said, his voice rough. "It's… it's big, Will. And I need you."
There was another beat of silence, then Will's voice came through, steady and reassuring. "I'm on my way. I'll be there in twenty."
Jay exhaled, a small sense of relief washing over him. He had his brother. He had someone who would listen, who wouldn't make him feel like a complete failure for the mess he'd made of things.
He didn't know how this conversation would go, what the fallout might be, but he knew one thing—he wasn't going to face it alone. Not now, not when everything was falling apart.
He paced back and forth outside Antonio's office, waiting for Will to arrive. Every step was weighed down with the knowledge that things were about to get a whole lot more complicated. But whatever came, Jay was ready to face it.
And as he waited, his mind kept drifting back to Erin.
When Will finally pulled up, Jay gave him a tight nod. He could already tell his brother was going to ask a thousand questions, but Jay was too tired to explain everything in detail. He just needed to get the conversation started.
"Let's go for a walk," Jay said, his voice low. "I need to talk."
Will didn't ask any more questions. He just followed Jay, ready to hear whatever it was that had brought his brother to this point.
As they walked, Jay took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. It was time to lay everything out. No more secrets.
Jay led the way, his footsteps quick and purposeful, while Will matched his pace beside him. The early morning air was cool, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement, but Jay didn't notice the chill. He was too lost in his thoughts, his mind racing with what he had to say.
Once they were a few blocks away from Antonio's office, away from the buzz of the city, Jay finally spoke. "I messed up, Will. Big time."
Will glanced at him, his brows furrowing. "What happened?"
Jay hesitated, his jaw tightening as he tried to collect his thoughts. It was harder than he expected to lay it all out. "There's someone from my past… Abby. You remember her?"
Will nodded, though his expression remained cautious. "Yeah, I remember her. You guys had that… thing, right? Why are you bringing her up now?"
Jay rubbed his forehead, the weight of everything pressing down on him. "She sent me a letter. She's… she said she is seven months pregnant with my kid."
Will stopped walking, his hand grabbing Jay's arm to stop him as well. "Wait, what? Seven months? Jay, you're sure?"
"I know it sounds crazy," Jay muttered, looking down at the ground, "but she said she's pregnant. And I—God, Will—I haven't even seen her in months. The last time I saw her was… right after the Super Bowl, just after the fight with Dad. I was a mess, man. I—" He cut himself off, shaking his head. "I made some bad choices."
Will's expression softened, but the concern was still evident in his eyes. "Jay, how does this even happen? You didn't—"
"I wasn't thinking straight.. I went to an army reunion with Mouse, and Abby was there, and—" He stopped again, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "It was just one of those stupid moments where I thought… why not? Everything was falling apart, and I guess I thought I could just throw myself into something, anything, to stop the pain."
Will let out a slow breath, his gaze never leaving Jay. "Man, I get it. I really do. But… this is big. You're gonna have to figure out what to do. And you can't hide from it."
Jay nodded, feeling the sting of his brother's words. He couldn't keep running from this, no matter how much he wanted to. "I know. And that's the thing, Will… I've got Erin now. She's everything to me. I don't want to screw this up."
Will's eyes softened with understanding. "You love her, huh?"
Jay didn't even have to think about it. "More than anything."
"Then you have to tell her," Will said, his voice firm but gentle. "But you've got to handle this situation with Abby first. You've got to know what you're dealing with."
Jay's shoulders sagged under the weight of his brother's words. He ran a hand through his messy hair, his mind racing again. "I'm so screwed up, Will. I don't know how to fix this."
"You'll figure it out, Jay. You always do. But you've got to be honest with yourself first. About everything. About Abby. About Erin. About what kind of man you want to be."
Jay took a deep breath, staring at the ground as he let his brother's words sink in. He knew he had to take responsibility. He couldn't keep hiding from the truth, not with Erin, not with himself.
"Yeah," Jay muttered, nodding slowly. "I've got to make things right. But how the hell do I even start?"
Will clapped him on the back, offering a reassuring smile. "One step at a time, man. You'll figure it out."
Jay nodded, but a knot still twisted in his stomach. He knew what he had to do, but taking that first step—actually telling Erin, facing the fallout—felt like a mountain he wasn't sure he could climb.
As Jay's thoughts swirled, his phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him back to reality. He pulled it out, seeing Antonio's name on the screen. A knot tightened in his stomach.
"Hello?" Jay answered, his voice tight.
