Quinn loved that Aiden’s papa had welcomed him and the kids so easily. He was also the only grandparent they would ever have.
Aiden led him into the living room and then sat down on the couch before pulling Quinn into his lap.
Quinn looked down at him. “And I know that he loves them. They never had a grandpa before, so thank you.”
Aiden’s eyes softened. “You never have to thank me for that, my love.”
Aiden had been calling him that more and more recently, and Quinn chose to believe it was more than just a pet name.
Aiden slipped his hand up Quinn’s neck and pulled him down into a kiss. For a moment, Quinn forgot he had something to tell Aiden and lost himself in this man who had made him so happy.
When they finally broke apart for air, Quinn leaned back so he had a good look at Aiden’s face. He saw the love in his eyes and realized that he’d been waiting for Aiden to say the words first, but why couldn’t he? Quinn cupped Aiden’s cheeks and whispered, “I love you, Aiden.”
Aiden smirked, even as his eyes softened further. “Way to steal my thunder, babe. I had it all planned out, romantic dinner, just the two of us, and then I was going to say that tonight... but I don’t care, because I love you, too, Quinn Parker.”
Aiden leaned forward for a kiss, but Quinn leaned further away, stopping him, and Aiden arched a brow.
“I’m pregnant.” Quinn’s voice came out lower than he planned. Especially since he didn’t plan on just blurting it out like that, but he had, and he couldn’t take the words back. So... yeah.
Aiden’s jaw dropped. “Pregnant?” he whispered. Quinn slowly nodded. “Wow!” Aiden released a breath. His eyes were wide, and Quinn was pretty sure it was excitement, but there was something else there as well that he couldn’t figure out.
Aiden’s eyes seemed to dim, and uncertainty filled Quinn.
“Are you happy?” Nerves caused Quinn’s voice to shake.
Aiden finally smiled, but Quinn could tell it wasn’t right. It didn’t reach his eyes. “I couldn’t be happier,” he replied. “It’s just…” Aiden’s voice fell off, and he looked away from Quinn.
“Aiden? Talk to me. Please. You’re scaring me.”
Aiden looked back at him and released a breath. “I have to tell you something. I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
Quinn tried not to panic, but with those words, he felt like the rug had just been yanked from under his feet. He scooted down so he was on the couch and no longer on Aiden’s lap. “Okay. What?”
Aiden shifted and turned to face Quinn. “I didn’t know how to tell you this, and I need you to know the moment I met you I… everything changed.”
Quinn rubbed his chest. He didn’t know what Aiden was about to say, but he could feel it already… it wasn’t good.
“Can you spit it out already?” Quinn’s voice sounded harsh even to his ears.
Aiden flinched and cleared his throat. “About six years ago, I donated my sperm.”
Quinn first thought wasso, but then he studied Aiden and the picture forming in his mind had that voice screaming. The puzzle slowly started to come together—the reason Aiden seemed so familiar… small things that felt like déjà vu… Aiden’s reaction that day they’d picked the kids up from school when one of the other dads said Haley looked liked him.
He slowly shook his head. “No. No. No. That can’t be,” Quinn whispered. “This can’t be happening. No.”
“I needed some money, and I saw the ad in the paper. I never planned on seeking out any child, or in this case, children, that were conceived from that sperm. Then the cancer, I don’t know why, but it changed things. When I had to bank sperm again, because they told me that there was a great possibility I’d never be able to have my own children naturally, those kids that weremaybeout there, they became real to me, and I suddenly wanted to see them, make sure they were okay.”
Quinn put his head in his hands. The room had started to spin. His eyes burned with the tears he was fighting to hold in. How could he have been so stupid?
When he looked up at Aiden, anger slowly took over. “So what? You sought us out? You have been fuckin’ using me?” Quinn jumped up from the couch.
“No! Yes! I mean no, I wasn’t using you, but yes, I sought you out. But it’s not what you think.” Aiden tried to touch him, but Quinn angrily pulled his hand away. “Quinn, babe, please, give me a chance to explain.”
Hearing Aiden call him babe made it feel like someone was taking a nail to his heart and pounding it in slowly.
“What more is there to say?” Quinn’s voice sounded lifeless to his own ears.
“Please, I didn’t mean to hurt you. That was never my intention. Yes, okay, at first, starting out, I only cared about the children. I wanted to see them and get to know them. But then you were there, and you changed everything. I never planned on falling in love with you.”
