Ship to Wreck

34

Hey guys! Make sure you're reading Cough Syrup! It's like this one but slightly less soap-opera-y :)

***

Athena woke up from a nap. She and Indy were on the same sleep schedule, which meant they were both sleeping in bursts rather than through the night.

It wasn't Indy that woke her up, though, but rather the constant buzzing of her phone against the wood of the nightstand. She groggily reached for it, figuring it was just Christian sending her a routine influx of texts. Some silly selfies or a meme to make her smile. He liked to do that right before taking batting practice. He loved making her laugh. One day he'd make Indy laugh, too.

Her heart sank when she realized she was receiving texts from a few different people – all with the same link to TMZ. She opened one of the texts and immediately clicked on the article, which also contained a blaringly loud video.

And everything inside of her went numb. She felt everything and nothing all at once as she read the words with the video playing in the background.

Former National League MVP Christian Yelich has found himself in quite the pickle this afternoon. Instagram model and self-proclaimed influencer Alexandria S. Timmons of Milwaukee has filed a paternity suit against the superstar left-handed batter. The suit claims he is the father of her 10-month-old, Hayden Stephen Timmons.

Christian just welcomed a daughter into the world with his partner, public school teacher Athena Williams. Little Indigo Yelich was born on July 22nd in Milwaukee. The man certainly keeps himself busy with beautiful ladies, and now he'll have to keep himself busy child rearing!

Christian denied the allegation via Brewers public relations woman Mallory Stephens and has made no further comment at this time. TMZ is staying on top of this story and will post further when more details develop.

Athena looked at the photo of the tan, blonde woman with her son. She was beautiful, as all of Christian's sexual history tended to be, and her son was beaming brightly at her. They were perfect. Christian would complete the picture. A perfect, Instagram-worthy family.

Hayden had thick brown hair and brown eyes, and that's all it took to convince her. The love of her life had a baby to raise with another woman.

She wasn't his completely, and he'd never fully be hers.

She knew what she had to do. While Indy slept, she frantically packed up the essentials. Clothes. Toiletries. Diaper bag. Indy's pack and play. Some food for Sadie. Her harness. She was quick – if she forgot something, she'd find a way to get it later. She'd run out and buy it. Whatever it took. She couldn't see him. It would hurt too much. She was already broken, and she knew it. This broke the remaining pieces of her . . . There was nothing left.

It took her an hour to pack, thirty minutes to get Indy ready for the short drive to their destination, and another thirty minutes to get everything and everyone into her Volvo.

She knew where she was going. She had made her decision.

***

Gio threw his keys on the counter and immediately called out to his love. "Athena?" he questioned, brow furrowing with concern when no one responded. She told him she was here. That she had been here since the news broke – that Christian Yelich fathered another woman's baby.

Instead of a response from Athena, a little beagle ran up to him and put her front paws up on his shins. Gio smiled and picked up the dog, holding her securely against his chest. "Hi, Sadie," he said softly. "Kylo and Stitch will be home from the dog sitter's tomorrow. You'll have two new buddies," he whispered. His dogs had never met Sadie. They never had the chance before everything fell apart.