“She had to marry him,” Braelyn chimes in. “She’s pregnant with douchebag Josh’s baby, which said douchebag doesn’t know about yet, but she’s scared to tell him and scared of his reaction for reasons we all know. She and Aston struck a deal since they’re already temporarily living together. She’ll help out with Zoey, and Dr. McBroody will help her with Josh.”
I snort. “Please don’t turn my life into aGrey’s Anatomyepisode. I can’t handle more drama.”
She holds up her hand. “Fine, but I still feel like we need anickname for Aston. I was torn between broody and hot but couldn’t think how to combine them in a way that worked.”
“Fair. We’ll think about it.” Because asshole doesn’t quite fit him anymore, even if part of me wishes it still did.
“Stop with the girl crap,” Crew barks, climbing up onto his knees since his massive frame is sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table while he eats. “Reverse and explain all of this. In detail.” His features soften, and he glances down at my still flat stomach. “Sky, you’re pregnant? For real?”
Hayes shifts beside me so he can stare me down, holding my hand, and I take that comfort and rest my head on his shoulder. “Yes. I found out last week and have an OB appointment scheduled for this Thursday and an ultrasound in a few weeks.”
“Why didn’t you come to us first?” Hayes questions, hurt in his voice. “We would have helped you with this. With Josh. Hell, I would have married you if you felt that’s what you needed.”
“Same,” Crew agrees.
“And we would have been there during it,” Roman states. Forest has his head in his hands. My guys are a mess. They feel like they let me down. When I finally told them about what Josh had been like, they were similar to how they are now. It broke them that I kept so much from them, but this is different.
“I know you all would have been, and I love you for it. I didn’t really plan on the whole marriage thing. Then again, I didn’t exactly plan to be pregnant either. Braelyn did the test after I randomly threw up and realized I had missed my period, and Aston came home and found me crying about it on the sofa. It went from there. Zoey needs more stability at home, someone she can be close with, and I…”
“You need a buffer from Josh.” Forest stands up and paces toward the window. “He doesn’t know yet? About any of this?”
“No,” I tell him, and he nods, keeping his back to me, his hands going to the top of his head.
“I still wish you had gotten a restraining order against him.”
“I couldn’t without everyone knowing what happened and having to leave my job, and I love my job. It’s one of the top ICUs in the country, if not the world.”
“Are you going to tell him?” Quinn asks, coming to my other side and taking my other hand.
“I haven’t decided yet. Regardless, the marriage needs to look legit. Like Aston and I are actually in love.”
“And the baby as his?” Hayes questions.
“Aston said he would do that if I wanted. I can’t ask for that, though. The more lies we tell, the worse it’ll be. For now, I’ll let people assume what they want without confirming.”
“Dude, you’re married to Aston Hughes.” Quinn hiccups out a laugh before she slaps a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m not making light of what you’re going through, but Aston Hughes!” she exclaims, fanning her face. “He’s sexy as hell.”
“I know, right?” Braelyn jumps in. “So hot. You should have seen him in his suit at the wedding. Damn.”
“It’s not like that with us.” I shake my head, trying not to smile at the accuracy of this description. “Can we focus, please? Aston’s looks are not why I wanted you all here.”
“No, you wanted us here because you got married without telling us, and now you need our help to convince Josh and the world that it’s real and not completely insane,” Crew says, his usual bluntness softened by the affection in his voice.
“It’s not insane,” I protest weakly. “It’s... an arrangement.”
Six pairs of eyes stare back at me with identical expressions of disbelief.
“Fine.” I sigh. “It’s a little insane. But it makes sense for both of us. He needs help with Zoey, who’s still struggling after losing her mom. I need Josh to back off, and hopefully, being married is more effective than a restraining order. And it’stemporary. Once things settle down, we’ll get a divorce and move on.”
“Except you’ll have a kid. Josh’s kid.”
I shrug at Hayes. “Not much I can do on the parentage other than possibly lie. Or go through the courts.”
Roman leans forward, his fierceno one fucks with my peopledemeanor on full display. “Skylar, we’re all worried about Josh. What he did to you?—”
“Was abuse,” Hayes finishes, his jaw tightening. “The man is a textbook narcissist and treated you like shit.”
I stare down at my hands still being held by theirs, hating the way my chest constricts at the mention of my ex. “I know. That’s why I left. That’s why I’m not telling him about the baby. At least not yet. Maybe not ever unless I have to.”
