He slides his phone across the granite countertop to me. There's a paragraph from Kam explaining how he doesn’t feel guilty about his decision to trap Megan, only that he regrets he didn’t come back when Alana came out. He’s trying to explain himself, but the more I read, the more sour my stomach feels. Megan would have still been there if not for Alana, and even though I knew that, having him confirm it makes me resent him more.
“How noble of him.” I roll my eyes and hand Collin his phone back. “Alana wasn’t gentle at all.”
Collin's eyes remain on me, anger evident in them now. “What happened while you were there?”
I divert my gaze and reach for my bowl, not wanting to talk about it.
“That’s more for Alana to tell,” I answer him. “She was the one that dealt with him, and I’m not sure if she wants all of that out.”
He nods, understanding.
“Well, just so you’re aware, he hasn’t returned home yet. His parents haven't seen him, and we’re still unsure where he is. He said you and the baby weren’t harmed, but I want to hear that from you.”
“He didn’t hurt us,” I confirm, then move past that. “Blue told me nobody’s heard from him.”
“Good. You found the phone,” Lauren says.
“And thank you for it.” I look from Cal to Lauren. “For the phone and the clothes. I didn’t want to go back to the condo to get anything, but knowing Kam isn’t back makes it easier.” I think about asking Blue to take me over, but I’m not sure that’ll be such a good idea. Which reminds me. “What's the address here? I’m having a friend pick me up so I can take care of a few things before my appointment tomorrow, so it’ll go a bit smoother for the other two.”
Neither Collin nor Lauren seem like they think my decision to go out ten minutes after I wake up from being kidnapped is a good idea. They’re both clearly wary about it.
I swallow the lump of food in my mouth and take a sip of water, looking back down at my bowl, hoping they don’t pick up on my shot nerves.
“Trust me,” I say as nonchalantly as possible. “I’m fine. What I have to do is crucial for the well-being of my baby. I’ll be okay. I’m hoping it’ll be a pathway for Megan and Alana to finally get along.” I wanted that last part to sound hopeful, but it came out sounding just a little solemn.
“I understand the two of them don’t get along very well,” Collin inquires.
“After this, I’m not sure where they stand.”
He nods. “Who knows. This might be the start of them coming together. Cal and Chris weren’t the most cooperative until pretty recently. Having a common goal is what did it.”
“How are they now?” I ask him, imagining what it’d be like to have all three of us on the same accord for once. “Do they get along?”
“For the most part,” he answers, sitting back in his seat. “We all don’t instantly agree with one another; sometimes it’s two against one. Sometimes, we have to deal with Cal blocking us out when he doesn’t want to hear us-” God, that sounds like Alana. “-but that happens less and less now. But we’re better. It was a rocky start, and we’re still making progress every day, but we’re not like we were.”
His words give me some reassurance but only a little bit. I don’t think he’s aware of how Megan and Alana feel about one another. I’m not sure if either of them will be able to put their differences aside for anything.
“What was it?” I ask Collin. “The goal, I mean.” I need to know what it was that got them to agree with one another.
“The fact that we had a daughter already and twins on the way that we needed to be on the same page for.”
I look down at my belly, remembering my own sacrifice, hoping Megan and Alana will be able to come to a compromise for this child. Will this be enough? The baby’s presence got Alana to think rationally for once but is it the thing that will get them to cooperate at last?
“I’m trying to get them to come together for that same reason,” I confess. “This baby needs us to be stable, and right now, we aren’t.”
“It’s not impossible. If all three of you have the child's well-being in mind, some kind of an agreement can be reached. The paternity is still in question,” he points out, like that fact isn’t still a glaring reminder of why we’re in this mess. “But I’m not comfortable with any of you being near Kameron after this if it is his child.”
“That’s something both Alana and I agree on, but I’m not so sure about Megan.”
“Well,” Collin’s expression turns dark, and a chill runs up my spine at his sudden change. “Your friend Blue found cameras in the condo.”
“What?” I gasp, struck with horror at his reveal. “He was watching us?”
Collin nods. “Megan needs to know that it wouldn’t be in the best interest of your child to go back to him.”
“Given the circumstances, I don’t really see that as an issue anymore, especially with this information.” His news made me feel nauseous, but it’s heavy enough to hopefully make Megan understand why Alana and I aren’t letting her go back. “I have yet to discuss anything with either of them. But, that’s why I need to know the address, so I can make this already complicated situation less complicated.”
I don’t want to tell them I’m going to cut things off with Blue. I’m scared they might think I might not be able to handle something like that on top of what just happened, but I’ve already come to terms with this.
I almost let out a relieved breath when Collin nods, then proceeds to give me the address, which I immediately send to Blue.
“Thank you,” I say once I’ve sent the message. “For everything.”
“That’s what family’s for,” he says simply.
And yet again, it hits me that I have one now.
We have one now.