Speechless (Pier 70 #3)

by Nicole Edwards

  He might not ever know, but he was glad that he’d sought help. He only wished he hadn’t been so stubborn beforehand, because he had allowed things to get completely out of control.

  Charger put his head in Teague’s lap, and he wondered if the dog sensed the change in his mood.

  “It’s cool, man. I’m good. So much better than before.” Teague looked up at the door. “But you know what would make me even better?” Smiling down at Charger, he nodded toward the door, then got to his feet.

  Only one thing could make this day better.

  Only one man, actually.

  AFTER TAKING A quick shower, Hudson crawled into bed. He wasn’t exactly tired, but it was the only way to keep from going over to Teague’s to check on him. Since Teague was a grown man, he didn’t need Hudson hovering over him. They’d had a good day. A fantastic day, actually, and the kid was probably out cold.

  Too bad he wasn’t there with him.

  Hudson had wanted to ask Teague to stay the night, but he remembered that the doctor had told him that Teague needed to get back to normal as soon as possible. They couldn’t harp on the fact that this had happened, but rather they needed to learn to adapt to Teague’s mental state.

  Hudson wasn’t good at adapting, but for Teague, he would do whatever it took.

  With the lights off, he stared up at the ceiling. There was only a sliver of moon out tonight, so not much to see by, but he could make out the shadows of his curtains.

  He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lying there when he heard his door open. He lifted his head to see Teague and Charger coming in, the light from the hallway illuminating them.

  He sat up abruptly.

  “I’m fine, Hudson,” Teague said softly, clearly reading his mind.

  Hudson heard Teague pat the couch, then Charger hop up on it, followed by Teague’s soft command for Charger to stay. That made Hudson smile. The guy had already gotten attached to the dog.

  His heart did a rapid thump-thump in his chest when he felt the blankets being pulled back before Teague crawled into bed with him.

  Hudson couldn’t see Teague’s face, couldn’t sign anything because he knew Teague couldn’t see him, either. He wanted to ask a million things, but he couldn’t.

  “Mind if I sleep here tonight? Not because I’m scared of my own bed,” Teague said with a soft chuckle. “But I’m just not ready to let go of you yet.” Teague shifted. “Of course, if you don’t want me to, I—”

  Hudson grabbed Teague and pulled him closer, effectively silencing him. He wanted Teague there more than he wanted anything else in the world.

  Teague curled up against his side, his arm slung over Hudson’s chest, his head resting on Hudson’s shoulder. They both let out a deep breath at the same time, which made Hudson grin like a fool.

  “I really did miss you.” Teague’s voice was soft. “I should’ve done this a long time ago.”

  Curling his arm around Teague’s head, Hudson held him close, pressing his lips to Teague’s forehead. God, he loved this man. Loved him with all that he was. To think that only a month ago, he’d nearly lost him…

  What was worse was the fact that Teague had been suffering from something Hudson was all too familiar with. Instead of recognizing the depression, instead of trying to get Teague treatment, Hudson had thought he was capable of handling things his way. He knew what depression could do because he’d seen what it had done to his mother. He had watched her suffer in silence, then he’d been riddled with guilt when she had taken her own life, succumbing to the disease. He’d spent years telling himself he should’ve done more, he should’ve been there for her, should’ve encouraged her to get help.

  Hudson sent up a silent prayer of thanks. Thanks that his path had crossed with Teague’s, thanks that they’d had the opportunity to build what they had now, and most of all, thanks that they had this opportunity. Who knew where it would go or how things would end up, but Hudson was in it for the long haul. He was committed to this man.

  And he would make damn sure Teague knew just what he meant to him for the rest of his life.

  Forty-Three

  Monday, September 19th

  MILLY KNEW SHE should’ve called first.

  But no.

  She’d been so freaked out she’d hopped in her car and sped out to the lake, heading right for Cam and Gannon’s. Experience told her she should’ve given them a heads-up so that she didn’t end up finding the two of them in the throes of … whatever. Unfortunately, her brain was too mixed up for her to think clearly.

  The door opened and Gannon stared back at her with a frown marring his forehead. “Milly? What’s going on? Are you all right?”

  As soon as her best friend opened the door, allowing her to enter, Milly burst into tears.

  Not dainty little tears but the huge, crocodile ones that came along with sobs so horrific she sounded like a horse with a cough choking on an apple.

  Gannon led her through the foyer and into the living room while she blubbered like an idiot.

  Cam peeked around the corner, his eyes widening when he saw her.

  “You know what?” he said quickly, his gaze slamming into Gannon. “I just remembered I need to head back to the marina. I’ve got a … something. Shit.”

  Gannon had warned her that Cam wasn’t good with crying women. Since she’d never been a blubbering mess like this before, this was the first time she’d seen it with her own eyes.

  “You don’t have to go,” she said on a sob.

  “Oh, I definitely do.”

  Milly eased onto the sofa while Cam kissed Gannon quickly, then disappeared out the door.

  “Okay, honey, calm down.” Gannon dropped to the cushion beside her. “What’s going on?”

  “I know I should’ve called, but I … I didn’t know what to say, and what I have to tell you shouldn’t be said over the phone, anyway. I tried to tell you the other night at dinner, but I chickened out. And now I didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Noah’s so caught up in Dare I didn’t want to bother him, and heaven forbid I call my dad because he would freak out. I—”

  Gannon put his hand over her mouth.

  She looked at him with wide eyes.

  “Tell me what’s wrong.”

