Brandon’s jaw dropped in shock. Like the world he knew had been swept from under his feet and he’d woken up in a zombie movie. Still, he said a hushed, “No.”
“Told ya,” I said. “Guys, Grace is vulnerable right now. She doesn’t need us acting like we just did.”
“Vulnerable?” Brandon repeated.
Ryan rolled his eyes. “Yes, because of her little problem.” Then he looked at Sam, who was chewing his lip. “Our big problem. One of us is going to be a dad.”
I wasn’t sure whether Brandon’s expression was surprise or confusion. “Grace is expecting their child, bro. Try and keep up with the program.”
I pulled out my wallet and added a hefty tip on top of what I estimated we already owed. “Sorry for ruining your lunch date.”
Poor Brandon. He had no idea and the news obviously threw him a mile off base.
The twins acted like they were cool with the whole thing, just as they did all the time. But they didn’t have poker-playing mannerisms, they fidget, and they weren’t comfortable with the turn of events. They had never intended to make a baby, that was for sure.
Two eighteen-year-old high school superstar athlete studs didn’t expect to become fathers overnight. How did they prepare for it? They didn't; they just did the easy part by being there at conception.
My idealistic brother was dependable and twenty, but in some ways going on eighty-two. I loved him, but he was an impoverished student reliant on his parents just like all of them.
When I considered Grace’s options by looking around at the four of us, I was the odd man out. The only one who could see a clear path through it all, and the one guy Grace needed, even if she didn’t know it was the one sitting in my chair.
“I think she needs a bit of space and time. And she’s not going to get it living under the same roof as you guys if you are always hanging around,” I directed the comment at the twins.
“We know how to keep a distance,” Ry said defensively.
And Sam added, “Like, right now, we’ll go over to Rafe’s house instead of going back home.”
The four of us filed out of the diner. My brother offered me a lift home, but I’d come out on my old motorcycle, so I declined the offer.
The twins talked about going over to their uncle’s place to steal some of his beer, and I would have joined them like I should have joined them on the night of graduation, but I had other things I needed to do.
Thankfully they didn’t plan on going home since I wanted to talk to her in private.
I didn’t need to make excuses to the twins and with luck, I’d catch her alone.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
GRACE MILLER
Only I could dread a surprise visit by a good friend.
“Grace, what’s up? I haven’t heard from you in days, girl.” Kelly rushed me and embraced me with that big sisterly hug she loved to do. “And we haven’t actually met up in weeks. I thought if I didn’t just turn up and surprise you, I’ll never see you again. So I’ve bought you a moving home gift.”
“Great. Um, is anyone else home?”
“Your new stepbrothers?” she giggled. “No. They’re out. Your mom and Mr. Baker were here, but they’ve gone out shopping. Said they’d be back in about an hour and asked me to promise to wait for you because you don’t have a key. I thought about getting in the pool, but then I wouldn’t have heard you. So shall we go poolside and catch up?”
I guess I was on the road to having real siblings, but of the step variety, but the love they had shown me was definitely not of the standard sibling flavor.
“It’s a mess,” I said as I stepped over the threshold and held my arms up for another hug. I almost broke down as she wrapped her arms around me.
“It isn’t that bad,” she said. “You’ll be unpacked soon, and there’s so much more space in this house.”
“I’m not talking about the house, Kelly. I mean everything, with the boys, and this, and that, and I don’t know... I just don’t know.”
“Come on.” She guided me into the kitchen. “Tea, Grace? And tell me all about it?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want tea.”
“Then just spill it out, girl. What’s on your mind?”
I spilled. I started by telling her how I’d ended up in bed with the twins. Her eyes grew as wide as plates. “Grace! How have you not told me this sooner? I’m gonna have so many fantasies about threesomes with those guys.” She held her hands up. “So I can see this might be a bit of a problem being under the same roof. But are you three going to carry on or what?” She looked confused.