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Epilogue
Shelby wasn’t sure how it had happened, but she was pregnant. Well, she knew exactly how it happened, she was just being careful and was on the pill, so finding out that her precautions had failed was a shock to her system.
She had been throwing up since the three of them got back to France from their honeymoon. They had purchased a little chateau in town, not too far from the hotels that the guys now owned. It was taking her some time to think of everything they had as hers too, even though they had put her name on everything that they owned. She was just as wealthy, on paper, as they both were, but she was having trouble thinking about herself in that way.
At first, Shelby thought that she had just picked up a stomach bug. She was careful to stay away from the guys and Tanner’s mom since she had agreed to come to Paris for a while and live with them. She didn’t want to give any of them her stomach virus, but then it never really ended. After two weeks of throwing up every day, her new mother-in-law sat her down and asked if there was any possibility of her being pregnant. She explained that when she was pregnant with Tanner, she was sick as a dog. Shelby laughed off the possibility of being pregnant but then, she did the math, and nothing seemed funny anymore.
She went into town and bought a handful of pregnancy tests and took all of them, wanting to be certain. And damn it if they all didn’t come back positive. She was sobbing in the bathroom when her mother-in-law found her, telling her that the guys would be thrilled about a baby, but Shelby wasn’t so sure. They were all so new to each other. They had only been married for a month and now, she was going to be adding another human being to their mix.
Shelby and the guys had talked about starting a family, but they all agreed that they wanted to wait at least a year before starting to try. Now, she was going to have to go to them and tell them that she fucked up their plans. She made Tanner’s mother swear not to tell the guys until she was ready, but she told her not to wait too long. If Shelby was right, she had gotten pregnant before their commitment ceremony. She had missed almost three periods and that would mean that she’d be showing before too long. Her mother-in-law was right, she’d have to tell them sooner than later. Shelby would just have to find the right words and courage to spill the beans to her guys.
* * *
Declan had been back in the states, dealing with a problem at one of their American hotels, and he was due back tonight. Shelby had been keeping her little secret for two weeks now, ever since he left to go back home. It just didn’t feel right telling the guys separately about the baby. They had agreed that once they had children, they wouldn’t care who the biological father was. Both guys would be considered this baby’s dad and telling them together was her only option.
“I’ve ordered us some take-out,” Tanner said, walking into the bedroom to find her. “My mother said she’s tired and had an early dinner in town. You know that woman already has friends in the city? She’s been here for a damn month, and she’s already got friends,” he said, shaking his head.
Shelby giggled, “I know. She’s kind of awesome, isn’t she? I wish I could make some friends like she has, but it’s nearly impossible to do unless you two let me out of bed once in a while.”
“Not gonna happen, honey,” Tanner said, wrapping his arms around her. “Besides, we’re still technically in the honeymoon phase of our relationship.” She cringed when he said that. People in the honeymoon phase of their relationship generally didn’t have to worry about crying babies or changing dirty diapers.
“When will Declan be home?” she asked.
“He got home a few minutes ago. He’s in his office and said to get you warmed up while he answered two emails that couldn’t wait.” Tanner kissed his way down her neck, and she put her hands on his chest, halting his progress.
“We’re going to need to talk before you get me warmed up,” she insisted.
“Talk later,” Tanner said. “Foreplay now.”
“No, this is serious. I need to talk to both you and Declan and it won’t wait,” she said. Shelby knew that she sounded more dramatic than she planned, but not telling them was killing her.
“All right,” Tanner agreed. “Let’s find Declan and we can talk.” She felt bad for the worry that she saw in his eyes, but there was nothing she could do about it. Once her little secret was out, things would smooth out. At least, that was what she was hoping for.
“I’m right here,” Declan said. “How’s our girl?” he asked pulling her for a kiss.
“Our girl wants to talk, and she sounds pretty serious.”
“Oh,” Declan breathed. “Well, let’s talk then.” He pulled her back into the bedroom and sat down on the bed with her on his lap, not giving her any space.
Tanner sat down next to them, pulling her half onto his lap. “What’s up, honey?” he asked.
“Um, there is no easy way to tell either of you this, so I’m just going to say it,” she said, taking a deep breath and letting it out.
“Now you’re really worrying me,” Tanner said.
“Me too,” Declan agreed.
“I’m pregnant,” she said.
“Pregnant,” Tanner repeated the word as if he had never heard it before and was saying it just to try it out.
“You’re going to have a baby?” Declan asked.
“We’re going to have a baby,” she said.
“I thought that we were going to wait,” Tanner asked. “I thought that you were on the pill?” Shelby tried to pull free from them and they both wrapped their arms around her body.
“Give him a minute, honey,” Declan said. “He’ll catch up and be fine.”
