You Can't Fight Fate

Chapter 25

I stood there, in the kitchen, my gaze going back & forth between my fiance & my friend, wondering why they were looking at each other with so much hatred. "Look who it is. The happy couple. Frankie & Kyle." Nick said, his jaw tensing up.

"Frankie?" I asked, even more confused, as I glanced at Fran.

Fran took a deep breath as she glared at Nick. "I don't go by Frankie anymore. It's Fran, now."

"What the hell is going on? It's obvious you two know each other, so are either of you going to explain how before I lose my mind?" I asked, my voice rising out of frustration.

Fran sighed, looking at me, with a softer expression than she wore when she had been looking at Nick. "Nick & I were engaged many years ago." She explained.

My mouth fell open as I tried to find my voice, but Nick spoke up before I could. "Yes, we were engaged, then she fucked my best friend & now look at em... they're married. Congratulations guys." Nick said, in a bitter tone as he rolled his eyes. "Sorry, you won't be able to stay for dinner." Nick turned back to what he had been cooking.

"Wait. You're the one he was engaged to? And you're his best friend?" I pointed to Kyle, who looked down, with a slight nod. I saw something in his eyes, that was shameful, but also regretful.

"Former best friend." Nick interjected, glaring at Kyle. "Best friends since just about birth, then he starts fucking my girlfriend behind my back... " Nick shook his head, slowly, still shooting Kyle a death stare.

"Babe, we should just go." Kyle murmured to Fran, who nodded her head, in agreement.

"Yea, you should definitely go." Nick said, looking at both of them as he put his hands on his hips. "And I will go to the school on Monday & see about getting my daughter into a different classroom, one that isn't taught by a sadistic bitch."

Fran rolled her eyes as I stood there, speechless once again. I didn't even know what to say or how to react. I liked Fran & she was a great teacher, but she was the one who hurt Nick. Fran looked at me, her expression a little sad. She touched my hand as it rest on the counter & was about to say something to me, when she appeared to have an epiphany. Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes, turning her head to look at Nick. "Wait. Back up. Did you say 'my daughter?' As in Moira is your daughter?"

"Yes. My daughter. Moira is my daughter." Nick scowled, confused by her confusion. Quite frankly, I was, too.

"I'm sorry..." Fran shook her head as she her gaze came back to me. "I didn't realize you were dating her dad. You never mentioned that your fiance was her dad."

"I didn't?"

"No. I guess I just assumed since you were with your husband that died... that you & her dad weren't together." Fran looked even more confused & I wasn't sure why.

"It's a long story..." I explained, glancing at Nick, who still looked pissed off as he looked at the floor.

Suddenly Fran snapped her head to look at Nick, then she walked around the island to get closer to him. "Moira is like five & a half... meaning she was conceived six years ago, which, funny enough, is when we were together. Did you cheat on me, Nick?" Fran asked, in a loud accusatory voice.

Nick stood up, straighter, taking a step in Fran's direction & he looked so angry that both Kyle & I sucked in our breath. "No, I didn't. I actually had more respect for our relationship than you did. I met Demi the night I moved my shit out of our apartment."

I stepped closer to Fran, wanting to explain, my version. "I was separated from my husband, at the time & picked Nick up when his car broke down, in the rain. We ended up spending the evening together & well... Moira was conceived that night. It was a one night stand...I didn't see him again for a long time." My voice trailed off when I saw Nick glance at me & look annoyed.

"Well, it didn't take you long to get over me, huh?" Fran smirked, looking back at Nick.

Nick chuckled, sarcastically. "I was over you the minute I walked into my bedroom & found you fucking my best friend." Nick spit the words out, then shot Kyle a dirty look. When Nick looked back at Fran, I saw Kyle let out a relieved breath, then he shifted on his legs, uncomfortably.

Nick & Fran stared at each other & I started to feel just as uncomfortable as Kyle. Thank goodness, Fran finally broke the trance, her & Nick seemed to be in. "We should go." Fran said, in a low voice as she turned to face Kyle. She looked over at me & frowned, slightly. "I'm really sorry about all of this. I'm sorry we ruined your dinner."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sorry, too." I said, in a hoarse voice, feeling embarrassed.

"And if Demi invited you to our wedding, I hope it's understood that the invite has been revoked." Nick said, sounding smug, as he leaned on the counter.