Chapter 25

I feltit as soon as he walked through the door of the bar. Sure, the bells dinged, but I didn’t even look. I just knew it was Wesley.

I’d taken the time before he showed up to do a quick Google search but didn’t come up with much. There was an obituary for a Margaret Hayes where he was listed as a surviving child, a random article from 25 years ago about a local boy joining’ the Navy, and then a whole lot of nothing.

He came and sat down on a bar stool across from me, and I had to clench my fists together and take a step back so I didn’t punch the asshole without getting the story.

Riley had been a mess after he’d met Wesley Hayes. I’ felt so fuckin’ helpless. When my butterfly had pushed me away and told me to leave, it was like my heart was being cut out with a blunt knife. I’d take Dad trying to literally cut my skin off over that any day. Riley was upset, and I knew we’d be fine, but it didn’t stop me from feeling like I was shattering from the inside out, and it was this man’s fault.

I clenched my jaw. I’d invited him here for a reason, and it wasn’t to kick his ass. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I could. I’d seen him training in the gym. The guy knew his shit.

Still, if he was here to hurt Riley in any way, I wouldn’t back down. I’d fuckin’ die trying. I sized him up. “Somethin’ to drink?”

“Just whatever you have on tap, thanks.” I acknowledged him with a nod and grabbed a glass to fill.

Luckily, it was slow, but it didn’t seem like he was ready to talk yet, so I took a few minutes to wipe down the tabletops and make sure the regulars were good before I came back and stared him down.

“Is Riley okay?”

For some reason, the question pissed me off. “You don’t get to ask that. At least, not yet. I need more information first.”

“You’re very protective of him.” I raised an eyebrow and waited.

Wesley sighed. “Listen, I’m not here to make things difficult for either of you. I’d love a chance to meet my son for real,but I get it if it never happens. I’m not here to hurt Riley. Or you for that matter.”

“Why now?”

“I didn’t know about Riley until about a year ago. I didn’t even know I had a kid.”

“Really? I know I was a kid, but Laurie wasn’t the type to keep that to herself unless she thought there was a good reason.” Like she was trying to protect Ri. Wesley was dangerous. It was clear in the way he held himself. He was making an effort to not seem intimidating, but it didn’t matter. You don’t grow up the way I did and not know how to sense danger, and Wesley screamed it.

“She didn’t. Listen. Laurie and I, we were best friends growing up, and as we got older, we were on again and off again all through high school. It continued even after I enlisted in the Navy. When I got recruited for the SEALs, I came home and we talked, and we agreed to break things off. We hooked up one last time, knowing it was goodbye. That was when she got pregnant.”

I didn’t speak and waited for him to keep going. He seemed to be honest.

“There was no way for her to reach me, so she went to my parents and told them. I guess Laurie was hoping they’d have a way to contact me. Instead, they shut her out. I still don’t know exactly what they said or did, but I guess they threatened her, accused her of trying to trap me. I don’t know. Either way, she left and honored their wishes. I only found out about Riley at all when my mom died and my sister and I went to the house to clean it out and get my dad moved to her home. I found a letter that they’d locked up in a drawer and never opened from Laurie.”

Wesley paused a moment and took a long sip of beer. I gave him a second to compose himself. I could see how emotional he was, even if he was trying hide it. Fuck. What were we gonna do?

“Anyway, Laurie wrote a letter to my parents’ house right after Riley was born. She put a baby picture in there, and she told me she’d honored their wishes and didn’t put me on the birth certificate and got the termination of rights paperwork, but if I ever changed my mind and wanted to be part of my son’s life, she’d welcome it. Laurie left her number on the bottom.”

Wesley cleared his throat. “When it was written, I was neck-deep in my SEALs training and was overseas on missions after that most of the time. I didn’t even know Laurie had died. Not till after I saw that letter.”

It made sense. I found myself believing him, which pissed me off. I wanted to hate the guy, have an excuse to beat the shit outta him for leaving Riley in such a shitty situation, but I couldn’t. Besides, if he was around, I probably wouldn’t have Riley in my life, and I was a selfish enough bastard to be grateful for that.

Wesley shifted and fished in his pocket until he pulled out a folded piece of paper and an old, faded photo.

“Is that them?”

“Yeah.” He pushed it toward me, but I pushed the letter back. “Show that to Riley if he wants to see it. It ain’t my business.” I couldn’t help but look at the picture of little baby Riley though. He was younger and smaller than I’d ever known him. But even as a newborn, his big blue eyes that took up most of his face stared intensely into the camera. Fuck. I swallowed down the emotion.

“He was so little.”