"Jay," Antonio's voice was low, a hint of frustration in it. "I just found something else out. Abby's not in Chicago anymore. She's in St.Louis. I think you need to go see her,I covered you with the coach. You need to talk to her, and figure out where this stands."
Jay felt a chill run through him, his stomach twisting. "St.Louis?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He had expected trouble, but not this.
"Yeah," Antonio confirmed. "It's all in the letter. I think this is getting more serious than you realize, man. You need to get ahead of this."
Jay's mind raced, everything falling into place but not making sense. He needed to fix things with Abby, but at the same time, he couldn't ignore Erin. His chest tightened as he thought of her—of how much he cared for her, how much he wanted her to be part of his future.
"Will," Jay said, turning to his brother. "I need to go to St.Louis. Abby… she's there now, and I can't do this alone. I need your help. You know how messed up this whole situation is."
Will glanced at him, his expression serious but supportive. "You don't have to ask, man. I'll go with you."
Jay let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Thanks," he said quietly. "But before we do that, I need to see Erin. I can't go to St.Louis with all this hanging over me. I need her to know, to hear it from me."
Will nodded without hesitation. "You're doing the right thing, Jay. Let's get this part over with, then we'll figure out the rest."
Jay nodded, his heart pounding as the weight of his decision hit him. He turned back toward the direction of his apartment, but his mind was a swirl of doubt, fear, and guilt.
How could he explain this to Erin? Could she ever understand? And what if it all came crashing down?
"Let's go," he muttered, more to himself than Will as he started walking again, the pressure mounting with every step.
Jay stepped quietly into his apartment, the door clicking shut behind him. The sight of Erin sitting at her desk, focused on her computer, hit him like a punch in the chest. The peacefulness in the room, her presence, made the weight of his secret that much heavier. She looked up when she heard him, her eyes lighting up as she stood from her chair.
Before he could say anything, she crossed the room in a few quick strides, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Jay inhaled the familiar scent of her shampoo, his hands automatically moving to her waist as he hugged her back. He didn't have the heart to tell her the truth—not when she was looking at him with that soft, trusting gaze. Not when the love she showed him made everything else seem irrelevant.
"Was all okay?" She asked,hee head resting in the crook of his neck.
"It's just a work thing," he said, the lie slipping out so easily, almost too easily. "I'll be gone for a couple of days,if I can i'll try to make it even sooner. Will's coming with me, so don't worry."
Erin nodded, though there was still a glimmer of concern in her eyes. "Okay. But promise me you'll take care of yourself? And call me?"
"Of course, babe. I'll be fine," he said, trying to sound convincing even as doubt gnawed at his insides. "I'll be back before you know it."
He cupped her face gently, leaning in to kiss her. It was slow and tender, pouring all the emotions he had for her into that kiss—the love, the longing, the confusion, everything he couldn't say out loud.
The kiss deepened, as if it could erase the distance he was about to put between them, even if it was just for a couple of days.
When they finally broke apart, Jay held her gaze, his heart hammering in his chest. "I love you, Erin," he whispered, his voice thick with sincerity. "I can't wait to be back with you."
She smiled, her eyes glistening with affection. "I love you too."
Jay paused, pulling something out of his pocket. He took her hand and pressed a spare key into her palm, his thumb brushing over her skin. "Here," he said softly. "This is for you. In case you want to stay here while I'm gone. I know you've got your place, but if you want to come here and stay—well, you've got the key."
Erin looked down at the key, her smile softening. She looked up at him, clearly touched by the gesture. "I'll keep it safe," she promised.
He nodded, his chest tight as he realized how much she meant to him. "I'll be back soon," he said again, trying to convince himself just as much as her. He gave her one last lingering kiss before pulling away, already dreading the moment he'd leave.
But he had no choice. Abby was waiting, and the truth would catch up with him soon enough.
With one last look at Erin, her face etched in his memory, Jay turned and walked out the door, the weight of his decision sinking in with every step he took.
Jay swung the car out of his driveway, the engine humming beneath him, but his mind wasn't on the road. His thoughts kept racing back to Erin—the way her arms had wrapped around him so tightly, the way she'd kissed him goodbye, filled with love and hope for the days ahead.
She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to be kept in the dark. But the weight of what he was walking into—the mess with Abby, the secret she'd dropped on him—was far too much for him to lay on her right now. He wasn't ready to see the disappointment in her eyes.
