Cole sat on the rock with his cheek resting on one of his bent knees. He was looking out at the small pond that was located on the other side of the farm. After dinner, Kane had left with the excuse that he needed to check on the horses. Cole had helped Denny and Bill clean up before they turned in for the night. They were still tired from their trip.
But Cole suspected that his parents simply wanted to spend more time alone. He couldn’t blame them, they were not used to him being around. He sighed, thinking that although he hadn’t lied to his parents, he hadn’t told them the whole truth. He gave them the abbreviated version of needing to get away a bit because he found out that Ryker and Ezra were sleeping together.
He wasn’t sure how he was going to tell them they were going to be grandparents, but Cole figured he’d be gone before he started showing any signs of pregnancy. Granted, he would still need to find a job, but he wasn’t hurting for money. He had his savings and the money he was stowing away to one day own his bakery and sweets store.
He loved cooking, but baking was where he found his niche. Cole closed his eyes with a sigh, holding back his tears. He would have to put his dreams on hold, with a baby on the way it would be a while before he could open the bakery he wanted. He wasn’t giving up on his dreams, just redirecting his focus for a few years.
I’m going to be a father. Shit, am I even ready for this?
When the doctor had told him that he was pregnant, Cole thought the man was joking and started laughing. At the time, all he could think was more excuses for Ryker to beat the shit out of him. Once he realized that he was serious, he sat on the hospital bed in a frozen state and stayed like that for a couple of hours. Scared out of his fucking mind, not for himself but for the child he was carrying. He’d sorted through his things and he knew that he couldn’t stick around.
Ryker would find a way to hurt him more and use the baby against him. Besides, what he had with Ryker was not conducive to bringing up a child. Cole wouldn’t subject his, or any child, to a home where one parent was being abused. Maybe it was a blessing that he found out he was pregnant while Ryker was out of town. It gave him the courage to get away. It hurt worse thinking that the one friend he trusted was sleeping with his lover behind his back.
How long had it been going on? Did I even care?
The questions swirled in his head. Even though he knew he shouldn’t give it any energy, he couldn’t help it. Was he so blind to everything that he didn’t notice?
What else were they doing that I didn’t know about?
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself.”
Cole jumped when he heard Kane’s voice.
“Dammit, you need a fucking bell,” he mumbled, hoping to hide the fact the other man had startled him.
