“You’re such a jerk.”
“You needed sleep, Lo. We’re just looking out for you.” Charlie pulls up a chair next to me. “Speaking of looking out for you, you’re doing so great after your breakup with Austin, I thought maybe you’d be open to being set up with someone. I heard Rhett has a cousin who’s supposed to come to town soon. He sounds like a catch: handsome, smart, kind. I guess he doesn’t know much about ranching, but you’re a pretty good teacher.”
My mouth falls open, and I’m at a loss for words. I look from him to Jax, hoping he’ll help me out, but he just shrugs.
Turning back to Charlie, I say, “I-I don’t know about that.” When I look at Jax again, he’s biting his lip, his cheeks turning pink as he fights back laughter.
“What’s going on?” I stand up from my chair, dragging Bella from my lap into my arms.
“I’m trying to set you up with Rhett’s cousin. Why is this confusing?” Amusement fills Charlie’s eyes.
Jax’s back is turned to me, but it’s impossible not to hear him wheezing in the corner.
“Why is Jax laughing hysterically?”
“I think he finds the idea of you dating Rhett’s cousin funny.”
I set Bella down and move across the kitchen, grabbing Jax’s shoulder and spinning him toward me. Tears shimmer in his crystal blue eyes.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“He knows,” he manages between gasps for breath.
I tilt my head, silently asking if he’s saying what I think he’s saying. Jax nods.
“How did you find out?” I swivel in Charlie’s direction.
He fills me in, causing heat to rise in my cheeks. I don’t know what to say now that everything is out in the open, but I know I want to get Jax and Charlie back for what they did to me. “I need a moment alone with Jax,” I say. “You don’t mind, since you know about us now, right?”
“I guess,” Charlie grumbles.
“I just need a few minutes. It’s important.”
Jax moves in my direction, cradling me instantly with his brows knit together. Guilt is already bleeding out of me, but I only feel so bad after what he just pulled.
“What’s wrong?”
“We should go to the other room.” I shoot Charlie a weary glance that does exactly what I want it to.
He strides to my side too. “You can’t have that look on your face and then ask me to not be involved in whatever you’ve got going on. I’m your brother. I’m here for you too. In fact, I’ve been around longer.”
“This doesn’t concern you.” I quickly look down to my feet, trying to hide the flash of a smile that blooms on my face in anticipation of what’s to come.
“If it has to do with my little sister’s well-being, then it has to do with me.”
“Fine.” I sigh heavily, turning to Jax. “I’m pregnant.”
Jax’s face goes white until realization hits him. We haven’t yet done what’s required for me to be pregnant, but I bet Charlie doesn’t know that.
As expected, my brother swivels from me to Jax, pressing his finger into his chest. “What did you do to my little sister? I thought you said you were taking things slow. You said you cared about her.”
“We are, and I do.” Jax shoves Charlie back. “Freckles, tell him the truth.”
“Iamtelling the truth.” I bat my eyes innocently, but I must not do a good job because the tension releases from Charlie’s shoulders.
“Why would you do that to me?”
“I did it to both of you to teach you a lesson.” I cross my arms. “Don’t mess with me, or I’ll mess with you back.”