The ride to Will's place felt longer than it actually was, as Jay's mind kept flickering between Erin's loving gaze and the phone call from Antonio. He didn't want to do this—didn't want to drag anyone else into the chaos of his life. But Abby's letter, and the implications of it, were inescapable. And now, he had to face it head-on, no matter how much it tore him apart inside.
Pulling into Will's driveway, Jay parked the car a little too hard, the screech of the tires too loud in the quiet morning air. He got out, already feeling the tension in his shoulders, the knot in his chest that wouldn't go away. Will was standing in front of the garage, arms crossed, looking like he was waiting for him. Will had always been able to read Jay like a book, and Jay knew his brother would see right through him if he didn't play this right.
As Jay approached, Will raised an eyebrow, noticing the tightness in his brother's posture. "You alright, man?" he asked casually, but there was a sharpness in his voice—an undercurrent of concern.
Jay forced a smile, but it felt like a mask. "Yeah, I'm good," he said, though the words sounded hollow even to his own ears. He was good at lying, but not to Will—not when his brother could always sense when something was off.
Will didn't push it further right away, though. He studied Jay for a moment, his gaze steady and focused. It was like he was waiting for Jay to crack. And as much as Jay hated to admit it, part of him wanted to crack. He wanted to tell Will everything. But not yet. Not before he had to.
Will's voice broke the silence. "So, how'd Erin take it?" He leaned against the garage, his arms still crossed, eyes never leaving Jay.
Jay's stomach churned. Erin had been nothing but supportive—loving, caring, patient. She trusted him, and he had just lied to her face. He had told her it was a work thing, that he'd be back in two days. It felt wrong. But she was so happy, so content in the moment, and he couldn't bring himself to ruin it.
Jay exhaled, trying to make it sound like it didn't matter. "I didn't tell her," he muttered, the guilt almost suffocating him. "I told her I had a work thing. I'll be gone for a couple of days with you."
Will didn't hide his surprise. He stood up straighter, shaking his head slightly. "You didn't tell her?" His voice was a mix of disbelief and frustration. "Jay, you've got to be kidding me. This is huge. You can't keep this from her forever."
Jay didn't look at him. He stared down at his shoes, feeling the weight of the moment. "I couldn't, Will. Not like that. She's got enough on her plate already—her book, the movie stuff, everything. I don't want to drop this on her. Not when she's so happy."
Will's jaw tightened as he stepped closer. "You're lying to her, Jay. And you know it. What's she gonna think when she finds out you were hiding this from her? This isn't just some minor thing. This is about a kid—your kid."
Jay felt his breath catch in his chest. "I know," he muttered, his voice tight. "I know, okay? But I'm not ready to tell her. Not like this."
Will let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "You're making this harder than it has to be, man. She deserves to know. And you know what? So do you. You're not the only one who has to carry this weight."
Jay shook his head. He wasn't ready to face Erin's disappointment, her confusion. He wasn't ready for that conversation. "I'm not trying to make it harder," he said quietly. "I'm just… not ready. I need to figure this out first. I need to know what I'm walking into."
Will studied him for a moment, then gave a sharp nod. "I get it. You want to sort this out before you bring it to her. But at some point, you have to be honest. You can't keep dodging this forever."
Jay didn't respond, his mind already running through the next steps. "I know, man. I'll deal with it. Just not right now."
Will didn't press any further, sensing that Jay was done talking about it for now. Instead, he clapped his hand on Jay's shoulder, an unspoken understanding passing between them. "Alright. Let's get to St.Louis and figure this shit out. You're not alone in this, alright?"
Jay nodded, but the weight in his chest hadn't lifted. As they both climbed into the car, Jay started the engine, the car rumbling to life. His gaze drifted over to Will, who was looking out the window, probably thinking about everything Jay hadn't said. But right now, Jay couldn't deal with it. Not yet. The truth was still hanging over him, and he wasn't sure he was ready to face it. Not with Erin, and not with the world.
Will's voice broke through the silence again. "How'd she look when you left?" he asked, his voice softer now, more concerned.
Jay clenched the steering wheel, his eyes focusing on the road ahead. "She looked… like she always does," he said, his voice strained. "Like she trusts me. Like she believes in me."
Will's expression softened a little. "She does trust you, Jay. Don't screw that up."
Jay didn't answer. He couldn't. But he knew deep down that Will was right. He was walking a thin line. And if he wasn't careful, he could lose everything.
