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“What’re you gonna do if it’s yours?”
“Raise her.”
“Oh shit! How the fuck are you gonna raise a daughter on your own?”
“Like it’s that hard,” Brandt scoffed. “Erik took in Hellcat when he was my age. If anything, I’m more settled. I don’t even live at the clubhouse anymore.”
“Our sister was already walking and talking,” Kujo argued. “And able to tell him when she was hungry, and he didn’t have to clean her shitty diapers.”
“Don’t talk about shitty diapers,” Brandt warned him. “I’ve thrown up at least a hundred times.”
“Man, you’ve got a weak stomach.”
“I double dare you to change her diapers for a day. You’ll be talking to the porcelain gods just like me.”
“Maybe you should rope Hellcat into babysitting duty,” Kujo suggested. “She’s a woman, after all.”
“I double dog dare you to ask her,” Hunter ordered him.
I stepped off the last step and called out, “I triple dare any of you to rope me into anything!”
“Ohhh!” Kujo and Brandt echoed. “Hope you don’t lose your balls for that.”
Hunter stared silently ahead.
“What’s this about Brandt having a baby?”
“How much did you hear?” he asked.
“That someone dropped her at the gym,” I responded. “How long ago did it happen?”
“A couple of days after you disappeared,” Brandt answered.
A sudden pang in my chest made me realize just how much I had missed in the week I’d been gone. Even though I knew it wasn’t my fault, I still couldn’t convince myself to accept it. Especially in moments like this one. When I should have been here for my brother, I was instead held captive in a dank and dismal basement.
“Well, I’m never going to be a nanny, however, if Bear asks nicely,” I added. “I wouldn’t mind getting to know my niece better.”
“I’ll make it happen,” he answered.
“Do you need help to take her?” I asked.
“Not this time.”
“Okay. I’m here for you if you need me.”
“I know you are.”
“What’s her name? Do you have any pictures of her yet?”
“Karsen, and yes.” He pulled out his phone and tapped the screen. I walked over and sat on the chair next to him, snatching the phone from his hands.
“She’s beautiful,” I gushed as I flipped through the photos. I could hear the love in his voice when he spoke about her; there was no doubt in my mind that she was his. Our family resemblance was unmistakable, and it was evident she was one of us.
“See, there’s no way she’s his,” Kujo piped up. “Bear wouldn’t make cute babies. They’d be ugly as fuck.”
“You’re the ugly one,” Brandt told him as he reached around me and shoved Kujo. It was just enough to teeter the chair and make him put a foot down to maintain balance. Once he had the foot down, that was all it took. He was quick to his feet, a sharp shove sent Brandt tumbling off his chair and to the floor.
What was going on with these two?
