Page 13 of Kiss Me Forever

Of course my family would be with me no matter what. Of course they were already worried about me. I knew I wasn’t in this alone. Between the Montgomerys and the Foxes, I would never be alone. But nothing felt right in this moment.

“Hey, you’re late.” Aiden handed over a beer. I took it willingly, and Rowan gave me another look before heading towards the liquor cabinet.

“It’s the middle of the week, and we’re over here drinking? Well, if we’re going to have bourbon, might as well enjoy it,” Aidan said as he followed Rowan.

Denver stood by me, tension radiating off of him. “Going to talk about it?”

“Let’s go talk with the family.”

I shook my head, unsure how to start, but as I walked into the kitchen, everything felt like I was going back in time. They had remodeled the house more than once since I was a kid. My dad was a carpenter, and that’s where I had learned many of my skills. Mom was an interior decorator, and damn good at her job.

The place looked like a show house and yet still lived in. I had toed off my shoes when I first walked in out of habit, because one did not scuff up these floors or dirty the carpet, but the house still had evidence of little boys who had once lived here. Nicks and scratches that could be buffed out but had stayed because of the memories.

My parents’ backs were to me as they hovered over the kitchen island, working on dinner. They had such a routine, and a sense of movement that came with over forty years of being together. They loved each other, fought, made up, and had raised us knowing they were producing children who would grow up into adults and venture out into the real world. They had made a family.

And I hadn’t been part of Bella’s life. I had lost all of those years, and I didn’t know what the fuck I was supposed to do.

“Mom, Dad, Reece has something to say.”

I glared at my brother, as my parents whirled, worry on their faces.

“What’s wrong?” my mom asked. She wiped her hands on her apron and moved forward. Then she cupped my face and studied my eyes. “Something happened. Talk to me, baby.”

“Let the kid breathe,” my dad said. Kid. As if I wasn’t in my forties. Early forties, but still.

I cleared my throat, unsure how to start this. Maybe I should have done it in the group chat after all. “Maybe everybody should sit down.”

“I poured bourbon, it seemed like that type of announcement,” Aiden said, as Rowan handed me a glass.

My parents gave each other a worried look, before my mom pulled me into her arms.

“Are you sick?”

I shook my head. “Why does everybody think I’m sick? Why is that the first thing that comes to mind?”

“Because you’re an old man in your forties, and that’s what we think?” Aiden said. Then he rubbed the back of his head, since Dad had smacked it like he should.

“Watch who you’re calling old, boy.”

Aiden rolled his eyes, but I still saw the worry there. I stared at my family, words failing me. Tomorrow I would sign paperwork to get temporary custody of Bella. And I would take her home. I would have a kid in my house, and it didn’t make any fucking sense. Her DNA test had already come back positive, having taken less than a day since it had been rushed, thanks to the Longs’ money.

I was a daddy, and I needed to say the words. “Something happened yesterday…” My voice trailed off, throat going tight.

Rowan leaned forward. “Just say it, we’re here no matter what.”

I took a step back, needing to breathe, and thankfully they all let me. I wanted to pace, throw something, or have someone else say the words. But there wasn’t anything to do other than blurt it out.

“I have a daughter.”

My parents blinked at me, as my brothers stared at me wide-eyed.

“What?” Aiden asked, his voice high-pitched.

“You knocked somebody up?” Rowan asked before ducking my dad’s hand.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning?” Denver mumbled, looking as pale as I was.

“You have a daughter? Why didn’t you tell us? Oh, Reece. You’re a daddy. Oh my God, I’m a grandma.” Mom’s eyes filled with tears, and she threw herself in my arms. She was so itty-bitty, her head fit underneath my chin. I hugged her close and met my dad’s worried gaze over her.