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“Mm,” he says, lips pressing into mine as he shifts me off his lap and stands up. “And I’m going to show you exactly how you makemefeel,” he says, pressing his hard-on into my hip.
“On the desk?”
“Mm. Yes, ma’am.” He slaps my ass hard. “Get those clothes off right now.”
I pause for a moment, taking him in. My heart swells. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I’m going to be grateful for it every second.
Luke
It’s time to come clean.
I gently run my fingers down Zoey’s arm as we sit at Mikey & Trish’s dining room table after a delicious dinner. My mother raised both Mikey and me to cook, but Trish is the kind of person who has old hand-written recipe cards passed down from family members, specifically her grandparents, and she is a hell of a cook.
Zoey smiles at me. We aren’t just coming clean about the pregnancy. It’s time for me to be honest with my brother about the depth of what I went through trying to have a baby with Tara.
When a lull in conversation hits, I clear my throat and Zoey grabs my hand, interlocking her fingers with mine and squeezing tightly.
“I have something I… want to share. Talk about. Something I should’ve been honest about years ago, but wasn’t. Not being honest about it—” I stop and look at Zoey, who gazes lovingly at me. “It could’ve harmed the most important relationship I have.”
My brother looks at me seriously. “You know I’m always here for you.”
“We both are,” Trish adds.
“I know. I didn’t tell you this because at the time I was married to someone who didn’t want me to. I was trying to respect her. I wanted to be a dad my whole life.” I look my brother in the eyes. I know he’s felt the same way. “You understand.” He nods. I take a deep breath and explain the depth of what I went through with Tara, even how I recently realized the level of emotional abuse she put me through.
“Jesus,” Mikey says when I’ve finished. “I’m sorry. I should’ve taken it seriously when you said something to me a few weeks ago. I didn’t realize how bad it was.”
“It’s okay. I mean, Tara and what she did wasn’t, but—”
“Seriously,” Trish says, full sass, “I’d like to punch her square in the nose.” She makes a dramatic punching gesture.
Mikey grabs her arm. “Easy, babe.”
“Anyway, I wanted you to know. I’m going to tell Mom and Dad eventually, too. I needed your support back then, but I couldn’t have it. Now I need your support when it comes to moving on from the guilt I placed on myself and healing from what Tara put me through.”
“Of course,” Trish says, looking hesitantly at Mikey. He gives her hand an affirming squeeze. “I know Zoey could tell you it’s not always easy. We didn’t have immediate luck, either. Well, we did.” She swallows hard. “But, um, I miscarried—” Tears well in her eyes, and Zoey launches out of her chair and pulls Trish into her arms.
I’m sorry, I mouth to my brother. He nods and watches his wife.
Trish steps back from Zoey and wipes her eyes. “That’s why we waited so long to tell you guys.”
Zoey lets out a shaky breath, and I instantly rise from my chair and pull her against me. I hold her for a moment as her body relaxes. I love having that effect on her.
She wipes some tears from her eyes and sits back in her chair. “I guess I should’ve been honest, too. Then maybe you would’ve talked to me about it. I went through three miscarriages with Tad. He wasn’t exactly supportive.”
“Fuck,” Mikey says, eyes wide. “That’s it, new declaration. Starting right now, we tell each other everything. Complete support here, always.”
Zoey and I both nod. Her hand drops to her stomach and her eyes meet mine with a look that says,I don’t want this time to end that way.
I lean over and kiss the side of her head before whispering in her ear, “It won’t. I promise you. But no matter what, you’ll never face anything alone again.”
“I love you,” she whispers.
Then she quickly wipes her tears. After taking a deep breath, she looks at me again, this time with a smile on her face.
“Well, to that end,” I say, unable to contain my smile, “we have some news.”
“What, you’re getting married next weekend?” my brother deadpans.
