I rear back. “You’re not boring.”
He shrugs. “I like order, I like rules, and I like to be a stand-up guy. Unlike others…” His gaze veers to Foster.
Stephie is all over Foster, trying to get him to move his feet. She’d be better off persuading a drunk girl in the bathroom not to call her ex.
“And it’s okay, you know? He’s a lot of people’s type.” He says it as if he knows something.
I stiffen. Our eyes lock, and I divert mine, but it doesn’t stop him from continuing.
“He’s complicated. I should tell you to stay away from him, at least give you a warning, but…” He frowns. “He’s my twin brother. My blood. And though we don’t see eye to eye on almost anything, I’d still like for him to be happy.”
I scoff. “You are way too much of a stand-up guy.”
“I’m really not.”
He twirls me again, and I catch sight of Foster over Decker’s shoulder. He’s finally wrapped his arm around Stephie’s waist, and they’re grinding. I watch him for a second, wishing I kind of did like Decker, but dancing with him is like dancing with my brother. Foster is the one who hits all my hot buttons.
Can’t there be a vaccine for us woman who always want the bad boy?
Then I remember the baby growing in my stomach and how my days of cavorting with men like Foster need to end if I’m going to teach this little girl or boy to love…
I gasp, staring at Decker, not realizing until right now—he’ll be my son or daughter’s uncle.
“What is it?” He turns us so he’s looking at Foster now. He doesn’t make a comment about the fact that his brother isn’t the dancer he is.
“Nothing. I just thought I saw an ex.”
Decker seems appeased by my answer. I think I could tell Decker I’m pregnant, and he’d understand. Probably help me navigate how to tell Foster. How to judge his reaction. But that seems terribly unfair to Foster. They clearly have some kind of brotherly issues, and telling Decker before Foster would piss him off. Rightfully so.
So I keep my news to myself and finish the song with Decker.
A slow song comes on next, and he removes his thigh from between my legs, pulls me closer to him, and nuzzles his head closer to mine. It’s intimate, but not one part of me zings with excitement. I might as well be dancing with Hayes.
My gaze goes to where Foster and Stephie were, but they’re gone. Probably in a cab back to his place.
Well, that’s good anyway because I need to put him in a box. A box labeled baby daddy, and that’s all. And if he doesn’t want to be a part of our lives, then I’ll happily do this on my own. I do not need his help. I just need to tell him so I can move on and tell everyone else who will support us.
Now I just need to come up with a plan.
By the time Decker and I are done dancing, I’ve convinced myself that I’ll be raising this baby on my own. In my head, Foster has already left us high and dry to fend for ourselves, and I’ve put a protective bubble that’s more like a shield around myself and our baby. He won’t hurt us. I’ll never allow it.
Decker leads me through the crowd with my hand in his, and when we get to the VIP section, we find Foster drinking on one couch and Easton on the other, drilling him with questions.
“What the fuck? One more song, and I was going to ask her back to my place.”
“Sorry. She wasn’t for me.” Foster finishes his drink and waves at the server for another.
“Wasn’t for you? She was a hot blonde with an amazing ass.” Easton looks at Decker. “I’m on your side now.”
“I thought you always were.” Decker motions for me to go in first, and we end up sitting between the two of them.
“Did Hayes and Leighton leave?” I ask, still not seeing either of them. She’s going to hear it from me after getting me to come out and then bailing to go bang my brother.
“I think so,” Decker says.
“Help me understand why I’m going home alone tonight after I had a woman ready and eager to sleep with me five minutes ago?” Easton isn’t letting it go.
Foster waves toward the crowd. “Go get another one. They’re all the same.”
