Take care of Lee. I haven’t talked to anyone about this, but things have been hard for her. We’ve lost another baby and it’s killing her. I’m watching my wife dwindle to nothing, and I can’t stop it. She used to be full of love and light, but now she’s miserable. Make her smile and help her find happiness. I can’t give her the life she’s desperate for. So please, watch her, help her, dry her tears, and be there, because I don’t know how she’ll handle it. If you realize the gift she is and you fall in love with her, treat her right or I’ll fucking haunt you. There’s no woman in the world like her, and if she has to love anyone else other than me, I hope it’s you. I want her to find someone worthy, so if it’s not you, make sure he’s not a prick.

If by some stretch of a miracle she’s pregnant now, I want you to be like a father to him or her. You’re like a brother to me, and I need to know they won’t grow up not knowing anything about me. Tell them about all the trouble we caused and protect them from doing the same stupid shit.

I’ve thought a lot about some of the things we’ve talked about. How this life will eventually destroy you and a family, and I think you’re right. I’m not the same guy I was. I’ve seen too much, and while I’m proud of the things I’ve done, I carry guilt about Natalie. I’m a piece of shit. I don’t deserve her, but for some reason she loves me, and I keep hoping she never sees the bad in me.

Anyway, be good to her. And even in death, I’ll have your six.—Aaron

Once I pull into the drive, I grab on to my anger. He fucked around on her, got another girl pregnant, and then has the balls to be pissed at me. I respected her, loved her and his daughter. He even asked me to do all this and then he wants to act like I broke some damn man code. He can fuck off.

Aaron steps off the deck as I close the door.

“Didn’t think you’d be back so soon.”

I step closer. “I thought we could use some time to discuss the last year.”

He nods and turns toward the back deck. “Seems I’ve missed a lot.”

We sit in the chairs and we both stare off. I’m not sure if I should start or let him ask the questions. My training kicks in and I decide to let him go first. Typically, it’s the best way to get answers you want.

I wait, but he doesn’t say anything or move, just stares.

Then I remember the fucker is trained to do the same thing. It could be hours before either of us budge. The thing is, he’s not a terrorist, he’s a friend and deserves to be treated like one.

“I’ll go first,” I say and he turns. “What do you want to know?” I give an inch but still try to maintain control of the discussion.

“How long have you been playing house with my family?”

So this is going to be how it is.

“First of all, I wasn’t playing house.” I make sure I keep my eyes clear so he knows that’s not what the fuck this was. “Second of all, how long were you making a new family while you had yours here?”

His eyes shift the slightest amount, but it’s enough for me to notice. “You don’t know everything.”

“Neither do you.” I give it right back. He didn’t see Natalie at her worst or when we were both trying to figure out how we felt. He wasn’t here, so he better not fucking judge me.

“Brittany was a mistake,” Aaron says and then stands. “A big fucking mistake.”

“Yeah, well, your mistake doesn’t think she is.” This is the part that pisses me off.

“You think I care what she thinks?”

“I don’t know what you think. You fucked around on your pregnant wife! Brittany told her everything, and now you come back spewing your shit about me and Lee? Fuck you, man. It wasn’t behind your back. It wasn’t to shame you. You even told me to love her. You said you wanted me to raise your kid as my own and now you’re acting like this?” Once I start talking, it all comes out and I can’t stop. “I love her. I helped pick her up when you died. I was at the hospital when Aarabelle was sick, I held Natalie’s hair when she was puking, and I fucking defended you!” I push his chest and he winces.

Aaron takes a few steps back rubbing his chest, and I feel like a dick.

“Aaron, I’m sorry, man,” I try to apologize, but he turns before I can say anything else.

“I deserve it. I know I was wrong, but I fought to live for them. I don’t want to fight you, but she’s my wife. That’s my daughter, and I won’t let them go just because for the last year you decided you love her.” He steps closer puffing his chest. I clench my fists and release them. “I’ve loved her almost my whole life, and if you’re the man I think you are, you’ll walk away.”

I step closer and weigh my words. I could be a prick and let him know I fucked her last night. I want to, but I won’t. The depth of pain I could cause my closest friend right now is all in my hands. But in the end, Lee will be who is hurt. And I’ll fucking slice my veins open before that happens.

“Just know how much you hurt her. She may not want you. And if she walks away, I’m not going to push her back to you.”

Aaron nods and pauses. “I’m going to ask you this once, for the sake of my child.” He waits and I already know where he’s going. “If you love Natalie and Aarabelle, then don’t do this shit. Don’t be the man who ends a marriage and a family.”

“You’re unbelievable. Don’t you think you ended your own marriage when you fucked around? The guy who I knew would’ve manned the fuck up and fixed it before it got that bad. You and I aren’t going to battle over this. It’s her choice.”

Aaron steps closer, and I swear I’ve been nice, but he pushes me and I’ll knock him on his ass.

“What about your word, Liam? Huh? What about the fact that you swore to have my back no matter what?”

I look at him wondering if he sustained some kind of traumatic brain injury, because he seems to have forgotten one key issue—he’s the one in the wrong.

“Have your back?” I’m going to punch him. “I had your back. I had your back every fucking day. I didn’t do this to you!” I draw a deep breath and try to stop the pulsing in my neck. I can feel my rage boiling over.

“I told you to love her, but . . .”

“But what? You didn’t mean it? You know, I read that fucking letter today. I didn’t even know what was in it. I fought day after day with feeling anything for Lee. I would tell myself it was wrong and ridiculous. The first time either of us acknowledged anything, we struggled. Being with her was never easy. I always had you in the back of my mind, but I prayed you’d know that I would never let her forget you or let Aarabelle not know the man I knew.”

“So you just went forward with her anyway?”

“None of us knew you weren’t dead!” I throw my hands up and fight the urge to shake him. “You’re missing the entire point. I’m not wrong here, and neither is Lee. You are. You made your choices, and now you have to handle the fallout.”

He looks at me with fury burning in his eyes.

“I didn’t expect to come home to this shit! You didn’t say a word on the plane.”