“I’m just glad for you. This is epic, Cal… are there any censored episodes on my best man’s speech?”
I held him at arm’s length. “Just make it good. Relaxed. We’re not doing suits.”
“Try telling Mum that.”
Fair point. I released Seph and headed over to where Wren was, holding her from behind, my arms looped round her waist and pulling her into my chest. Seph disappeared out of the room, looking like he was about to wet himself.
“Rather than explaining this to ten different people, what do you want to know?” I looked round at the sea of familiar faces.
“What’s happening on New Year’s Eve?” Ava shouted up first.
“Three pm we’re having a marriage ceremony in the large barn that we’re not using. It’s being decorated before. Then we thought we’d just go to the pub for a meal and drinks.” Wren sounded happy, light. I’d worried a little about this, simply because she wasn’t used to having to placate so many people. “It won’t be formal. I have a wedding dress and Callum has a suit, but you wear what you want.”
“Seph’s going to be my best man, so you’ll still get speeches. But – this isn’t a big thing. We have Max’s wedding before then.” I looked at my eldest brother, saw him smile at me and raise his glass. “We can talk more about it after that.”
“And before that, we have Christmas Day.” Payton gave a huge beaming smile and I remembered how much she’d always enjoyed Christmas.
The door opened and Seph blew back in. “Are we discussing the elephant in the room yet?”
Everyone turned towards him.
He waved an arm and almost knocked over one of Marie’s prized ornaments.
“The positive pregnancy test that’s been left in the downstairs bathroom. Everyone must’ve seen it. Was this your way of announcing it, Payts?”
14
A day at an outdoor aerial park – Shay to Max, Jackson, Killian, Nick, Owen, Eli & Callum
Payton
The world closed in.My ears rang, even though the only sound in the room was silence. That, and my heart thudding against my chest.
Owen was standing opposite me, his hand clasped around a beer, his eyes focused solely on me.
I was going to murder Seph, but not until I’d somehow managed to get out of the room with Owen and explained. Preferably without crying, because there were tears there already.
I studied Owen’s face, feeling everything amplified. The words I wanted to say were about to fountain out of my mouth, too fast and too much because the audience were still there, listening and staring. His mouth had started to curve with a gentle, soft smile and his eyes looked glassy. I knew that I was all he could see
“Fuck. I’m so sorry. I thought you’d told him. Shit, Payts.” Seph looked from me to Owen and then put his hand over his face. “Fuck.”
I couldn’t deny being pregnant even though I’d really wanted to tell Owen before everyone else. But there was one thing I could deny honestly. “The test in the bathroom isn’t mine.” I took a step towards Owen and inhaled as much oxygen as I could, tears spewing down my face. “But there is a positive one that is mine – ours – in our room.”
He pulled me into him and I felt him bury his face into my shoulder, his lips pressing my skin there.
“Congrats, man.”
I heard Maxwell first, then Jackson, then Killian say something about sleepless nights and shitty nappies. I heard Callum say something about Owen knocking up his little sister and felt my father’s hand squeeze my shoulder, but I kept my eyes closed, willing them all away so I could talk to my fiancé. My lover. My child’s father.
Feet moved, a door opened and closed, the room grew quiet.
“Payts, I’m so fucking sorry…”
I looked up and saw my twin, saw the pain on his face. “Seph, it’s okay. But this baby isn’t being named after you and I’m going to murder you later.”
He nodded.
“Seph.”
