Sunshine’s Reviews > Depraved Favors > Status Update

The midwife rubs his back with the towel before his sharp cry pierces the air. Goosebumps slither across my skin, and my eyes water.
“Shh, you’re okay,” Peyton soothes him gently as his shrieks continue, and I watch them with awe. They are my life now. My heart outside of my body, and I’m terrified that the world could hurt them. I lean in, running a knuckle along his soft cheek.

Elise was a nightmare to deal with and as soon as Brit was old enough to decide where she wanted to be, she stopped visiting me in the summer. And maybe I’m a piece of shit for not putting more effort in, but I’m tired. Tired of feeling like a nuisance, tired of the rejection of trying to plan days, and tired of the dejection I would spiral into for weeks after I returned home.

My eyes well with tears because I have an idea of what she’s going to admit. Her lips curl in a soft smile. “Am I excited to potentially meet my grandchild before I eventually succumb to my disease? Yes. Do I wish I was older? That you were older? Of course. But life doesn’t go as planned, and time isn’t as infinite as we feel it is.” Her hoarse voice trails off and she clears her throat.

“I slept with Brit’s dad.”
My dad chokes on his bite,while my mom sits back pondering something with a wistful expression on her face before she nods her head. “I do remember Owen being quite a looker.”
“When you say slept⁠-“
“Did you tell her and Jacob?”My mom asks.
I shake my head. “Nope, I broke up with him beforehand and then ditched her every chance I could to go fuck him.”

Why tell them

Owen leans over,gripping the counter on either side of me and lowers his face till it’s in view from where I’m looking down.My gaze darts to his.
“I am sorry. I don’t know what lies Elise spun to you and Brit,but I never cheated on her. I would never do that to a woman I was committed to.”
We both lift our heads,but he doesn’t move back as we stare at one another.I’m suddenly aware of how close we are.