by Tammi Lynn
Cade drops to his knees on the floor and I want to go to him, it kills me, but I need to know what they’re all thinking first. Jayson looks the most calm, staring at my stomach I can only imagine him picturing what’s inside, what Emma once was. Jesse’s looking around at everyone at a loss for words, he’s waiting for someone else to say something as much as I am. Never thought I’d see the day Jesse was speechless.
Roman. Roman’s destroying me, he’s grabbing my heart and squeezing it with each step back he takes, a panicked and fearful expression making his eyes a stormy grey. He’s going to run, I’m going to lose him. Oh fuck, I can't take it if he goes.
My legs wobble and are about give in to holding me up when Jayson stands suddenly and wraps me in his arms, pressing my forehead into his chest. “It’s okay Sweetheart, everything’s going to be okay. It’ll all work out.” One.
Without a word or a noise Cade walks on his knees closer, taking one of my hands and resting his head on my thigh. Two.
I’m suddenly hugged from behind and Jesse’s lips are whispering in my ear. “I hope it’s mine and exactly like Miklo. If it’s a girl it’ll be just as beautiful as it’s momma.” I can’t even describe the feeling, the relief and love at his words. That’s three.
Giving it a little while I wait for number four, but he doesn’t come. I turn my head towards Roman placing my cheek on Jayson’s chest, I’ve soaked his shirt in tears and it’s now cool against my heated skin. Roman isn’t looking at me, just staring off into space. “Roman, I didn’t mean for it to happen. I couldn’t even think of how it could happen, but then I remembered when I was sick that one week after we played in the snow?" A sob hiccups out. "It’s the only time that makes sense and you guys had been bringing me my pills, I didn’t even think about my birth control, hadn’t even noticed the days were off afterward, I haven’t been paying attention to my periods because everything’s been so crazy and I did bleed at least twice since then which the doctor said was probably just due to stress."
I let it all out, I don't want to keep anything from them anymore, the past two weeks have been hell and I know it was mostly because of my own anxiety in telling them, from them not knowing yet that had me so upset. I was just so scared. Scared that they would act how Roman is now.
“What if it’s mine?” Shit. He really doesn’t want this. This is why I was so afraid to say anything, what I feared. I wanted to be selfish just a little while longer before our perfect little bubble popped.
“I’m so sorry, Roman.”
He looks over at me and the pain in his eyes, a single tear making a trail down his cheek, fucking destroys me again. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Angel. I’m sorry.” He’s sorry he’s going to leave me? “What if it’s mine? What if my moms sickness passes on to the baby?” That’s not what I was expecting, but it does nothing to lessen the ache in my chest.
I wiggle away from they guys hold on me and walk over to Roman. I didn’t know he had those kind of fears about having kids. The idea of more kids never even came up in general, with any of us and Jesse looks just as surprised as I do at his brothers statement
“Don’t even think like that. Believe me, going over the what if’s will drive you crazy, I still fear what could happen every time Miklo steps out that door. The most important thing about being a parent is that you'll love them no matter what and will do anything for them.” He still looks freaked out, but his body relaxes and his arms go around me loosely.
“Sweetheart?” I look over to Jayson and he has his fingers up, counting them. “If you got pregnant before the new year?”
“I’m a little over four months along, went through my first trimester without even knowing it. "I know, I know, how did I not know till now. In my defense, it's been super crazy the past few months." My pregnancy with Miklo was so different. I found out when I was only five weeks with him and by the time I was as far along as I am now I wanted to write an angry letter to whoever decided it should be called ‘morning’ sickness. That bitch was twenty-four seven and I lost more weight than I gained those first few months.”
“How long have you known?” This is the first I’ve heard Cade speak since I said the words. He’s looking at me, almost as if I’ve betrayed him and have been purposely keeping this from them. “I noticed you haven’t had anything to drink in months, you kept not eating and getting sick, you’ve been a little off for awhile now, Baby Girl. Were you not going to tell us? Wait till Miklo graduates and leave?” He looks like I’ve slapped him.
