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Jess listened intently, every word out of Layla’s mouth cutting through her like a dagger. She knew they were confirmed bachelors, but having that fact confirmed again after everything they’d shared was harder to accept than she cared to admit.
Layla, thank God, didn’t notice the distress this conversation had caused Jess. “Miguel and Finn have been dropping hints that they’re ready for kids. I suspect I won’t be able to hold them off much longer.”
“You don’t want kids?” Jess asked, grateful for the change of subject.
“Oh no, I didn’t mean that. I’d love kids. I’d just like to work out the marriage issue first.”
“What does that mean?”
Layla took a sip of her wine. “Well, it’s not like I can marry both of them. Legally, anyway. Miguel and Finn say they’re happy with me marrying either of them…or neither of them.”
“Neither?”
“Hell, the two ofthemcould be the married couple if they wanted. Or we could just live together without marriage as part of the equation.”
Jess was fascinated, curious how Layla was handling a committed relationship with two men. She would have thought that impossible.
“I’m completely in love with both of them, and no piece of paper will ever change that. So…maybe it’s just me being silly.”
“You want a wedding,” Jess said.
Layla grinned. “Hell yeah. But I want to marry both of them. Lately we’ve been discussing having a commitment ceremony, skipping the marriage certificate part altogether. I would say something small, but between my family and Finn’s, small is not an option. Right now, we’re really just trying to pick a date.”
“That’s wonderful. How exciting.”
“Yeah. I can’t wait, though it definitely won’t happen before summer. But it should be easier, now that the family has accepted my relationship.”
“They didn’t at first?” Jess asked, somewhat surprised after watching the Morettis with Finn and Miguel. There was no question Layla’s men had been welcomed into the fold completely.
“God, no. Tony nearly flipped his lid. Kept threatening to drive to Baltimore to drag my ass back home…after teaching Miguel and Finn a lesson.”
“Really?”
“My big brother takes overprotectiveness to the next level. I think he thought Finn and Miguel were luring his sweet baby sister into some sordid, kinky affair,” she said, laughing. “And I’m sure he’s mostly fine with our relationship now…but I’ve caught him watching the three of us today when he doesn’t think I’m looking. He’s got that broody, scowling expression that’s always on his face when he’s unhappy. Not sure what to make of it, really.”
Jess didn’t know what to make of it either. She was happy for Layla, but it drove in even deeper how much she wanted what Tony’s sister had. She’d learned early on that Tony and Rhys weren’t looking for relationships or a family or…love.
And like a fool, she’d let herself believe—pretend—that perhaps theywouldwant those things with her. So what the hell did she do now?
The sound of someone clinking a spoon against a glass quieted all conversation.
Tony stepped next to Jess. “Finally.”
“You really don’t know what this big announcement of his is?” Layla asked.
Tony shook his head. “Nope. He’s been completely closemouthed about it, which is something new for him.”
When Jess looked at him curiously, Tony added, “Joey is the worst secret keeper in the family.”
Layla agreed. “Bastard ruined every surprise birthday party ever thrown in our family. Got so bad, we stopped telling him about them. Not that he did it on purpose. He’d just blurt it out in the middle of a conversation and half the time, he wouldn’t even realize he’d spoiled the surprise.”
Joey raised his hands, grinning from ear to ear as everyone turned their attention to him.
“Whatever it is,” Jess mused, “he’s obviously happy about it.”
“If I can have your attention for just a minute, I have some news I’d like to share.”
“Let me guess,” Aldo called out. “You’re pregnant. And it’s twins. Who’s the father?”
