by Toni Aleo
“I knew you were the one,” Mom says with a wink. “I always knew.”
“You’re not mad?” Avery asks, nervousness still in her eyes.
“Jesus, no,” Mom says, reassuring her. “Shocked, yes, but you were a part of this family the moment we met you. Now, you ain’t going anywhere. Hope you know that.” Avery’s lip quivers and then she’s crying. Shaking my head, I laugh as my mom wraps her up in a tight hug.
Holding my mom, Avery grins as she cries. “I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“Oh, you won’t. Don’t you cry. I’m gonna cry.”
I go to break up the crying fest between the two women I love most, but before I can move, Lucy is pulling me into the kitchen. When we are out of sight, she wraps her arms around my middle, holding me tightly. Wrapping my arms around her neck, I kiss the top of her head and she shakes against me.
Pulling back, my eyes wide, I tilt her back to see that she is crying.
Lucy does not cry.
“What the hell? Why are you crying?”
She shakes her head and then smiles. “I’m just so fucking proud of you, Jace, so proud.” I smile as she brings me in tight, kissing my cheek. “You did the right thing—crazy, but the right thing.”
“I did the only thing,” I say into her hair. “I love her, and she will never feel alone again in her life.”
Holding me tightly, Lucy laughs. “And to think, we all thought you were such a spoiled brat. When really, you’ve grown into a good man.”
Grinning, I squeeze her. “When you have three older siblings beating you into a good man, it tends to happen.”
She laughs and then pulls back. “You know they are gonna rip you apart.”
I nod. “I know.”
“But you don’t care?”
“Not even a little bit. All I care about is that girl in there, the one who’s having my baby.”
I’m not kidding.
But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared what my brothers will think. I respect them too much not to be worried, but I know they’ll support me.
Well, I hope so at least.
As I head into my old room, I shut the door to block out the sounds of the three women I love cracking up. It’s been a great afternoon, eating, laughing, and them getting to know Avery even more. She fits in perfectly, not that I didn’t expect her to, but it’s great how my mom and sister have welcomed her with open arms. I didn’t think they wouldn’t, or even that they would be upset with me. I knew my mom would freak out, but I knew, no matter what, she would support me. That’s my mom. She does that.
But Jude and Jayden, I’m nervous.
Sitting on my bed, I look around the room that I shared with Jayden my whole life. Somehow Lucy and Jude got their own rooms. I loved sharing with Jayden, so I didn’t mind. He might not have felt the same, but we did it with ease. Two brothers, two best friends. I just hope he doesn’t freak out too much.
Going into our group chat, I type out a quick message.
Me: You two busy?
Jayden: Just got out of practice. What’s up?
Jude: No, what’s up?
I call Jayden first.
“Hey.”
“Hey, hold on, let me call Jude,” I say and he agrees as I add Jude to the call.
“What’s this about?” Jayden asks as it rings, but I don’t answer him.
“Yo. What’s up?” Jude says and I clear my throat.
“Gotta tell you guys something,” I say and Jude laughs.
“You’re gay.”
“Your dick fell off and your vagina is growing in nicely?”
“Oh, that is more like it, huh, Jay? I’m so happy you’re finally a girl, Jacey.”
“Aw, your nickname can become your real name.”
I want to be mad, but these are my brothers.
“Dumbasses, shut up,” I bark and they both laugh.
“Wait, you’re okay?” Jayden asks, his voice filling with concern. “Your leg is good, right?”
“You told me you were good,” Jude says, his voice hard and worried.
“I’m good,” I promise. “It’s not that.”
“What, then?” Jayden asks.
“Avery is pregnant.”
Silence. I’m answered with silence.
“You dumbass. Condoms, Jace, condoms,” Jayden yells.
“Didn’t we tell you this? Wrap it up. Shit,” Jude exclaims and I shake my head.
“I did, dumbasses.”
“Then how?!”
