Page 36

There was once a time, even as a teenager, when I thought that if Lennon ever had a child, it would be ours.

But how was she supposed to pick you if she never knew how you felt, Easton?

I groan at my own stupidity, letting the regret settle heavily in my chest as I make my way back over to Owen, still sitting in the same spot at the bar where I left him.

“Everything okay?” he asks as I take my seat and pick up my glass, the beer now nice and warm since I left it here for so long.

“Not at all.”

“What’s going on?”

I peer over in the direction where Lennon is now sitting in the booth with her friends and sister, smiling as though her life hasn’t been completely turned upside down. I know this is a delicate matter, but I trust Owen and if I don’t tell somebody, the rage brewing inside me is bound to explode.

I lean as close to him as I can and drop my voice. “Lennon is pregnant.”

His eyes widen, but the volume of his voice matches mine. “Are you fucking serious?”

I nod. “Yeah, but keep that between us.”

He leans back in his chair, processing the information I just shared. “Of course. But…holy shit.”

“And apparently the father wants nothing to do with her or the baby.”

His gaze narrows. “Fuck. What a piece of shit.”

“I know. And she doesn’t have health insurance. Hell, she’s halfway through the nursing program and now she’s considering quitting.”

He pushes a hand through his hair as he picks up his beer. “I’m surprised she even admitted that to you, given your tumultuous relationship.”

I grunt. “You and me both. The last time we talked…”

“I know. It was that night at The Charming Bull back in January, right?”

And that’s when it dawns on me—that night she was talking with some guy after I walked away from her—and I wonder if that’s the guy who knocked her up.

“Fuck.” I slam the rest of my beer back, nearly tossing the empty glass on the bar.

“Hey, it’s not your problem, Easton. Lennon is a big girl. She’ll figure it out.”

I glare at my older brother. “You’re telling me that if you found out Sloane was in a similar situation, you wouldn’t want to step in?”

His jaw ticks, but he darts his gaze off to the side. “That’s not the case, though…”

“But if it were, Owen.” The tone in my voice commands his gaze again. “If you had the chance to help her, would you?”

It takes a moment for him to answer, but his reply is clear. “In a heartbeat.”

“Exactly.”

Owen groans. “But how on earth are you gonna help Lennon, Easton? You two aren’t nearly as close as you were when you were kids, and it’s not like you’re a seahorse who can carry the damn baby for her or anything.”

“A seahorse? Really?” I shove my brother’s shoulder.

He throws his hands up. “Sorry. It was just the first thing that popped into my head. Mom’s had the Discovery Channel on every night.”

“Is she back on her rant about television needing to be educational?”

“Yup. At least it’s better than the murder mystery shows she gets sucked into most nights while we’re eating dinner.” He visibly shudders. “I know more ways to hide a body than any man should.”