“Are you sure?” Brenden asked doubtfully.
“Yes.” It was time for things that were hidden to come out. “Bre…”
“Daddy,” Stephen heard Nicholas call for him just as he was about to tell Brenden about the baby. He heard the door to his room open and quickly made sure he and Brenden were appropriately covered from the waist down.
“Hey, Nick, buddy,” Brenden greeted sitting up.
“Brenden, you’re here!” Nicholas yelled and was about to run over and jump on the bed but stopped. “Did you and Daddy have a sleepover?” he asked innocently.
Stephen snorted, and Brenden gave him a side-eyed look. “Something like that,” Brenden answered.
“Okay,” Nicholas said. “Daddy, I’m hungry,” he said just as Poppin barked from downstairs reminding them he needed to go outside.
“Okay, give me a few minutes to get up,” he told his son. “Why don’t you go wake Grandpa…”
“I went to his room to wake him up, Daddy. Grandpa isn’t home.”
“He’s not?” Stephen asked in surprise. “That’s strange,” he said out loud. “Okay, go brush your teeth, and I will come and check on you in a second to make sure you did it correctly.”
Nicholas nodded and ran out of the room. Stephen was a little worried; Julian wasn’t home, and that’s not like him. He picked up his phone and looked to see if his dad had sent him a text saying that he wouldn’t be home for the night. There wasn’t one.
“Man, is he always so energetic?”
“That’s toned down,” Stephen answered coming out of his thoughts.
“Are you all right?” Brenden asked.
“Yeah.” He put his phone back down on the night table, then threw the covers back, getting out of bed. He picked up his sweatpants that he had on the day before putting them on. He heard movement behind him and turned and watched Brenden, who turned around after zipping up his pants.
“So,” Brenden said coming to stand in front of him resting his hands on his waist. “Are you good with what we did last night?”
Stephen reached up and kissed him quickly. “I’m more than good.” He smiled as he backed away and walked into the bathroom connected to his room. He pulled out the extra toothbrush he’d gotten the last time he went to the dentist and put it on the counter for Brenden. Stephen looked at himself in the mirror, he was still smiling until he looked down and touched his stomach. He wasn’t showing any signs of being pregnant, yet, but he would soon. He was happy that he wasn’t experiencing any morning sickness that morning. That was the second time in a span of a couple of weeks and each time Brenden was around.
I should tell him now. Why the hell am I being a punk about this? He’s going to hate me when he finds out. God, I sound like a coward even in my inner thoughts. Just come out and say it. Brenden, I’m pregnant. There, I can say it in my head, now I just have to say it out loud.
“I take it this is mine?” Brenden asked, picking up the extra toothbrush.
Stephen nodded and finished brushing his teeth, then walked out of the bathroom and into his bedroom, picking up his sweater and putting it on. They had some time before they had to be at work.
“Come on down when you’re ready, and we can tell Nick,” Stephen said to Brenden and went to check on his son.
After making sure Nicholas did a good job, he helped him get dressed for the day. His dad not being home was still bothering him. Maybe it was time he got Nick into preschool. His dad had mentioned the other day he wanted to start working again, even if it was part time. He and Nicholas were downstairs when Brenden came down the stairs. Before Brenden had even asked, Stephen handed him a cup of coffee the way he liked it. Brenden thanked him and sat down at the table. Stephen picked up his tea and took a large sip, watching father and son. Nicholas was asking Brenden crazy questions and the other man appeasing him.
“Hey, Nick,” Stephen said, getting his son’s attention. The boy turned to look at him with a bright smile. “There’s something I need to tell you.” Stephen looked at Brenden who nodded. “You know how you’ve been asking for your other dad?”
“Yeah, you said he was busy with work,” Nicholas told him. “But I don’t want him to visit me anymore.”
Stephen was floored by his son’s last statement. He looked at Brenden, who had the same shocked expression on his face.
“Why?” Stephen asked Nicholas.
Nicholas turned and looked at Brenden and then at Stephen. He looked down at his bowl of cereal worrying his bottom lip, then Stephen heard a sniffle.
“Hey, bud,” Brenden said, getting up from his chair and picking up Nicholas holding him in his arms. “What’s the matter?”
“I can’t tell you,” Nicholas whispered.
“Why?” Brenden asked him.