“I’m a beast. My boys made it through latex.”
“That’s not something to be proud of,” Jayden says and I scoff.
“Just sayin’ I’m not dumb. I used the stash in the drawer, but I guess they didn’t work.”
“What? In the first drawer?”
“Yeah,” I say, confused by Jayden’s tone.
“Dude, those are old. I never used them ’cause Jude left them,” Jayden laughs.
“Oh my God, you didn’t throw them away?” Jude laughs. “I didn’t use them either ’cause they were Malkin’s,” he says, speaking of the captain before him.
“You sick bastards, why didn’t you throw them away?” I ask and they both laugh.
“Why didn’t you check the expiration date?” Jayden asks. “Cocky shit, thinking your sperm is strong. Please.”
“Loser,” Jude says and I smile. “But shit, dude, now you’re really stuck. And you can’t leave, ’cause if we thought her dad would ruin you before, he really will now if you leave his daughter pregnant. Jesus, Jace.”
“I’m not leaving her,” I say sternly. “I married her.”
More silence.
“You did what?” Jude roars as Jayden just laughs.
“Jesus, this guy. Bay, Jace married Avery. She’s pregnant.”
When my sister-in-law yelps in surprise, I just shrug. “I love her, guys, and I hope you’ll both support me.”
“Well, duh, dumbass. But shit, you go big, don’t you?” Jayden laughs and I grin.
“Always.”
“Good Lord, information overload over here. Man, are you sure?” Jude asks.
Jayden agrees. “Yeah, really, this is huge.”
“Yeah, I’ve never been so sure about anything in my whole life.”
“Then we’re behind you, buddy,” Jayden says after a long moment of silence.
“Yeah, I mean, she’s great. I’m nervous, but I trust you know what you’re doing.”
“I do,” I promise and Jude laughs.
“Man, did Mom freak?”
“You know she did,” I laugh and Jayden follows suit.
“This is insane.”
“Yeah, but it’s right,” I decide and they both agree.
“Well, I don’t know how Jude feels, but I’m proud of the man you’ve become, Jace. You’ve really stepped up and grown.”
“Thanks, bro.”
“I agree, but don’t fuck up. If you’re doing this, you’re doing it right and you’re gonna love that girl for the rest of your life. We may have been raised by a shit guy, but we aren’t him, you hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you,” I say around the lump in my throat. I always knew I had the best family in the whole entire world, but having the support of the two men I look up to so greatly, too… I can’t even. It’s overwhelming.
“And remember who your favorite brother is when you’re naming my nephew,” Jayden says and I smile.
“Don’t you mean your niece, Jay? Since you’re a sissy.”
“Whatever, Judeifer. You’re the girl.”
“Did you just say my name like Lucifer? You dick.”
“Well, you are the devil himself!”
Rolling my eyes, I clear my throat to cut off what I’m sure will be hysterical. I need to get back to my wife.
Man, just thinking that knocked the air out of me.
Wow, I hope I’ll never be able to say that and not get breathless.
“Okay, I’m gonna drop out, but you
two continue. My wife is waiting for me.”
We all say good-bye before I hang up and I smile as I chuckle. That was easier than I thought.
Because it’s right.
We’re right.
Standing up, I head into the kitchen and go straight for Avery. When she sees me, she beams as I gather her in my arms.
“I just puked.” She grins and my mom and sister laugh.
“Yum,” I say, kissing her cheek.
“I was so sick with Jace, Lord,” Mom says, a pained look on her face.
“And he’s been a pain in the ass ever since.” Lucy smiles and I stick my tongue out at her before kissing Avery’s temple.
“Ready?” I love being here, but I want to be alone with Avery. I want it to be just us. We say good-bye and I’m surprised I get away since my mom won’t stop kissing me. Once I finally do and we are in the car, I look over at her and smile. “See, easy peasy.”
“She almost had a heart attack,” she says and I laugh.
“She’s good.”