“No, no, I swear I just found out at the hospital. It’s mandatory they run tests and after they got a positive they did an ultrasound to see how far along I was.” I can’t believe they didn’t find this first, but I walk over to my vanity and open the little drawer to pull out the sonogram. "I'm technically far enough along they could have found out the sex, but I told them I wanted to wait." I had to give them the chance to be there for the reveal if they wanted.
Roman’s the closest so I hand it to him first and his face softens immediately upon looking at it and before handing it to Jesse. I can only call it a look of wonder and amazement in Jesse’s baby blue eyes, when they start to sparkle and wetten.
“Come on Bro, let’s go talk to Mom and Dad, even if our sperm doesn’t end up the winners, we’re still going to be dads.” You’d think there’d be a limit to tears but mine seem never ending. He hands the picture to Jayson and after giving me a spinning hug and a kiss, pulls a still freaked, Roman out the door.
The smile that lights up Jayson’s face before he hands it down to Cade, lifts some of the anxiety gripping at my nerves. So far this is going better than I thought. We both look down at Cade and both our faces fall. I have no idea what’s going through his head and the fact that Jayson seems as concerned as I do has me worried. Cade is able to mask so many of his emotions. “I’m going to let you two talk. I have a big sister to call and surprise.” With one last look at Cade and a caress against my stomach he kisses my forehead and leaves the room, shutting the door.
Cade is still on the floor on his knees looking down at the baby in the sonogram. It’s a little blurry, just a big head sucking on a thumb, it’s other hand spread wide as if waving.
“Cade?”
After running his thumb across the picture he places it on the nightstand behind him to slowly walk on his knees towards me. Placing his hands on my hips he lays his forehead lightly on my stomach. My hands go to his head and I run my fingers through his dark hair. It’s getting a little long and has been getting into his eyes. “You had us so scared, Baby Girl. I was thinking the worst." The heat of his breath as he speaks, warms my stomach beneath my cami and it brings goosebumps to the rest of my skin.
“I know, I’m sorry. I was scared too.” Just a different kind of scared.
His head goes back and he looks up at me. I’ll never get tired of seeing those green eyes looking back at me with the lust and love they’re filled with now. I was about to ask him what he was thinking, what he thought about all of this, but that look alone tells me all I need to know. Hands trailing from my hips to the hem of my tank he lifts it to rest above my barely noticeable, growing stomach. His eyes never leave mine as he places a kiss to the center and I drop down into his lap. I don’t know why but I was worried about his reaction the most. He's the hardest to read.
“I want you Cade, I need you.” Grabbing at his shirt I pull it up and over his head while kissing up his neck to his jaw and reaching between him to undo the button and zipper on his jeans. My pajama pants are thin, and I whimper out when I grind against him.
His hands go to my thighs and he wraps my legs around him before standing. I grip onto his bare shoulders, sliding them down his arms when he lays me on the bed. He drops his pants and boxers to the floor, kicking them and his shoes aside while I scoot back to the pillows.
My whole body is tingling, my nerves jumping in anticipation of what’s to come. I’ve kinda been unavailable lately and now that
I know everythings okay my body doesn’t want to be away from theirs any longer. He crawls onto the bed and I’m instantly wet. That look. His eyes are narrowed low as he crawls closer. He’s the predator and I’m the fucking prey. Fuck that’s hot!
My body jumps when he places his hands on my calves, scooting them up and bending my knees. Grabbing onto my waistband he pulls my pants and underwear off and down my legs, tossing them to join his on the floor. My knees fall open and he steps between them to lift off my shirt. I can feel his erection hitting lightly against me as he leans forward to pull my shirt free from my hair.
He trails his hands over my breast and down to my stomach as he leans back. If I didn’t know why he was staring I’d start to feel self conscious. I know I’m not that big yet, you can barely tell. Instead I wish I could read his mind just and only for this moment. I want to know what he’s thinking, what he’s feeling.
