Page 136 of I Dare You
Kit walks forward, hands raised in surrender.“I believed for a long time that I was Franny’s baby’s father, but she wanted to meet with me in person to tell me that I’m not.She took a paternity test when I asked, having my doubts that she was faithful throughout our relationship.The calls I received were from Franny.I just needed some time to think over things.I’m sorry for keeping this from you, but please trust me—nothing else is happening.”
I can’t tear my gaze off Franny.She’s beautiful, more beautiful than me.
“So you spent time with me as your final fling before becoming a father?Is that it?”
Kit shakes his head.“Hallie, no.What I feel for you is real.Everything we’ve been through has been genuine.”
“So genuine that you omitted the tiny little fact that you might be a father!”I cry, angered and betrayed.“You know all my secrets, yet you couldn’t tell me yours?”
Kit lowers his eyes, ashamed.“I’m not perfect.I fucked up.And I’m sorry.There was so much going on, I didn’t want to add to the shit pile.Besides, there was nothing to tell as I wasn’t sure.”
Franny reaches for her bag, desperate to escape.
But I yank my arm out from Dandy and block her exit.“I don’t want any trouble.What Kit says is true.He’s been nothing but supportive of me throughout my pregnancy and after, even though I cheated on him when we were together.I owed him an explanation in person, not over text.It’s the least I could do.He’s a good guy.”
I don’t sense any deceit in her admission, but I want to tear her apart, limb from limb.
“He doesn’t want me…he wants you,” she says with sadness, clear she’s still not over Kit.
“Hallie—” Kit’s voice does nothing to soothe me like it once did.All I hear is lies and more lies.
I don’t know who to believe anymore.
I feel betrayed.
I’ve told Kit every single thing about me, and he couldn’t tell me this one thing?
A thought occurs.Did he not tell me that in case hewasthe father and intended to live his happily ever after with Franny and his baby?
He never wanted forever.I was something to keep his mind off his own shit.A project he could fix.
“Come on, baby girl, let’s get some fresh air,” Dandy says, taking my hand.
But Dandy knew what was going on.I know that he did by his response in the car.It feels as if everyone I’ve trusted has just betrayed me.I know I lied to Kit at the beginning, and that is hypocritical, but feelings of worthlessness and fear grip me.
Kit shouts, “Hallie!”just before my eyelids flutter, and then everything fades into darkness.
“Where am I?”I groan, covered in sweat.
“You’re safe.”
It’s Kit who answers, but I soon remember I hate him.
Opening my eyes, I see that I’m still in this shithole motel.
Franny and Dandy are gone.
It’s just Kit and me.
Normally, I would be thankful, but now, I just want to be sick.
I come to a slow rise, leaning against the headboard.Kit sits in a chair at the foot of the bed.He’s leaning forward, hands interlaced, deep in thought.
“You have every right to be angry with me.I lied to you.But just as you lied to me, you weren’t ready to tell me the truth.That doesn’t make what I did right, but please try to understand I was grappling with the fact that I might have been a father.”
“That’s what you meant about you being in Flat Planes?”I ask, remembering Kit mentioning he needed to get away.
He nods slowly.“I wanted to tell you, but being with you, Hallie, it felt like we were living in our own little world.I could escape reality, and we could just be us, without our pasts ruining our happiness.”
