**5 months later**

Chase’s POV:
I was lying on the couch scrolling through social media as the bus drove us back to Nashville, when a picture had me jerking up so fast that I felt dizzy. Dressed in those little sundresses that she loves, her baby bump on full display and the biggest, most beautiful smile in the world, was the woman that I still loved with all my heart even if I hadn't spoken to her since that night 5 months ago. Not that she hadn't called because she had. I had just been too much of a fuckign coward to answer her beacsue of my dear that she would act as if nothing that night had changed between us. But when wasn’t I a coward when it came to my feelings for Jo? I’d been a coward with her since I’d known her. I’d been too scared to tell her how I felt, that she was the one that I saw myself settling down with from the moment that I met her. But then I’d been friendzoned and I kept my feelings to myself. Well, all but that one night. That night, I’d spilled my heart out in hopes that she would finally see me as Chase, the man who would give her the moon instead of Chasey, the idiot best friend. Thought I’d succeed since I’d done my best to rock her world that night, but nope. She'd still left me and I’d hauled ass out of town, throwing myself into work to take my mind off of everything. Or at least I had hoped it would. But as usual, nothing got her or that night out of my mind.

The thing that had me dizzy was the man with his arm draped over her shoulder and a palm over her belly as if he was the father of her child. Which I knew he wasn't because he wasn't one of the misfits that had invaded my house the night of that fucking mixer. No, this guy with his prim and proper haircut looked like Howdy-Fucking-Doody. Again, a memory teased me but wouldn't come into full focus. There was something that I needed to remember, something that was important, but I just couldn’t piece it all together. 

I couldn't contain the roar that I felt building inside me any longer. Standing from where I;d been sitting on the couch, I roared like a wounded animal and threw my phone against the wall of the bus so hard that it shattered into a million pieces. Seeing my phone in pieces did nothing to alleviate the rage boiling inside me so I began pacing the length of the bus. It did nothing either other than leave me feeling very much like a caged animal. 

Before I even realized what I was doing, I stomped my way to the front of the bus, sliding the door open with so much force that I tore it from its track. I looked at it hanging awkwardly, not having in me to care that the door was yet another thing that I was going to have to replace.  

“Change of plans, Carl.” I said through clenched teeth as I walked into the cabin. “Point this motherfucker to Maysville, Georgia.” 

“Boss, you have a radio interview that we're already running a little behind for.” said Carl, his eyes never leaving the interstate. 

“Carl, I dont give a flying fuck about no radio interiew. I said point this motherfucker in the direction of Georgia and I mean it. That radio station can kiss my ass.” I yelled. “Further more, I pay you to drive me where I have to go so goddamn it, drive my ass to Georgia or move the fuck over over and I’ll do it my damn self.” Carl must have known that I was serious because he shook his head, nodding that he understood, even if he was a little taken back by my tone.  

I didn't have a plan as to what I was going to do or what I was going to say when I got face to face with Jo. And as mad as I was, it didn't really matter. All I knew was that my ass needed to get to Georgia and fast. 

***

The drive to Georgia was never ending. Carl’s silence as he drove made the drive seem even longer. I felt bad about going off on him like I did and knew that I would have to make it up to him. Maybe another hunting/fishing trip like the one we took a couple years ago would go a long way in making up for my lousy attitude and fiery outburst. 

I was beginning to think that we were never going to get there. But when that ‘Welcome to Maysville’ sign appeared, a tiniest bit of relief washed over me. On the way here, I’d come to the conclusion that until I got my head straight and got my temper under control, I needed to go to BG’s. Maybe he could give me the rundown on the prick in the picture. I’d be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit pissed at him and Amber for not telling me that Jo was dating someone but I understood why they might have kept this from me. They knew better than anyone how I felt about Jo and they probably knew that I would go off the deep end.

As Carl pulled up to BG’s I instructed him to stop at the gate. When he did, I climbed out and walked around to the keypad and hit the button, pacing as I waited for someone to answer. I was just about to ring the damn thing again when BG’s gravelly voice came through the speakers.

“Can I help you?” he said, his tone filled with caution. 

“Yeah, you can open this gate.” I said, barely managing to keep my inner sailer from escaping in case the kids were nearby.

“Chase?” said BG.

“Yes.” I said, clenching my fists, wanting to rip the damn gate off its hinges. 

“Come on up.” he said with a sigh. Seconds later, I heard the gate squeak as it began to open.   

