“Caleb, stop!” Benji snarled. “Calm the fuck down and listen.”
“Why should I?”
“Because Iwantedto do this,” Benji said seriously.
Caleb paused before mumbling, “I don’t believe that. You never said anything about wanting kids before. Why now? Did you just get pregnant with this guy so you could pay for my surgery?”
“No,” Benji insisted. “That’s not the only reason. I love him, Caleb. I’m crazy about him.”
I smiled. Joy flowed through me hearing him speak those words out loud.
“What?” Caleb sounded confused. “Wait, are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m dead serious,” Benji replied. “I’ve never met an alpha - oranyguy - like him before. Pierce is special.”
Caleb made a distrustful groaning noise. “You’re not brainwashed, are you?”
Benji laughed. “No, dumbass.”
“Hey, Pierce,” Caleb called.
“Yes, Caleb?”
“You better treat my brother right,” Caleb demanded. “Or else I’ll come up there and… and beat you up.”
Benji rolled his eyes and I grinned. “Of course, Mr. Foster. Trust me when I say your brother is in the best care possible.”
“Okay… Well, I can’t really say anything about it since Benji sounds happy,” Caleb mumbled. “Does that mean I’m an uncle now? How far along are you? Holy crap, it’s just hitting me that you’re gonna have a baby.”
“Yup. Sure am,” Benji said.
“Wait, so… Does that mean you won’t be coming back to the apartment?” Caleb asked, sounding a bit sad.
Benji frowned. “Yeah. I’m sorry, but it’s not the best place to raise a child. I want to be here with Pierce, you know?”
“I guess,” Caleb said with a sigh. “I’m gonna miss you. Can I at least come visit you?”
Benji faced me, dejected, already knowing the answer. I shook my head solemnly.
“Cale, I’m sorry, but you can’t,” Benji said quietly.
“What? Why?” Caleb cried.
“It’s kind of hard to explain,” Benji replied. “Maybe I can come visit you at the apartment instead?”
A disappointed sigh came from the other end of the line. Caleb clearly wasn’t happy with the situation. “I guess so. It still worries me that you won’t tell me why I can’t come over.”
“Maybe someday I can explain it,” Benji said, “just not right now, okay?”
“Fine.” Caleb coughed weakly. “I think I gotta go. The doctor’s telling me I’m getting too worked up.”
“I’m sorry,” Benji said. “Go get some rest. We’ll talk again soon.”
“Okay. See you.”
After hanging up, Benji frowned. He sighed and sunk deeper into the water. “This sucks. I don’t like lying to my brother.”
“I know,” I said sympathetically. “It doesn’t have to be this way forever. Maybe we can figure something out.”
