We arrive at the porch where the rest of my brothers are exchanging money.
“Seriously?” I ask. “My life is falling apart, and you’re making bets?”
Rhett growls. “Your life is not falling apart because you have a child.”
“I’m not you. I don’t want the fairy tale happy ending with a wife and two children.”
“Then, you’re a fool,” he says before entering the house.
Miles chuckles. “This is not news.”
“Whatever,” I mutter before following Rhett inside the house with the rest of my brothers on my heels.
Paisley hurries toward me with baby Stephanie in her arms. “I’m beyond excited. Our children are the same age. They’ll grow up together.”
Our children? Adele isn’t here to stay. My stomach sours at the thought, but I ignore it. I’ve been ignoring it a lot lately.
“Son,” Stuart greets. “You better explain to your mother what’s happening.”
I bristle. I’m not his son. Stuart isn’t my dad. He’s my step-dad. And he didn’t come onto the scene until I was an adult.
“My goodness,” Mom exclaims. “Who put this diaper on this baby?”
I cringe. “I did.”
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to put a diaper on a baby?”
Miles barks out a laugh. “Remember when we had to ‘care’ for a baby for a week, our junior year of high school? Zane refused and ended up getting detention for a month.”
“I remember. He had to sort buckets of clam shells. He came home smelling of clam for a week.” Kai holds his nose.
Harper sighs. “I’m glad I wasn’t in school at the same time as the Raider brothers.”
Kai throws an arm around her shoulders. “You missed out but I have the rest of our lives to make it up to you.”
Harper practically melts into him and I roll my eyes. Don’t get me wrong – I’m happy for them – but did all of my brothers have to fall in love?
First, Eli and Paisley fell in love. Technically, they’ve been in love since high school, but whatever. Then, Rhett fell head over heels for Dakota. She gave him the runaround. It was fun to watch.
Next came Jaxon and Blossom. Jaxon ‘fake’ married her to help her out, and before I knew what was happening, they were in love and the marriage was real.
And, most recently, Kai and Harper got together. Kai took one look at Harper and was smitten.
At least Miles and I are still single. Although, Miles has been yearning for Hazel, the woman he abandoned years ago, and I fear he’s about done waiting for her to stop hating him.
Dakota snatches Adele from Mom’s arms. “I’ll change her while Zane explains why he suddenly has a baby.”
“I used to like you!” I shout after her retreating figure.
“You love me and you know it!” she shouts back.
Mom grasps my hand and drags me into the living room. “Now,” she says once we’re seated next to each other, “tell me why you suddenly have a baby.”
“Is anyone surprised Zane has a baby?” Miles asks.
I glare at him. “You’re no saint either.”
He scowls. “But I’m not a player.”
