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"Shut up! We have to go before your fucking dad calls the cops and gets me arrested!"
My body goes numb at the choice presented to me. Get my boyfriend arrested for getting a minor pregnant or say goodbye to my baby brother and probably upset him?
I choose to save Tate the tears and fear of me leaving. He doesn't need to know that our parents shunned me. Maybe he can have a better life with them.
Without me.
Sniffling, my eyes hold on to Tate's window for as long as I can manage.
I choose hope. For my babyandfor my brother.
May they both have love and family.
"Mommy." I'm snapped back to the present when Bug taps my shoulder. "Who is that man?" Her wide blue eyes are drying up, thankfully, but her gaze keeps flicking to the front door where the other guys are. I can tell she's trying to be strong, but her little arms grip JJ even tighter.
"Come here, baby." I hold my arms out to her, needing to hold my daughter close. Jackson gives Layla a kiss on the cheek before settling her on my hipbone. I don't look at either him or Marcus, not wanting to see their own thoughts and opinions shining in their eyes.
Instead, I drop my forehead to Layla's and close my eyes while I take a deep breath. "That's my little brother, Tate. He's your uncle, Bug."
A million emotions flash across her face, but the excitement followed by caution has me wanting to squash all her negative thoughts.
"Is he nice?"
My heart breaks a little. "I think so. I'm going inside to talk to him. Would you like to come?" She nods, some of her excitement bubbling back up. "I need you to stay next to Jackson the whole time unless I say so, okay?"
A fierce expression hardens Layla's eyebrows and purses her lips. "Promise."
The look of wonder on JJ's face when I hand her over to him is priceless. One of the main reasons I trust him to protect her is because he looks at her like she's the light of his life. A lump forms in my throat when his eyes lock on mine. Pure awe and maybe shock?
I give him a small smile and can't help but lean in to kiss his cheek. "You kept her safe, JJ," I murmur with my hand on his forearm. "Layla first, always." I give his arm another squeeze and move to the front door before he can respond.
It might seem weird to someone without kids that I feel so moved by the fact that JJ chose to protect Layla rather than coming to my rescue. I was worried all four of them would run to my side, but Jackson stayed out of it to keep my daughter safe.
Layla comes first.
* * *
The testosterone in my house is threatening a sneeze. Surprisingly, Layla seems content between Leo and JJ on the couch. Bug is casually sipping on a juice box that one of the guys procured while sneaking peeks at Tate in his own chair. Marcus is sitting in front of her, and Jude is hovering by me, pacing in front of the TV.
Nibbling on my lip, I fight not to break the tense silence before I find the right words to say. My eyes dart through the living room, stifling a groan at all the glaring happening between my brother and my guys.
"So, you're my uncle?"
That's one way to break the silence. Layla's voice is light, if not a bit hesitant, but it makes Tate startle enough to make me smirk.
"I—" He looks at me in concern. I nod, that yes, she is my kid. "Yeah, darling. I'm your uncle Tate."
"Where have you been?" Bug's eyes are furrowed, like she can't imagine why her uncle wasn't a part of our lives.
Ouch.We all flinch.
Tate looks pained as he runs his hand through his messy blonde hair. "I'm so sorry." He looks between us, and I know the apology isn't just meant for the little one who called him out. "I just found out a little over a month ago what happened and why you left."
I snort. "Left?"What fucking story was he told because I did not leave of my own free will.
Another flinch from my brother, and he goes to stand before each of the guys tense. Their movements draw my attention. A reminder that they are all here and about to listen to the gory details.
Actually... Shit! They know nothing about this.