It didn't feel right—leaving her behind without telling her the truth. But he had to get through this. For both of them.
And hopefully, when he came back, he'd have a plan. A way to make things right.
The ride was long and quiet, the car engine humming steadily beneath the tension that filled the space between Jay and Will. The highway stretched out in front of them, a vast, open road that felt both like freedom and a trap all at once. Jay's knuckles were white against the wheel, his mind racing through everything he hadn't said, everything he wasn't ready to face.
Will's eyes flickered occasionally to the side, watching Jay, but he didn't push for answers, knowing better than to prod when his friend was lost in thought. The silence wasn't awkward, but it was heavy with unspoken words. Jay could almost hear Will's silent questions: Why the lie to Erin? What happens when you come back? What do you really want from all of this?
Jay couldn't answer any of them, not yet. He was still too wrapped up in the chaos of his own emotions, the weight of the past catching up with him in ways he hadn't expected. Every time he thought about Erin, about how much he cared for her, the guilt threatened to swallow him whole.
"Hey, Will," Jay finally broke the silence, his voice tight. "You ever think you're just… not cut out for this whole life thing? The relationships, the choices, all of it?"
Will's gaze flickered to him for a second, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "You mean being a damn mess? Yeah, all the time."
Jay chuckled, the sound bitter in his throat. "It feels like one big mess lately."
Will didn't respond immediately, but the understanding was there in his eyes. He knew Jay better than anyone, knew the weight of his struggles, especially with family and relationships. "You'll figure it out. You always do."
Jay shook his head, the frustration evident. "I don't know, man. This is different. It's… complicated."
The silence settled in again, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Will wasn't pushing him to talk more, and Jay appreciated that. He was just there, a steady presence in the midst of all the uncertainty Jay was trying to navigate.
Eventually, as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting an orange glow over the road, Will spoke up again, his tone light. "So, you ready to face your past?"
Jay's grip tightened on the wheel, but he didn't answer immediately. The thought of seeing Abby again, of dealing with everything he'd left unresolved, made his stomach churn. But he had to do it. He had no choice.
"I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Jay muttered, more to himself than to Will.
Will shot him a quick glance, his expression serious for a moment. "You've got a choice, man. It's just not gonna be easy. But you know you can't keep running from it forever."
Jay's eyes stayed focused on the road, his thoughts swirling. He wasn't running, not really. But facing Abby meant facing everything he had buried—his guilt, his mistakes, the things he wasn't proud of. And he didn't know if he was ready for that yet.
But as they continued down the road, the miles ticking by, Jay knew one thing for certain: He had to make things right with Abby, with Erin, with himself. No matter how messy it was.
Jay's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white as he drove down unfamiliar streets of St. Louis. The closer they got, the more his chest tightened. The weight of Abby's letter felt heavier in his pocket with each passing mile.
He could feel Will's eyes on him, though his brother hadn't spoken much during the drive. Will understood the weight of the situation, but there was nothing either of them could say that would make it easier.
"This is it," Jay muttered as he parked the car in front of a small house, barely able to breathe. Abby's house was modest, not what he had expected, but it was hers, and that made it feel like everything had changed.
"Ready?" Will asked softly, though it was clear he knew the answer.
Jay nodded, even though he didn't feel ready at all. He was still processing everything, still struggling to make sense of how his life had turned upside down so quickly. But there was no turning back now. He had to face Abby, and he had to face the possibility that he was about to become a father.
They got out of the car and walked up to the front door. Jay's heart was pounding, and the weight of the situation settled deep in his chest. He reached for the doorbell, but before he could press it, the door swung open.
Abby stood in the doorway, looking every bit as pregnant as her letter had suggested. Her eyes were sharp, and she didn't waste any time with pleasantries.
"I knew you'd show up," she said, her voice cold and direct. "Took you long enough."
Jay opened his mouth to speak, but Abby cut him off.
"You've got two choices," she continued, her gaze hard. "You can either take responsibility for this baby, or I go public with everything. I'll go to the press. I'll tell them the whole story. I'll let the world know what kind of man you really are."
Jay's stomach twisted with guilt and dread. He had expected anger from Abby, but this—this was something else. She was determined to get what she wanted, and if he didn't comply, the consequences would be severe.
"Abby,let's talk like adults."
Jay's voice came out strained, though he tried to keep it steady. The words felt foreign, heavy in his mouth, as he searched Abby's face for any sign of softness. But there was none. Just determination.
