Wayne tells Arby Mike is not the daddy
The sun was setting over the small town of Millfield, casting an orange hue over the streets. Wayne leaned against his battered pickup truck outside the local diner, stirring a half-empty coffee cup. Across the street, he spotted Arby, his best friend since childhood, walking towards him with a furrowed brow.
“Hey, Wayne,” Arby called as he approached, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his jacket. “You got a minute?”
“Sure, man. What’s up?” Wayne replied, glancing around to see if anyone else from town was nearby.
“I just got off the phone with Luann,” Arby said, his voice hushed as he leaned in closer. “You know how she’s been acting weird lately, right?”
“Yeah, something about Mike? She seemed... off,” Wayne said, recalling the last time he’d seen her. Luann had been pale and distant, her laughter tinged with an edge of nervousness.
Arby rubbed the back of his neck, his anxiety palpable. “Well, you won’t believe this. She told me that Mike… he might not be the daddy.”
Wayne raised an eyebrow, astonishment flooding his features. “What? The Mike? As in Mike Thompson, your best buddy since high school?”
“Yeah, man,” Arby said, his voice barely above a whisper. “She said something happened—some fling during our breakup last year. She didn’t mean for it to happen, but… there’s a chance the kid isn’t his.”
A mix of emotions flashed across Wayne’s face: concern, disbelief, and an overwhelming urge to protect his friend. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her she needed to come clean to Mike. He deserves to know the truth,” Arby replied, his voice catching in his throat. “But I’m scared, Wayne. What if it crushes him?”
“Look, it’s a tough situation,” Wayne said, his mind racing. “But keeping secrets like this never ends well. If he finds out later… it’ll hurt even more, you know? You have to tell him.”
“I know, I know,” Arby groaned, pushing his fingers through his tangled hair. “I just don’t want to be the guy who breaks that news. He’s been so happy since becoming a dad.”
“Better to be honest now than to let him fall apart later,” Wayne urged. “It’s going to suck, but he’ll appreciate you being upfront.”
After a long pause, Arby sighed heavily, the weight of his decision evident in his eyes. “You’re right. I’ll talk to him tonight. I just hope I don’t ruin everything.”
Wayne put a reassuring hand on Arby’s shoulder. “You won’t ruin anything by being honest, buddy. It’s what friends are for.”
The two of them fell silent for a moment, contemplating the impending conversation between Arby and Mike. Just then, a familiar figure strolled past—Mike, with his easy smile and bright energy, oblivious to the storm brewing in his friends’ hearts.
“Hey, guys! What’s up?” Mike called out cheerfully, lifting a hand in greeting.
Wayne forced a smile, but he could feel the tension lingering in the air. Arby exchanged a quick, pained glance with Wayne before running a hand through his hair and stepping forward.
“Mike, can we talk for a minute?” Arby said, his voice shaking slightly.
“Sure, man. What’s going on?” Mike’s smile faded as he sensed the change in mood.
Wayne watched from a distance, wishing he could shield Mike from the truth that was about to unfold. The sun dipped below the horizon, leaving the two friends in the growing twilight, and as Wayne turned away, he hoped that whatever happened next would lead them back into the light.
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