Chapter 34

DAVID REMAINED IN THE HOUSE, unable to do anything but stare off into space.

It was funny how it had only been a few hours since she walked out of his life yet, it felt like an eternity —years upon years of uncensored pain — it physically hurt his heart; seeing her like that, hearing that sound of pain come from deep within, it felt like someone had cracked open his ribs and gripped his beating heart in their hands only to nearly squeeze the life out of it.

The guilt ate him alive —the sadness, the feeling of losing someone he loved. It was all too much to bear and the more he thought about his failings, the more he felt suffocated by his own emotions.

He sat on the floor, his back resting on the table with a sagged shoulder, tight chest, and the sparkling diamond ring in his hand.

He fiddled with it, reminiscing on the moments shared on the altar — her smile, her cheeky laugh, the look on her face the moment she said I do - he couldn't get it out of his head but it didn't matter now, did it? Their vows were now nothing but empty words, like ashes thrown into the river, some of it carried away to the end and the rest becoming one with the river.

He sighed and dropped the ring on the table, attempting to get up and condemn himself with a bottle of whiskey but the door suddenly opened, inviting the familiar presence of his two friends. Well, one.

"Fuck" Tanner hissed, looking around. "She's really gone" he groaned and walked further into the room.

Luke stepped out of Tanner's shadows, gulping down hard.

"David, I..."

David slowly turned and the minute their eyes locked, he hauled up and charged at him.

"You son of a fucking whore!" He cursed out, punching him right on the nose.

Luke stumbled back, his pupils turning into pinpricks as he looked up at those dark eyes that stared coldly at him. And then, the pain set in.

"The fuck man!" He groaned, holding his mouth as the taste of blood tainted his tongue.

"You fucking four-eyed bastard!" David lashed, charging at him again. "You couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you?!" He threw another ear-deafening punch and though Luke had anticipated it, it came a lot quicker than he'd expected.

"David stop it!" Tanner exclaimed, stepping between them but the rage-fueled man didn't care, he shoved Tanner out of the way and pinned Luke against the wall with two sets of hands around his throat.

"David!" Tanner shrieked. "Stop!"

"No!" David retorted, squeezing his throat tighter.

He needed to share the hate and pain he felt with someone who equally deserved it and Luke didn't fight it, sooner or later, he knew he had it coming.

He coughed hard, his vision beginning to curl and turn black at the edges. "I'm sorry... I tried to tell you... She threatened to spill the beans to my girlfriend"

"So you had to save yourself some happiness and destroy mine?!" David snapped, wanting nothing more than to slap that guilty look off his face.

"David..." He struggled, almost out of breath.

"Stay awake you fool!" he slapped his head and Luke winced. "You told her my fucking business trying to save your skin" he chuckled bitterly. "You don't even know if you're the father of that damn baby you're already protecting" He slapped his head again and he winced harder.

"I'm sorry David..."

"Sorry won't cut it Luke" he held up his fists again but Tanner stepped in and held his elbow.

"For the love of God, if you don't fucking stop I'll call the cops!"

That seemed to do the trick because David abruptly let go of Luke who sagged to the floor and gasped for air.

He turned to Tanner, still fuming with rage. "He fucking—" he choked on his words as Tanner unexpectedly threw a punch at his face.

"The fuck David, are you insane!" He snapped, watching as David struggled to keep his stance. "Do you really think beating him to a pulp is gonna make you feel better?!"

"He deserves to feel what I feel. He fucking ruined my marriage, if he didn't run his fucking mouth then Dawn would still be right here with me, she wouldn't have left!" David lashed, trying to charge at Luke but Tanner punched him again.

"Look at you David, it hasn't even been a day and you're already a mess! Pull yourself together!"

"She's pregnant!" He yelled, kicking the chair next to him. "She is fucking pregnant and she's gone all because of that dick mouth" He turned to glare at Luke who took a few self-preservational steps backward.

"What you feel right now is caused by you and you alone. Whatever happened today is your fault David own up to it and don't blame anyone else but yourself!"

"Fuck!" He caused, slumping pitifully to the floor.

At this point, he thought about his life and how fucked it was. He had a son currently battling for his life and a wife who was pregnant and alone. He cursed out loud, kicking away everything in sight.

Tanner sighed and ran a hand through his face. "You gotta get your shit together man, you gotta grab your reins before your horse runs off a cliff" he handed him a handkerchief and David looked up, his eyes wet with tears. "Don't be a wimp. Whatever happens, we got your back, we'll support you and your son." he turned to Luke. "Right Luke?"

Luke wiped his bloody nose. "Do I have a choice?"

David snorted and glared fiercely at him. "Shut up"

"I'm bloody gonna sue you for attempted murder " he sneered.

"Maybe I didn't strangle you hard enough"

"Guys, guys, " Tanner sighed. "Now is not the time for this"

"He started it" Luke glowered, groaning as he teethed his jaw from left to right.

"If you didn't open your trap mouth, none of this would've happened dumbshit!"

"Well if you had told her sooner then—"

David launched at him and he immediately hid behind Tanner who pushed David away and placed a safe space between them.

"Rather than bickering like four-year-olds, we should come up with a plan to get Rapunzel back"

David sighed and wiped his face. "I'm afraid this Rapunzel isn't gonna be letting down hair anytime soon. I fucked up big time "

"Something we can both agree on" Luke muttered, glaring at David who scowled back at him.