"Talk like adults?" she repeated, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You've had how long to talk, Jay? You couldn't even write me back. And now you want to have a calm conversation?"
"Look,I get that our..relationship wasn't easy.I mean..we got married for 24 hours and-"
Abby's eyes flickered with the weight of that truth, and Jay's heart clenched. He took a breath, trying to steady himself, though the anger bubbling beneath the surface threatened to break free.
"We are still married."
Jay's stomach dropped, the words hitting him like a physical blow. His gaze shot to Abby's, disbelief painted across his features.
"What do you mean, we're still married?" he stammered, trying to process what she was saying. He could feel the sharp edge of panic creeping in, his heart racing. "That… that can't be right. We… we got divorced, Abby. You—"
Abby held up her hand, cutting him off, her eyes cold. "The papers were never filed. I never signed them."
Jay's anger flared instantly, his jaw tightening as he took a step back, his hand running through his hair in frustration. The air between them felt thick with tension, and he could barely hold it in anymore.
"So what, you just… forgot to sign them?" His voice was low, almost menacing, a sharp edge cutting through the words. "After everything we went through, you couldn't even finish that? You've had all this time, Abby, and now you're telling me this?"
His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't just the shock of the revelation—it was the betrayal. The lies. The fact that she'd kept this from him all along, and now, his mind couldn't help but jump to other conclusions.
"You lied about this. Who knows what else you're lying about?" He was trying to keep it together, but the anger was overwhelming, suffocating. "Maybe the baby isn't even mine, huh? How can I trust you on anything if you're keeping something this big from me?"
Abby flinched at the accusation, but she didn't back down. "Don't go there, Jay. You don't know what you're talking about."
Jay's eyes locked onto hers, cold and calculating. "Then prove it to me. I want a DNA test. If you're being honest, then it shouldn't be a problem."
Abby's face paled, but she didn't say anything. The silence hung between them, thick with everything unsaid. The hurt. The distrust. And Jay couldn't shake the feeling that the world he thought he knew was crumbling down, piece by piece.
Jay's hands balled into fists at his sides, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He had to get out of there. He couldn't stand another second in that room, not with the anger, not with the doubt gnawing at him. His voice was cold, final, when he spoke again.
"Tomorrow. We'll do it tomorrow. You want to prove me wrong, then fine. But I'm not playing games anymore, Abby." His eyes never left hers, his words laced with all the hurt and betrayal he was feeling.
Without another word, he turned on his heel, the sound of his footsteps heavy as he walked toward the door. He didn't wait for her response, didn't give her a chance to try to explain. There was nothing left to say.
The door slammed behind him, and Jay was gone, leaving Abby standing in the silence of her own regret. He didn't look back as he walked away. Not this time.
Jay stormed into the apartment, his frustration still boiling over, his fists clenching and unclenching as he paced in the living room. Will was sitting on the couch, flipping through his phone, but the moment he saw Jay's tense posture, he knew something was wrong.
"Jay?" Will's voice was cautious, but there was concern in his eyes. "What happened?"
Jay stopped in his tracks, running a hand through his hair as he stared at the floor, trying to calm himself. It wasn't working.
"Abby… she—she lied to me, Will. She told me the divorce papers were filed. Turns out, they never were. We're still married." Jay's voice was tight, frustration lacing each word. "She's been lying to me this whole time."
Will's brow furrowed, his confusion matching Jay's anger. "Wait, what? So, you're telling me you're still married?"
Jay nodded, taking a deep breath as he tried to steady himself. "Yeah. And that's not even the worst part. I—" He stopped himself, clenching his jaw. "I told her to prove it. I asked for a DNA test."
Will's eyes widened. "A DNA test? For the baby?" he asked, his tone soft but concerned. "Jay, you really think—"
"I don't know what to think anymore," Jay cut in, pacing again. "I'm starting to wonder if I've been played this whole time. Maybe the baby's not even mine. How could I trust her after this?"
Will stood up slowly, his gaze steady as he placed a hand on Jay's shoulder. "Look, I get why you're angry. Hell, I'd be pissed too. But the DNA test… that's a big step, man. You sure that's what you want? You want to put all that on the table?"
Jay met his brother's eyes, the weight of his decision heavy on his shoulders. "I don't know what else to do, Will. She lied about something this big. I need answers. I need to know if everything she's told me is the truth."
Will didn't respond right away, his face softening as he gave Jay a look of understanding. "I get it. But remember, man, you're not alone in this. Whatever happens, I've got your back."
