“I’m going to fucking kill you Adams.” He says, clenching his jaw. Reed’s worried, and I can tell by his reaction, and I don't blame him. My heart jumps against my ribs at the sincerity in his eyes. My brother’s always been my protector, my go-to guy when the world was falling apart, and I know now, even though we’re both adults, he’s still that man in my life.
“Yes, we’re all fine. The doctor does want to monitor me closely, especially because the twins-”
“Baby beans,” Graham interjects.
“Shut up, dickhead. You knocked up my baby sister. The best thing you can do is stay over there and shut up.” Reed grunts at Graham, who only smirks.
I put my hand up and raise my voice to talk over the manly shit happening right now. “The babies are sharing the same sac, making them monoamniotic, and there is a risk with that. I’ve done some research, and I’m hoping that there is a membrane separating them, but it’s just too early to tell. Other than that, Dr. Brown thinks I should have a normal, healthy pregnancy.”
Reed nods then stalks over to Graham. “I can’t believe you touched her.”
“Reed, it wasn’t like I set out to sleep with your sister.” Graham lowers his voice, so it’s barely above a whisper. “I care about her. I do. I promise I’ll do right by them.”
Swallowing down the emotion clogging my throat, I sit next to Holland.
My best friend has tears in her eyes as she takes my hand and squeezes. “I can’t believe that we’re all pregnant together. I mean, I can, but it’s just so crazy!”
“Me either, Holl. I’m nervous, and scared, and honestly, I feel like I might suck at this, but I’m…excited.”
Mom stands from the couch and walks over, taking me into her arms, holding me tightly against her body. I slide my arms around her and don’t let go.
It’s always been my mom and Reed. Just the three of us, and then Holland and Evan joined our family. My father has never been present in either of our lives, but most of the time, his presence isn’t ever missed.
Reed and Mom made sure I had a happy and loved childhood.
“I know you're nervous, baby, but you will be an amazing mother. I’ll be here every step of the way,” Mom reassures me.
I nod in her embrace.
“So, who’s hungry?” Graham asks, breaking the silence and heavy tension in the room. Reed still looks like he might have an actual coronary, but less red than he was a few minutes ago.
Now that my family knows, I feel much better. It seems like I might actually be able to do this.
Everyone begins to get their plates, and it’s like the news that we just dropped on them is now just a part of life. The guys talk sports, the girls talk baby stuff, and soon, they’re all getting ready to head out.
Reed, Holland and Evan walk out the front door, and he looks back over his shoulder, “I’m still thinking about murdering you.”
Later that night, after everyone has gone home, and I'm alone, lying in bed eating peanut butter with a spoon, my phone vibrates with a call.
Glancing at the screen, Graham’s name pops up. I groan around the spoon in my mouth.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Hello, my beautiful, smart, selfless, best tits in the universe, baby mama.”
Suspect.
“What do you want, Adams?”
A brief pause before he speaks again, “Well, I’m choosing to discuss this on the phone instead of actually in front of you, because I think you might kick me in the dick, and you know how much I value my dick.”
“Okay…. go on.”
“We need to go visit my family and tell them the news in person. I can’t tell them over the phone, and now that it’s the off-season, I promised my mom that I would visit for a few weeks.”
If the spoon of peanut butter wasn’t in my mouth, I would’ve dropped it.
“Graham, I can’t just… take off from work and go stay on your family's farm for a few weeks. Plus, I don’t think now is the time for me to meet the family. God, this is so complicated.”