She shakes her head. “This is all so crazy.”
I eye her. “But good, right?”
She nods. “God, yes. I’m so happy.”
“Good,” I say, kissing the back of her hand. “Are you gonna tell your parents?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know.”
“Do you want me to?”
She shakes her head quickly. “Hell no,” she laughs and I lean over, kissing her nose. I don’t move when her gaze meets mine. She’s still freaking out. Looking deep into my eyes, she lets out a breath and then shakes her head. “I don’t want to tell them and have them not be happy for me. Because they’ll freak, if they even care. But they won’t do what your mom and sister just did. No one will, and I just feel so good right now. I don’t want to ruin that.”
I nod. “I understand that.”
She smiles. “But I love you and I’m so happy.”
“That’s all I care about,” I whisper against her lips and she smiles. “So don’t tell them. If they care, they’ll contact you.”
“How will they know?” she asks, confused, and I grin, pulling my phone out of my pocket.
“Um, we aren’t married for real until it’s Facebook official, duh,” I say and she rolls her eyes.
“You’re sorta a Facebook whore,” she accuses and I shrug.
“Maybe. Shh, smile.”
I hold my phone out, our faces appearing as she glares at me. “You’re serious?”
“Yes. Smile, hold up your hand.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She laughs before grinning at the phone and holding up her left hand. Pressing my lips to her cheek, I take the picture and then look at it. She looks so blissful, so in love, and this is my wife. My forever.
“It’s cute.”
“Yeah, it’s getting framed,” I say with a wink before going on to Facebook and uploading it, tagging her with the caption: Introducing Mr. & Mrs. Sinclair. #wifey
“You dork!”
I grin as I look back at the picture. Man, we look so ecstatic. So unified and perfect. Her eyes are full of the promise of forever. And even though my eyes are shut tightly as my lips press to her cheek, I know what I’m feeling and it’s nothing but love for this woman. As I stare at our picture, I know we have nothing to worry about.
We’ve got this.
Or at least, I hope we do.
I feel on top of the world.
If I thought I loved Jace before this crazy day, nothing compares to the way I feel about him right now. Looking at the picture of us on Facebook, I can’t stop smiling as he drives back to campus, singing badly to the radio. We look so damn content and it isn’t a lie. We are, and the comments are so sweet. Everyone is so happy for us. Yet, I’m waiting for a comment from my family.
I hate that I don’t have the balls to call and tell them. I want to scream it from the rooftops, but I know they won’t care. They would be more mad than anything, and I don’t need that negativity in my life. I’m so happy right now, and I don’t want them ruining that. They aren’t like Jace’s family, and they won’t support us like they have. So screw ’em. I don’t need them.
The pathetic part of me may still want them, but I don’t need them.
I have Jace.
I have our baby.
My God, I still can’t believe how today went down. I thought today was going to be the worst day of my life. Instead, it’s the best. I’m still freaking out a bit, but like Jace has said, it feels right. It feels natural. Crazy, but perfect. With a grin on my face, I go to shut my phone off, but it starts to ring.
It’s my mom.
Jace looks over at me and I suck in a breath. “Shit, it’s my mom.”
“You gonna answer it?”
Damn it. Nodding, I hit answer. “Hello?”
“Avery, what did you do?”
“What?”
“Don’t what me, young lady. Your brother just sent me a picture of you and your boyfriend from Facebook, and apparently, it means you got married!”
“I did,” I say as strongly as I can.
Jace’s hand slides into mine as my mom cries out. “Are you insane? Why? Why would you do that?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Oh God, Avery, what in the world? Why are you ruining your life? I thought you were smarter than that. Do you know how embarrassing this is?”
“Embarrassing?”
“Yes! Everyone in the club knows. They are all talking about it. My phone is ringing off the hook ’cause you went off and got married. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Would you have cared?”
“Are you serious? Yes, we would have! I mean, is this a cry for attention? I don’t understand.”
