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She sighed. “Because Curtis’ grandmother…has been spreading a rumor all over…that Theo isn’t Curtis’ son.”
He nearly slammed on the brake.“What?”
“According to her, the timing isn’t right, and someone in the family, some cousin or another, swears she saw me with a man Theo looks like more than he looks like Curtis.”
“Do they know what they’re saying?” he asked. “What that kind of accusation implies? And how is the timing off?”
“I found out I was pregnant with Theo early. Since my symptoms were identical to Josiah’s, I took a test, and then I got my first ultrasound at six weeks. I also carried Theo for forty-two weeks. I was trying not to induce, but when we reached that point, the risks to Theo were too great.”
Based on what he’d heard from everyone else, Julien had been tracking hospital admissions. When they heard Ayesha had been admitted, the guys flew out to make sure she wasn’t alone when Theo was born, regardless of how tense their relationship had been with her at the time. As far as they were concerned, Ayesha was family, and there was no way they would let their sister have a baby alone.
“Man, I’m sorry about that, Ayesha.” He covered her hand with his and squeezed. “That’s fucked up. If you’d like, I can make a visit.”
“To do what?”
“I don’t know. Kill people.”
She burst out laughing.
He grinned, and all the pain in his chest dissolved. Anyone but her. He couldn’t handle someone in “the family” hating him, and, in his opinion, when he and Ayesha did get along, it was extremely well. He could talk to her about anything, and while the fact that she was a therapist probably had something to do with it, she treated him more like a friend than a client. Then, when she did open up to him, it made him feel like she was comfortable enough to talk to him about anything.
“Mike told me you’re the team’s comedic relief,” she said. “That you’ve diffused tension in some of the most challenging moments the team’s ever faced. He said the same thing about Curtis. So, regardless of what you might say or believe, in some ways, you are filling Curtis’ place.”
“I don’t mean to—”
“I know you don’t, and I don’t mean it that way. It just feels…it feels like his spirit’s back, in some ways. I think that’s why the boys, at least Josiah, latched onto you so quickly.”
That was one reason.
It could have also been due to him bribing Josiah with video games and soccer lessons, and him sharing his food with Theo. Now, when he was eating, Theo climbed onto his lap and waited for a bite from “their” plate.
“That’s why being around you is hard,” she added.
“I remind you of him.”
“Your personality. They’re very similar. It didn’t matter what I was going through. Curtis couldalwaysmake me smile.”
He turned onto the private road that led up to the house. The car hit a bump, and the entertainment system, tired of being silenced, popped back on. “Sex Therapy” flowed through the speakers.
“Do you think Dez does a little dance,” he rolled his body, “for Larke when they listen to this?”
She snorted a laugh. “I mean, Ihaveseen random glitter on Larke before.”
“Glitter?”
“From Dez’s Magic Mike body lotion.”
A laugh squeezed from his throat as he stopped the car in front of the house.
“Actually, I see Larke being the performer.” She wound her shoulders, sending the motion down her midsection to her hips like a corkscrew before bringing it back. “She probably sets up a pole in their bedroom and everything.”
When he didn’t respond, she looked over.
“That was pretty impressive,” he said. “You’re complaining about following Tayler’s dance routine when you can do that? Girl, you’ll be fine.”
She shook her head and looked down to unlatch her seatbelt. Then, so far under her breath he nearly didn’t hear it, she said,“Somuch like him.”
CHAPTER10
