Page 120 of Kyle

I didn’t get the rest of my words out before a sob broke free—torn from my soul—and what came with it was dark and ugly. Demons I’d hidden for so long. There had been so much that Kyle had freed, so much weight he’d taken, it had allowed me to start to heal. To love and be loved by a great man.

But this? The last of what I’d been holding onto, only the deep bond of friendship could break.

A sisterhood.

A family.

And I was going to be an auntie.

* * *

“What is it with the three of you?” Max asked over dinner.

Which I’m happy to report did not include broccoli but instead asparagus. That I could handle as long as the guys didn’t insist on it the next five days in a row.

“Nothing.” Emerson tried but very poorly executed her denial.

“No, there’s something up. Spit it out,” he continued.

“So, is everyone okay with me moving in?” I tried, and again poorly, to change the subject. I knew this when five men turned to stare at me.

“Don’t be dumb,” Max returned.

“Don’t call me dumb, asshole.”

“Right. Well, don’t ask dumb questions. Where else would you stay?”

“At a hotel? Get my own apartment? Sleep in my car?”

“Now you’re just being stupid, which confirms that the three of you are up to something. So again, spit it out.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“Sweetheart, give it up. You three are so transparent it’s not even funny. And considering Tatiana used to be CIA, I have to say it’s surprising she’s the one that looks like she’s getting ready to bust at the seams. Emerson’s sitting over there with a shit eating grin like she knows the secret, which means it would take Thad very little effort to make her spill. And you’re over there talking about sleeping in your car, which just to point out, you don’t even own one, or in a hotel, which is never gonna happen.”

“I’m not gonna spill the secret no matter what Thaddeus tries to do,” Emerson said.

Five men chuckled and Tatiana looked like she wanted to smack Emmy for admitting there was a secret to be had.

“Right,” Max said through his hilarity.

“Oops.” Emerson’s hand went over her mouth and Brooks’ eyes cut to his wife.

“You got something you wanna share, Doll?”

“Nope.” Tatiana popped her P and I couldn’t hold back my laugh.

“Tatiana,” he warned.

My beautiful, pregnant friend looked at me before she glanced at Emerson with a raised brow. And Emmy and I both nodded.

“Oh, fuck, they’re talking, whole conversation with eyebrows and chin lifts. We’re fucked. Totally and completely,” Max muttered.

“This is not something new,” Thad reminded him.

Brooks was starting to look annoyed and Kyle was shaking his head smiling.

“You really wanna know?” Tatiana teased.