Unable to even process what she is saying, I shake my head. “No, Mom, it’s not a cry for attention. I love him.”
“So? You don’t go and marry him. Or hell, get knocked up. How stupid can you be? You’re only eighteen.” Biting into my lip, I look up as the car comes to a stop in front of the Bullies’ house, while my mom continues to scream. “I don’t understand why you would do this. Haven’t you put all of us through enough hell?”
“It isn’t about you,” I say firmly, trying to sound stronger than I feel. “I love Jace, and yeah, this is unplanned, but we got this.”
“You have nothing. You live off us. We pay for everything.”
“And I thank you for it.”
“You thank us… Thank us by not embarrassing us. By being smart.”
Closing my eyes, I hear Jace mutter something, but I can’t hear him over the roar of my heartbeat in my ears. “So that’s why you’re upset, because I’m embarrassing you.”
“Yes! Your dad is going to freak. I just don’t understand why I had to find out through Facebook? What the hell, Avery?”
“Because you wouldn’t care,” I yell once more, tears running down my face. “You don’t fucking care about me. All you care about is how you look. A normal mother would be upset ’cause she’s worried about her daughter, about what this means for their life. But all you care about is how you look in front of that damn club. Well, guess what? I don’t fucking care about the club and what they think.”
“Avery Rose, that’s not fair. I do care and I do worry about your future, but you are shitting it down the shitter. It’s like you are dead set on ruining yourself.”
“I don’t see it that way. For the first time, I’m happy,” I say, my voice breaking as Jace kisses my shoulder. “For the first time, I don’t feel completely alone or forgotten. I feel important. I feel loved.”
“What are you saying? We love you, Avery. All of us.”
“No, not all of you. Maybe some of you do love me, but you don’t care.”
“That’s not true.”
“Mom, I spent maybe an hour with you when I was home. You cared more about Dad and the boys than me. You didn’t even stop Matty from hurting me.”
She lets out a l
ong breath. “Oh Avery, that wasn’t even his fault. You attacked him and lost your footing. Siblings fight.”
“What the fuck?” Jace says, clearly able to hear her through the phone, and just like that, I lose it.
“No, he pushed me,” I scream, my voice hoarse and full of emotion as my tears stream down my face. “And you didn’t care. You don’t care about me. You never have.”
I close my eyes tightly, but she doesn’t say anything and I know I’m right.
Shaking my head, I hang up and throw my phone to the floorboard, wrapping my arms around myself as I cry. But it’s only for a second before Jace is holding me, kissing my forehead, and telling me it’s going to be okay.
But will it?
As he holds me, my phone keeps ringing, sounding with texts, but I don’t check them. I can’t. Not now. A part of me is glad that Jace holds my heart because if he didn’t, I’m pretty sure it would be broken right now. By the one person who is supposed to love and care for me, no matter what. Instead, she is more worried about the club.
How is that fair?
When Jace’s phone rings, he looks at it and shakes his head. “I don’t know who that is.”
I look down at it. I know that number. “What the hell?”
Reaching for his phone, I answer it despite his confused expression. “Dad?”
“Avery Rose, what the hell is going on?” he yells, his booming voice ringing in my ears.
“How did you get this number?”
“Don’t forget who I am. I am capable of anything. But I asked you a question.”
“What, Dad? I got married. I’m pregnant. What else do you need to know?”
“Watch your tone with me, Avery Rose.”
“No. You watch yours. Don’t try to act like you care. You don’t.”
He draws in a sharp intake of breath and roars, “The hell I don’t. I love you.”
“Whatever,” I say, shaking my head. “You’re embarrassed.”
“What the hell? Did you come off your meds?”
Wow. “Okay, and I’m done.”
“You hang up on me, I swear…” he threatens and I don’t know what he is swearing to, but his voice does scare me.
Pausing, I shake my head. “What, Dad? What do you want?”