“I’m taking off. Let me know if you need anything else. Oh, and we’re having dinner at The Sloppy Pelican Friday night to celebrate Nolan and Misty’s good news. Sort of a do-over.”
I wince because I happen to be the reason for said do-over. “I wouldn’t missit.”
Lex takes off, and I head over to the back. As soon as Rush spots me, he jumps to his feet and pulls me into a strong hug. My brother’s familiar cologne takes over my senses, and that sweet scent makes me feel nothing short of safe. Rush has always been my biggest protector. Nolan was grown by the time we were teenagers, but Rush has played the part of my personal bodyguard for as long as I canremember.
He pulls away, blinking back tears, and it rips me apart to see him thisway.
“I know what you’re thinking,” I say as we take our seats. “That you couldn’t protectme.”
He nods as if words weren’t an option at the moment. I can see the pain in his eyes. I know there would never be enough words to expressthem.
“It’s not true,” I assure him. “You always protect me even when we’re not together. I feel you there like a miniature angel sitting on my shoulder telling me what I should and shouldn’t do. Even that night I felt it. So don’t feel bad. It was all on me.” I look to Trixie and shrug. “And it is Seth’s.” I’m not sure why I said it. As if this baby being Seth’s made anything better. I’m still royally ticked off at him for letting me think I was carrying Eli Gates’baby.
ELI! Oh my shit! I have completely forgotten about the poor guy. He’s probably insane with worry by now. After Nolan texted that first night and Seth started blowing up my phone, I buried the thing under my bed and didn’t bother picking it back up until about an hourago.
My lids open wide, and suddenly I have the urge to run. “Oh my God, I haven’t told Eliyet.”
Rush reaches over and gives my hand a light tap. “Seth beat you to it. They ran into each other at the gym, and he made things right. Eli’s not upset. Don’t worry abouthim.”
“Oh.” I sag with relief. “Well, I still owe him an apology regardless.” I rake my eyes from Rush to Trixie. “And I want to apologize to the two of you. Trixie, I should have confided in you from the beginning. And, Rush, well, I’ll be honest, I probably wouldn’t change things all that much. You are my brother, prone to violent fits of protection. I’m pretty sure Seth would have a broken leg bynow.”
“Two broken legs,” a deep voice strums from behind, and we find Nolan standing there looking every bit the older version of Rush, the same look of love beaming from his eyes. He pulls me into a warm hug before taking the seat beside me. “How youfeeling?”
“Great, now that I’m surrounded with all the people who loveme.”
Nolan frowns, looking down at me a moment. “I’m glad. But I hope you’re going easy on Seth. I’ve been in his shoes before. Letting things slide for the sake of peace in the moment has bitten me in the ass a time or two. It’s what kept Misty and me apart all those years. Don’t let a half a decade slide by before you straighten things out withhim.”
I glance down at my baby bump, the one Seth gifted me, and take a deep breath. “I doubt I’ll go that long without seeing him. We are rather connected to one another at the moment—and for many moments to come.” I meet up with my older brother’s gaze once again. “Congratulations to you and Misty. I feel awful that I ruined your bigannouncement.”
He shakes his head as if it was nothing. “Just come to The Pelican Friday night. Misty would love to have youthere.”
Trixie grunts, “If I might make a suggestion, find Seth and have it out before then or hold your peace untilSaturday.”
“Saturday? I couldn’t be in the same room with Seth and not want to throttle him.” And kiss him deeply, but I don’t dare give my brothers the visual. “I’ll take care of things, Ipromise.”
Nolan slings his arm over my shoulders. “Don’t hurry on my account. You take your time. Do what feels right. Whatever you choose to do, you have Misty’s support andmine.”
“Ditto.” Rush blinks a dry smile. “You want me to be there with you when you go toe-to-toe?”
Trixie swats him. “They’re not going toe-to-toe, you brute. They’re not even going to have a war of words. They love each other. And they have for far longer than either of you two realize. And please recognize the fact the reason your sister held back her feelings for so long was all yourfault.”
“What?” Rush inches back at theconcept.
“That’s right.” Trix looks to me. “Spill it,Sunday.”
A dull laugh brews in my chest. “I don’t know how you sucked this vital information out of my brain, but you’re right.” I look to each of my brothers in turn. “When Seth came into our lives all those years ago, the two of you let me know in no uncertain terms that I should stay away from him, and being the loyal sister I am, I took it to an extreme. I couldn’t even bring myself to be friendly with the poor guy without feeling like I was letting you down. So I built awall.”
“A big one,” Trixie interjects. “One so hostile and impenetrable that it makes the Great Wall of China look like a child’stoy.”
I cringe at her word choice. I’m pretty sure we should leave all tenses of the wordpenetrationoff the table—especially a table my brothers are sittingat.
“Again, she’sright.”
Nolan blows out a quick breath. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea that’s been going on all this time. I mean, I do remember having that conversation withyou.”
Rush wrinkles his forehead. “Me, too. I just thought it was the right thing to say. Keep you out oftrouble.”
“That backfired.” I glance down at my belly, and Little Fish does an aerobic move that makes me smile. “Anyway”—I look to both of my brothers with firm resolve to take back my identity and full control over my emotions from this moment on—“I’m in love with Seth Baker, and there’s not a thing anyone can do about it. Least of all the two ofyou.”
