“Why do you think someone’s spreadin’ the news about the baby?” Kaden asked, turning to face her.
Bristol was fidgeting with the hem of her oversized sweatshirt. “Bianca told me. She came over. She’s really mad at me.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “Not that I blame her. I didn’t tell her because I wasn’t ready to deal with it. Once she knows, it makes it more real.”
“You understand it’s real regardless of who knows.”
“Yes,” she said sharply. “Of course I know that.”
Well, the tears dried up fast.
Planting his hands on his hips, Kaden faced off with her. “What exactly do you want from us?”
Confusion wrinkled her forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Are we in a relationship? Or is this just sex for you?”
“You know what?” Keegan cleared his throat. “While y’all hash this out, I’m gonna get another light bulb.”
Kaden never took his eyes off Bristol, ignoring his brother as he made a beeline for the kitchen.
“It’s not just sex, Kaden. I don’t operate that way. That’syourMO.”
Ah. So she was insecure about them. Made sense. But he knew that was only part of the problem.
“Not since you,” he told her.
“Right.”
Now she was accusing him of what? Messing around with other women?
“I get that you’re insecure, but Bristol, there’s no reason for that.” He took a step toward her. “We’re committed, have been all along.”
“You have, maybe,” she said, her eyes cutting to the kitchen. “But you can’t claimweon that one. We were all there that night.”
Yes, they were. And he was well aware of what happened.
“That’s in the past.” And it needed to stay there.
“And what if I can’t get over it?”
Kaden stared at her, shocked by that statement. “You’ve seemed pretty damn over it up to this point.” Taking another step closer, he kept his eyes on hers. “Or was that your way of placating us?”
Her eyebrows lowered.
“What were you gonna do? Keep up the ruse until the baby was born?”
“It wasn’t a ruse,” she said softly, her head tilting back to maintain eye contact.
“A distraction, then?”
“No.”
He closed the remaining distance between them, leaned his head toward hers.
“Then let’s quit playin’ this game, Bristol. It’s time to move forward. To deal with the future. Move in with us.”
Bristol’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open. “What?”
“I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But that’s not news to you, is it?”
