The Bucket List

Chaprer seventeen

Chapter seventeen

-Aaron

As promised, Jackson showed up early the next morning with Justin on his arm looking satisfied. Not that I answered the door, Toby did.

I felt conflicted to go downstairs to see him and I had a headache. It was only a slight throb in my temple and I figured it was just stress.

Warm arms wrapped around me from behind and I looked up to see Toby. "You ok, baby?" He whispered. "Your dads downstairs and you need to take your pill."

"I have a headache and I don't want to see him." I whispered back.

He kissed my forehead and held me close. "How bad is your headache? Are you ok?"

I smiled at his concern and kissed his chin. "I'm fine, it's just a slight throb."

"You sure? Tell me if it gets worse ok? Let's not even play with this, let me know as soon as you feel ANYTHING."

I pressed my head into his chest and sighed. "I love you."

He kissed my wet hair and hugged me close. "I love you too, that's why I worry for you, you know?"

"I know." I whispered. He took my hand and guided me down the stairs where Jackson and Justin were sitting uncomfortably on the couch with Tabya staring at them from across the room.

She snapped her eyes to me when we got off the last step and smiled. "Aaron! Your sperm donors here!"

"I can see him, Tabya. Good job! Doggy want a treat?" I cooed. Tabya barked at me and I laughed. "Hold on a minute." I spit to Jackson. He flinched and Justin glared at me.

I heard Jackson get up and follow Toby and I into the kitchen where Toby pulled my pills out. He kissed me quickly before holding out the pill and dropping it in my hand. I swallowed it quickly and Toby handed me an open water bottle. When I took it he cupped my face. "You ok?"

I only hummed and kissed his thumb. "I'm ready for this to be over." I mumbled, shaking the water bottle. He knew I was talking about the pills.

"What did you just take? What are you taking? What are you ready to be over with?" Jackson hissed.

Toby took my water bottle and I turned to Jackson. "Why do you care?" I asked coldly.

Jackson winced before he stiffened up. "Because I'm you're father! That's why!"

"Where have you been the las sixteen years then?" I replied. Toby placed a hand on my side and I fell back into him.

Jackson slumped against the counter behind him and I was shocked when tears sprung to his eyes. "That's not fair Aaron, I thought you were dead I-"

I clenched my fist and stepped forward. "What kind of lawyer are you? You believed my mother that I was dead without checking? You didn't once visit my imaginary grave or ask my mom about it? You just heard I bit the dust and decided to fall into a self pitied hole?"

Jackson flinched with each word and looked to the floor. "I just, I never thought..."

"Never thought about the possibility of the women who left you and vanished out of thin air lied about her son being dead? Now how did she tell you? Huh? I wanna know the story!"

"Aaron, that's enough." Toby said softly.

But I ignored him and stared at Jackson. When Jackson finally spoke, he was crying. "I was at work when I got the call from your mother. When I got home she was gone, you were gone and everything just fell apart. I was divorced and my child was dead."