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“We’renot going anywhere,” Riven corrected him.
“My apologies. I wasn’t trying to exclude you, I just have a lot to make up for,” he said softly.
“No, you don’t,” I argued. That wasn’t how we were going to move on. He had to forgive himself, too. “You didn’t do that to me, Lance, not on purpose. What choice did you have? I would rather you alive and here now. We both have some shit to work through, but I don’t blame you anymore.” As I said the words, I knew that I believed them. He was a victim in all this and blaming him would not only have been wrong, it would have been heartless. I had never stopped loving this man and now I wanted to do everything I could to help him heal.
After the last few days, and all the revelations, I couldn’t deny there was a reason we were put together. We just had a really shitty road to get here. Although I knew he had trauma and I could only guess how deeply that trauma would affect us, I didn’t think we’d be falling into bed anytime soon and that was okay. I wanted to do this right, to rebuild it stronger than before.
I wanted all of us to do that.
My ‘no strings attached’ attitude would have to be a thing of the past. Babies came with a whole new set of strings, but knowing they would stay made the prospect a whole lot less terrifying to think about.
Zath might be the true hurdle in this, but I think he was as over our previous arrangement as I was. We’d danced right over those strings for a year and now we couldn't ignore them.
The hotel door opened with a creak before closing firmly. Speak of the devil.
Zath rounded the corner and looked relieved. “Oh good, you guys made it. I was afraid to leave her for long. I’d apologize, sweetheart, but I figured you’d want everyone here for this.” He looked at me, waiting to see if he was in trouble or not. I gave him a small smile and reached out for the bag he had. He handed it over and I peeked inside, laughing. There were no less than five different boxes of tests. This man must have dropped some good money to get one of each kind.
I laughed lightly as I pushed myself to get up off the ground. Of course, the nausea was there again as I stood but Riven moved forward, steadying me.
“Thanks,” I told him as I pushed my hair out of my face. “Now, everyone out.”
They didn’t look happy to leave but I was not about to start peeing in front of them. That was not ‘first week of dating’ behavior, but then again, neither was finding out you’re pregnant.
When the bathroom door closed behind them, I started opening boxes and reading instructions, laying the tests out. Call me crazy but I was definitely about to do more than one test at a time. Thankfully, there were disposable cups in here.
For a brief moment, I wondered if I should walk out there and wait with them or if I should find out first and tell them, but I couldn’t bring myself to walk away once I took the tests.
Instead, I took my time cleaning up, pulling off my blazer, washing my hands, then pacing until finally I assumed it was enough time. I purposely kept my eyes from straying to the counter where the display screens were waiting for me.
Apparently, I didn’t even have to wait that long. Every single one had a very obvious positive marking. Even the digital test had the word ‘pregnant’ on the display.
I stared at them, stunned. Thinking I was pregnant and seeing that I definitely was, were two very different things. It took a second for it all to process, but then I felt relieved that it wasn’t negative and excited to tell my mates.
“Sweetheart, I’m dying out here,” Zathrian called out. The desperation in his voice had me biting back a laugh. This morning was one hell of a rollercoaster but now that I was on the upswing, I felt incredible.
Putting on a calm mask, I opened the door. All four of my mates were standing there, staring at me. I kept my expression carefully blank before I let a small smile spread across my lips. Their faces went through the exact same thing I did. The moment that there was a grin on every single one, I knew that my reaction was right, thatthiswas right.
“So, you’re pregnant?” Zathrian breathed out. I held up the digital test to show them. “Holy shit, I can’t believe this. You know, I was a terrified mess the entire time I was shopping but now that we know for sure you are? It’s so fucking cool. I’m going to be the best dad. Oh, my God, guys, did you hear that? We’re going to be dads!”
“The best fucking dads ever,” Riven managed to choke out before locking me in a bear hug. “You’re going to be an amazing mom.”
“I don’t promise not to teach the baby to be a badass,” El said. “Or how to cause trouble. But it’ll be loved.”
“My mom’s going to flip,” Lance breathed out. This was the future we had wanted together at one point and it may not look the same as we had pictured back then, but it was still incredible. I really needed to thank Calvin for pushing us back together, for giving me my fiancé back.
“What do we do? Lance lives here, we all live in Willow Grove, plus we own two separate bars,” El pointed out, waving around at each of us. “Traveling back and forth would be crazy and we can’t just leave Nyla and Zath with the baby alone. I want to be there every fucking day.”
“Well, the lease is up on our bar in two months,” Riven said, giving me a strange look. I wasn’t sure what he was hinting at or what he was asking, he was simply leaving it open.
“Would now be a weird time to say that my dad’s been a bit more involved than I thought?” Lance asked sheepishly. He scratched at the back of his neck, a nervous habit he had when fighting with himself over something. “After we talked and agreed to give us a shot, I told him. He, apparently, had been planning for that outcome. Dad knew I wanted out of Madison and then this property just outside of Willow Grove popped up. So, we bought it. He promised to take care of the building so there’s already a house in progress. At the time I agreed to it, I didn’t know you were there.”
“Are you asking us all to move in with you, Lance?” I clarified, shocked that he not only wanted the baby, but the group as a whole.
He nodded. “It would make the most sense,” he said like there was no question in his mind. “If you’re truly letting me back in your life, then that means accepting your mates and our entire dynamic. We’re a family now and there’s plenty of room for all of us and our babies.”
“Baby,” I groaned. “Singular. Don’t curse me.”
“There’s always future kids,” he countered with a grin.