Jay nodded, but it didn't make the storm inside him any quieter. "Thanks, Will. I just… I don't know where to go from here."
"You take it one step at a time," Will said. "One step at a time, Jay."
Jay stretched out on the hotel bed, the tension in his body making it hard to relax. The last thing he wanted was to burden Erin with his problems—not when she was probably dealing with her own stuff back home. He needed to keep it together, even if everything inside of him felt like it was unraveling.
The phone call was meant to be a distraction, a chance to hear her voice and forget, even if just for a few minutes, what was going on in his life.
He stared at his phone, hesitating for a moment. The temptation to reach out was strong, but he didn't want to sound weak. He couldn't—he couldn't let Erin see him like this, not when she had no idea what he was dealing with. He needed her, yes, but he also needed her to believe everything was fine. That he had it under control.
Finally, he tapped her name and waited, his thumb nervously tapping against the edge of the phone.
It rang a couple of times before Erin picked up, and his breath caught slightly when he heard her voice.
"Hey, babe," she greeted, her voice warm and familiar, like a blanket wrapping around him. But Jay couldn't let himself soften. Not yet.
"Hey," he replied, his voice just a little rougher than he intended. He cleared his throat, trying to keep things casual, like he was just calling to check in. "How's your day been?"
Erin didn't seem to notice the tension in his voice right away. "It's been good. Busy, but good. Lots of calls about the movie adaptation, a couple of meetings. You know, the usual. How about you? How's the hotel?"
Jay could picture her now, probably sitting on her couch, legs tucked beneath her as she balanced her laptop and her phone. She always had a way of making things seem easier, even from miles away. But he didn't want to lean on that. Not now.
"The hotel's fine," Jay said, his tone light, even if it felt like he was carrying a thousand pounds on his shoulders. "Just setting up for the night. Nothing special." He kept his voice steady, doing his best to sound like himself, like the guy who always had it together. "How's everything with your book stuff? You're still pushing through?"
"Yeah," Erin responded, sounding more animated now, her voice lifting. "I'm getting there. I've been working on some ideas for the script, and honestly, it's exciting. But it's a lot, you know?"
Jay nodded even though she couldn't see him. He wanted to sound interested, wanted to keep the conversation light, but his mind kept drifting back to everything he'd just learned.
Abby. The lies. The baby.
The DNA test looming over him. And Erin… Erin would never let him down, but telling her about any of this now? That would break everything. She wouldn't be able to handle it—not like this. He couldn't put that weight on her.
"I get it," Jay said, his voice low, careful. "You've got a lot on your plate. You've always handled it like a pro, though. I know you'll get through it."
There was a small pause on the other end of the line. "Thanks, Jay," Erin said, a little softer. "It means a lot to hear that. But what about you? You've been a little… distant. How are you doing?"
The question hit him like a punch to the gut, but he fought to keep his expression neutral. The last thing he wanted was for Erin to hear what he was really feeling—the frustration, the betrayal, the spiraling panic. So he forced his voice to remain steady, to act like everything was fine.
"I'm good, babe," he said, trying to sound convincing, keeping the mask on. "Just tired, you know? A lot of travel, a lot of planning for the next few weeks. It's all a lot, but I'll get through it."
Erin didn't buy it. He could tell by the silence that followed.
She knew him too well, knew when something was off. But she didn't press. Not yet.
"Well, don't work yourself too hard. You know I'm here if you need to vent or talk or whatever," she said, her voice gentle, understanding.
Jay felt a pang in his chest at the offer. She meant it, he could hear it in her tone. But he didn't want to burden her. Not with this. Not when he didn't even know what to do himself.
"I appreciate it, Erin. I really do," Jay said, his voice steady as he kept the mask in place. "But I'm alright. Just need some rest, I think."
"Alright," Erin said, though Jay could hear the slight edge of concern in her voice. "Well, if you change your mind, I'm just a call away."
Jay smiled, the mask still firmly in place, even though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know. Thanks, babe. I'll talk to you soon."
They exchanged a few more words, light-hearted, casual, before Jay finally ended the call. He set the phone down beside him and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The silence in the room was deafening, but it wasn't enough to drown out the storm inside of him.
He wanted to tell Erin.
He wanted to share everything with her, to let her help him shoulder the weight of it all. But for now, he couldn't.
He wasn't ready to break the mask. Not when everything felt so fragile.