Wesley looked as emotional as I did. He took the photo and letter and folded them back into his pocket. “Yeah. So right after I found out about Riley, I had to leave the country for a job and that kept me occupied for a few months. But when I came back, I immediately started looking for him. Even with my connections, it wasn’t as easy as I’d thought. Y’all pretty much fell off the grid 15 years ago. There was a spotty education history I was able to track, and I just kind of lucked into finding the city. As soon as I did, I took time off and rented a small place here. I’ve been here for a few months.”

“Are you still in the Navy?”

“Nah. I work in the private sector now.” He didn’t elaborate, and I decided it was probably better that way. I didn’t really need to know anyway.

“So, today really wasn’t planned? It wasn’t some kinda trap?”

“No. I probably shouldn’t have approached you at all, but seeing him . . . I couldn’t stop myself.”

I understood that. Riley made me lose my mind too.

Just then, my phone buzzed. When I pulled it out, I saw I’d missed five texts. One from Dakota and four from Riley. Shit. I checked the ones from Ri first.

Butterfly: Hiii, Becks. I’m sorry I was an asshole to you. I don’t want you to go away ever. Don’t let me push you away.

Butterfly: I love you. Don’t hate me. You were the best dad, brother, boyfriend ever. I don’t need anyone else. I don’t need some dick nugget named Wesley. I just need you.

I snorted and glanced at Wesley, who was watching me with narrowed eyes, like he was trying to see through my body to read the messages.

Butterfly: Dakota got us cheesy bread. I’mma learn how to make this. I’mma make cheesy bread for you every night, just to show you how much I love you.

Butterfly: Beckettttt, I miss you. Plain vodka is gross. Why do we even have this shit? Come back, I wanna cuddle.

I resisted the urge to call him immediately and checked the message from Dakota. I figured I’d get some real information from him.

Dakota: Hey, Jay and I are here with Riley. He’s safe. He and Jay are drinking vodka from the bottle. The one that he got from underneath your sink. They also each had at least 2 weed gummies before I hid them from them. But I made sure they ate and got them drinking water.

My hands shook as I tried to figure out what to do. Ri was struggling, and I was here. Okay. Think, Beckett. Ri was safe. I didn’t know Dakota well, but he was responsible as fuck. He wouldn’t let either of them cross any lines. So, I’d focus on gettin” home first.

I immediately pulled up the group text for the bar and shot a message to see if anyone could cover for the rest of the night. Then I went back to Dakota first.

Thanks, man. I appreciate it. I’m trying to get out of here as soon as possible. Riley found out some shit today. I never should have left him at work.

The message came back really quickly. Was he just staring at his fuckin’ phone?

Dakota: Yeah, he told us, in a lot of detail. He also told us he screamed at you and forced you to leave, so no one’s blaming you. He’s upset, but he’s fine. I’m watching out for them.

I tried to calm myself and believe his words. Things could be way fuckin’ worse. I glanced back at Wesley. I knew he wanted to ask but stopped himself. Before I answered, I saw I had a message from one of the other bartenders that said they could come in. Relieved that was handled, I went back to Dakota.

Thanks again. Just keep feeding them and forcing water on them. Jay’s a runner, so don’t let him leave the apartment. If Riley says he wants to cook, don’t let him. Last time, he almost burned the place down. I should be able to leave here in 15.

After I covered the basics, I shoved my phone in my pocket so I could get ready to go. I wanted to answer Riley, but I wasn’t sure he’d even see if right now. I could talk to him in person, let him know he had nothing to apologize for.

“Is everything okay?” I glanced up. I’d completely forgotten Wesley was there.

“Sorta. Listen, I’m leavin’ in a minute. Give me your number. I can’t promise you anything, but I’ll talk to Ri. If he wants to talk to you, he can reach out.”

Holy fuck, his eyes were so much like Riley’s, I had to look away when he stared at me like that. It was freakin’ me out.

“Thank you, Beckett. I can’t tell you how much that means to me that you’re giving me a chance.”

I grunted. “It’s Ri that has to give you a chance, not me.”

“Yeah, but he listens to you. Your opinion means something to him. Just from the little I know about you two, that much is obvious. If you’re on my side, it means I have a chance.”

I met his eyes, trying hard not to see Ri in his gaze. “I’m on Riley’s side. That’s it. But . . . I do believe you, and I think that maybe you deserve a chance to at least tell Ri what you told me.”

“I’ll take it.”

“Just know, if you hurt him, I won’t hesitate to fuckin’ kill you. And trust me, I know it won’t be easy, but I’ll find a way.”

Obviously, Wesley wasn’t scared. But there might’ve some respect shining in those eyes. “Understood.”

By the time he gave me his number and I got my shit together, the girl covering me had shown up. Wesley was still there, but I didn’t give him another glance and went to go see my butterfly who needed me. As much as I hated to see him hurting, being needed by him was always the best fuckin’ feeling.