“Are you sure this is okay?” He nods down to my stomach and looks at me in question. One hand goes down to stroke his thick and hard cock. He needs this just as much as I do. He’s been patient with me lately, hasn’t pushed when I’d turn to fall asleep every night worrying about what would happen when they found out.
“It’s more than okay.” I take his dick from his hand into mine, and place it at my opening.
“I won’t hurt you? I won’t hurt the baby, right?”
“No, Cade, you won’t hurt us.” Pushing my hips forward his head enters in and I moan. I need all of him. “Please, Cade?” I’m not afraid to admit I pull out the pout and he growls, gripping onto my thighs and pushing himself deeper inside. Holy Fuck. Have you ever heard the saying that pregnant women get super horny? Well it’s true, at least it is for me and my body shudders in ecstasy. “Deeper.” My legs wrap around him and I pull him as far in as I can.
“Fuck, Baby Girl.” He starts taking long slow strokes, teasing my clit with his thumb.
“You’re not going to break me." He can make me come undone all he wants but he won't break me. “Faster, Cade.” He speeds up but I can tell he’s still holding back. I reach up and grab his nipple to pinch and he caves.
“Damnit, Baby Girl.” I give him a sly smile as he starts thrusting harder and deeper, hitting my g-spot and making my toes curl.
“Right there. Don’t stop, don’t stop.” My eyes roll back into my head and my body tenses and relaxes around him in spasms.
“Fuck, I’m gonna come.” With a few more jerky thrusts a warmth fills me and I climax with him. Pulling my legs in and holding him against me, making it last as long as I can.
My legs drop and he falls on top of me, laying his head on my tender breasts. Neither of us move for a long time, we just lay there and hold each other, talking about the baby, whether it’s a boy or a girl, different names we like. My heart is so impossibly full.
∞∞∞
I wake to the smell of pancakes and bacon and my stomach growls, I’m starving.
“Sounds like someone’s hungry.” Cade laughs from beside me and places a hand on my stomach. “Better go feed my baby boy.” Ever since last night the man has done a 1-fucking-80. In fact, I would call this version of Cade downright chipper. Freaks me out man.
I roll my eyes at him. “We talked about this, it could just as well be a baby girl.”
He shakes his head with a grin. “Nope, I’ve thought about it and I’m not sure I could handle a girl. If she comes out looking like you we’re all doomed for prison when she gets to dating age.” Those kids will never have a chance with these four and an older big brother watching over her.
I get out of bed and after finding fresh undies I put on a pair of leggings and one of the guys large t-shirts. “I’ll meet you out there.” I give him a quick peck on the lips and turn to follow the smell that has me drooling before I reach the kitchen. I was wrong before, It wasn’t the smell of pancakes I smelled but french toast. Mmm. I was addicted to french toast with Miklo and I barely even notice anything around me as I take a seat on a stool and wait for a plate.
A plate and fork appears in front of me with two stacks of toast covered in syrup. I don’t even waste any time and dig in to the sound of Roman’s laughter. “Wow, Angel. You seem to have gotten your appetite back.” I sure hope so, I don’t appreciate anything getting between me and my love for food. Tacos sound so good right now too.
“So how’d your guys talk go with your parents?” I make myself slow down, I really shouldn’t test my stomach.
“Good.” Jesse laughs and Roman glares into the living room at him.
“Tell her brother.”
“Tell me what?” Uh oh, this doesn’t sound good.
“Um, that we have a date at their house next Sunday for dinner. All of us. Jayson, Cade, Miklo, all of us.” He almost looks guilty, but I know how convincing their parents can be.
“Specifically you and your plus one.”
“Shut up, Jesse.”
Gulp. Well that’s going to be a conversation I think I could go my whole life without having. I met them once, but only with just Roman and Jesse. I liked them. But holy Batman what are they even thinking right now? What do they think of me?