Climbing back onto the bus, I stood by the door as Carl maneuvered us up the winding drive. Nearing the house, I saw BG standing on the porch, his arms across his chest and leaning on one of the rails as he crossed his ankles. How the hell did he look so relaxed. He had to know why I was here right?

“I would ask what brings you to Maysville, but something tells me this little visit has to do with a certain photo that hit instagram today.” said BG as I neared the porch. 

“Fuckin’ right it does.” I said. “Who is the asshole? And why didn't you or Amber tell me she was dating someone?”

“His name is Jarret.” said BG walking over to one of the rocking chairs on the front porch and taking a seat. He gestured for me to take the other as he pulled a joint from his pocket. Last time I smoked was at the godforsaken party but right now, I need the mellowness that only Mary Jane could offer. Once BG took a toke, he passed it to me before continuing. “They went to school together. When Jojo moved back home, they reconnected when he walked into her shop to get a haircut. One thing led to another and well, they started dating.”

“For long have they been together?” I asked as I slowly let the air out of my smoke filled lungs. 

“A few months,” he said, turning to me. Something in the look he was giving me was telling me I wasn't going to like what he said next. “Seems like a pretty stand up guy and things seem pretty hot and heavy between the two. Overheard him the other day saying that he could see himself being a father to the twins.” 

“Did you s-say twins?” I stuttered. 

“You didn't know?” asked BG.

“Fuck no!” I roared, standing from the rocking chair with so much force that it tipped over backwards and crashed onto the floor of the porch with a loud bang. 

My heart was threatening to beat out of my chest as that hazy memory that's been pestering the shit out of me for months once again came to the forefront of my mind. Only this time, it was a little more clearer.. Like a kaleidoscope, memories poured in… Me getting drunk, me stumbling up the stairs, me dumping the specimen cups down the drain, me jacking off into the cups.  

So much was going on in my head that I couldn't even process what was happening. I felt dizzy. My knees felt weak. As if in slow motion, I felt my knees give out and my ass hit the deck at the same time as my pack hit the railings of the porch. Seconds later, I felt hands on my shoulder. Shaking my head to try and clear the haze I was in, I looked up and saw BG standing in front of me, concern written on his face. I could see his lips were moving, but it was like my ears had just quit working. Then again, maybe it was the pounding of my heart drowning out his words. But when a hard smack landed on my cheek, I came back to reality. 

“What the fuck Chase? You okay? Do I need to call a doc?” asked BG.

“N-no doc.” I stammered out. My throat felt like I’d just swallowed broken glass. “But I’m far from ok. I think I fucked up, epically.”

“Let me help you up, then you can tell me what this epic fuckup is.” said BG, holding hand out for me to take. I let him help me to stand before I took a seat onto the swing while he took one of the rocking chairs. With a deep breath, I started telling him what I’d done. 

“Remember that night of Jo’s party here at the house?” I asked. 

“Hell yeah I remember. That's the night Amber thought it was a good idea to deck my house out in all things pink and spermy. Also the night I knocked her up.” said B.

“Wait, Amber is pregnant?” I asked.

“Yep.” he said with a proud smile. “Now, what about that night?”

“Well, Remember you and me sitting on the back deck? I was drinking. You were smoking.” I said, seeing him nod yes, that he remembered. “Well, remember when I jokingly said that I could switch the cups and add my own juice to them? I think I did. I think I filled them with my sperm.”

“What exactly are you saying here Chase?” asked BG

“I’m saying,” I said, swallowing to make my suddenly dry mouth produce some moisture. “I’m saying that I’m going to be the daddy to a set of twins and the mother has no fucking idea. Even worse, I have no idea how the hell to break the news to her, especially since I haven't talked to her since the night we slept together before she moved back here.”

“Fuck Chase, there is so much to unpack here.” said BG, removing his hat and runnign his fingers though his hair. 

“Tell me about it.” I said with a tired sigh. “This is so fucking bad B. This aint one of those things that I can just keep from her. She deserves to know the truth but I'll be damned if I can think of a way to tell her that doesn't involve her losing her shit or even worse - me being castrated.”

“Not going to lie, bud, this is bad,” said BG. “Real bad.”

“I know.” I said leaning back on the swing and letting my head fall back on my shoulders. “She’s going to hate me forever B.”

“Probably,” said Brantley. “But love and hate are just different sides of the same coin. You can't hate someone and not have some sort of love for them. Even if it's the most miniscule amount.”