Chapter Eighteen
Closure
Mia
“Ugh!” I dramatically groan out as I throw myself back onto a large pile of clothes on our oversized bed. “Nothing fits, I have nothing to wear, you guys might as well start buying me mumu’s.” Did I mention I was being dramatic? It’s been a month since I told everyone I was pregnant, and I am now twenty two weeks along. They say you really start to show in your fifth month and boy did I. I went from being where my pants were a little tight to now not even being able to wear my jeans with a hair tie through the buttonhole. We have a 3D ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow to find out what the sex of the baby is and I made them promise to take me out shopping for maternity clothes after.
“Beautiful, you looked gorgeous in everything you tried on.” Jesse steps between my legs and looks down at me. “You’re going to have to pick something. We can’t be late for the graduation and you have like a half hour before we need to leave.” He reaches down and grabs my hands to pull me back up.
“I look like my Uncle Carl after Thanksgiving day, turkey when he pops his button open to make more room.” I tried on a few dresses first, but my latest ensemble, what used to be cute black slacks and a peach colored loose satin tank, is now a muffin poppin and tank rolling uncomfortable nightmare. Okay so it’s a little tight but you know the feeling.
“I can assure you one hundred percent, even with never meeting the man, that you look nothing like your Uncle Carl.” I actually don’t have an Uncle Carl, but the visual sounded good right? He unbuttons my slacks and I release a sigh. That feels better.
“You just pick something out for me, Jesse. I give up, whatever you grab I’ll wear.”
“What you don’t wear, is my specialty.”
He gives me a wink and I push him back a step. “Stop it.” Trying to hold in a laugh I snort. “I’m serious.”
“That snort was ‘seriously’ adorable.” Sticking his hands down the back of my pants he runs his hands over my bare cheeks pushing my pants down my legs. Removing my shirt he has me standing in only a bra and thong.
“Jesse. I cannot go to the graduation in my underwear.” That would be a sight.
“Close your eyes.” I hear him go into Cade’s closet, that I now share.
After our dinner date and talk with Mom and Dad Brigg’s, seriously, I was so embarrassed, we came home and they started packing up mine and Miklos’ stuff. They ran them hard with their, ‘what are your plans from here’ talk and I secretly loved watching them all squirm. It had them all thinking and by the time we pulled into the driveway they all decided, Miklo and I were moving in with them. I tried to protest, well I protested a little, but by the end of that week, our large bed and all my stuff was moved into Cade’s room, Jayson moved into the weight room after moving all the gym equipment to the garage, and Mi
klo took his old room.
I still have the keys to my house. I haven’t been able to give them back to Jim yet, it just seems so final and I’m still scared that something will go wrong. Call me paranoid but I have a history of things taking a wrong turn. It is coming in handy right now anyway. Andreas, was true to his word and came up for the graduation with Lisa and the kids. It felt silly to have them stay in a hotel when they could be closer to Miklo. They got in late last night and took Miklo out for breakfast this morning so I haven’t actually seen Dre yet.
The sound of hangers sliding stops, and I can feel Jesse step back in front of me. Something is placed over my head and he maneuvers my hands through the armholes of a garment before sliding it down to my knees. I can tell it’s a dress, and it’s form fitting. Did he not catch my mumu comment earlier? I’m going to pop out in this. His hands go to my waist and he spins me around to face a full length hanging mirror.
“Okay, open your eyes.”
Oh. He picked out a dark purple, cap sleeved dress. It scrunches from under my arms all the way down to my knees, creating ripples across. My cleavage just barely shows in the swoop neckline, and it fits every curve like a glove.”It’s perfect.”
“You’re perfect.”He wraps his arms around me from behind and places his hands on my stomach. Butterflies whisper with tiny movement in my belly and I smile back at him in the reflection of the mirror.
Stepping out of his arms I turn to get a view from the side, Damn! Baby got back. This dress accentuates every curve, and with a little extra junk in the trunk my still small but very noticeable belly keeps the balance from the front.
I turn again to get a view of the back and he smacks my ass. “Keep poppin that ass and we really will end up being late.”
Was I? Oops. “Sorry, not sorry?” I bite my lower lip and he’s quick to bring a thumb up and pull it from my teeth.
“Not helping, Beautiful. Behave and go get some shoes on, we need to go, everyone else already left to save our seats.”