  Sucking in a deep breath, Milly swallowed hard. “I’m… Oh, God, Gannon! I’m pregnant.” And there went the waterworks again. She couldn’t seem to stop them. Even when she looked up to see Gannon’s mouth hanging wide open, his eyes huge behind his glasses.

  Knowing he was as stunned as she had been when she’d first learned of the news, Milly nodded. And then she couldn’t stop. It was as though her neck was a bungee cord. Up, down, up, down. Her head wouldn’t stop moving.

  “Take a deep breath, Mill. It’s gonna be all right.”

  It was her jaw’s turn to come unhinged. She stared back at her best friend in disbelief. “All right? How in the world do you think everything’s gonna be all right? Oh, my God, Gannon, did you hear what I said? I’m pregnant.”

  “Yes, I heard you the first time. That’s the only reason I haven’t offered wine.”

  That made her cry again. Wine. She would miss her wine. She would be off wine for at least six more months.

  Flopping back on the couch, Milly blew her bangs out of her face and tried to relax. It didn’t work. She sat up again and put her head in her hands.

  “Why don’t you start at the beginning?” Gannon prompted.

  Lifting her head, she looked at him. “Well, it all started because your dumb ass wanted to get married.”

  “Me?” Gannon looked affronted. “What the hell do I have to do with this?”

  “Well, for starters, if we hadn’t gone on that stupid cruise, I wouldn’t be in this predicament.”

  Gannon didn’t respond.

  “I slept with AJ. Hudson’s brother. You know, the guy—”

  “I know who AJ is,” he interrupted. “So, it’s safe to assume he’s the father?”

  Milly h
uffed. She was the one affronted now. “Of course he’s the father. I haven’t been with anyone else since that stupid cruise, and I hadn’t been with anyone in six or seven months before that because I was too busy trying to put together your stupid wedding. I slept with him, and yes, before you give me the talk about safe sex, we used a condom, but he’s pierced and I’ve always heard that—”

  “I don’t need specifics, Mill.”

  “You asked,” she blurted.

  “I assume this is the hormones talking?” Gannon’s smile was mischievous. He was teasing her.

  “I don’t know what this is.” Milly sighed. “I haven’t been feeling well, as you know. I finally gave in and went to the doctor last Tuesday. Since he said he couldn’t find anything wrong with me and he didn’t think it was a virus, the doctor ran a blood test. He called on Thursday to let me know I needed to make an appointment with an obstetrician. Of course, I did. I needed to be sure.” She forced a smile. “I’m sure.”

  “Holy shit.”

  Milly cocked her head to the side. “Really? That’s all you’ve got?”

  “What do you want me to say? I don’t even know what your plans are.”

  “My plans?”

  “Have you told AJ?”

  Milly shook her head. She wanted to call him, but she figured sharing the news that the man was going to be a father probably wasn’t the greatest thing to do over the phone. She thought about texting him, but that seemed worse.

  “Well, I think it’s safe to say you should probably start there.”

  “You think?” This wasn’t going the way she had hoped it would. Granted, she didn’t have a clue what she’d thought Gannon could do for her in the first place. Sitting up straight, she tried to compose herself. “I haven’t talked to him since the night when Teague was in the emergency room. He called a few times and left messages before that, but I never returned his call. I wasn’t all that kind to him at the hospital, either.”

  “You two have a falling out or something?”

  Or something. Kind of. “I really liked him,” she admitted. “But I know myself. He’s a nice guy, he’s got a good job, he’s got a place of his own and a truck that’s paid for…”

  Gannon chuckled. “Completely understand. Totally not your type.”

  “Exactly. I always go for the bad boy. And I’m not talking in the sexy, romantic sense, either. I’m talking no job, musician types who live in their mother’s basements and hitch rides with their friends anywhere they want to go.”

  “Yep, that about sums up your last ten boyfriends.”

  “This is not helping,” she said, smiling for the first time since she’d stepped foot in his home.

  Gannon’s voice lowered when he lifted her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. “Do you want to keep the baby?”

  Milly nodded. She wasn’t sure if that was selfish or not, but she so totally wanted to keep this baby. Never in her life had she expected to be a mother—her plan had involved falling in love first, but since she knew that wasn’t in the stars, she had all but given up hope.

  “Then I suggest you meet with AJ. If you got pregnant on the cruise, that means you’re what…?”

  “About three months.” According to the book she’d been reading, she would probably start showing in a few weeks.

  “How did you not know you were pregnant?”

  Milly glared at him. “It’s not like the baby stuck its hand out of my vagina and waved. How would I have known?”

  Gannon’s look told her she was being ridiculous. “I’m assuming you missed a couple of periods.”

  She waved him off. “That’s normal for me. I have a screwed up menstrual cycle. Always have.”

  “I still think you should go see AJ as soon as possible. He’s a good guy, Milly.”

  “I know. That’s the problem. What in the world would he want with me?” It was a rhetorical question. Gannon would likely go on and on about her qualities, but she didn’t want to hear them. “But you’re right. I have to tell him.”

  “Do you want me to go with you?”

  Milly huffed. “Are you crazy? Good Lord. It’s gonna be hard enough as it is.”

  Gannon chuckled and Milly realized she actually did feel a little better.

  She just wondered how long that would last once she got to AJ’s.

  Forty-Four

  Tuesday, September 20th

  TEAGUE’S PHONE BUZZED and he grabbed it from where it sat on his toolbox.

  Glancing at the screen, he smiled to himself.

  Wanted to see if you and Charger want to go over to AJ’s with me. He said he needs to talk.

  This was the first time Hudson had invited him to go to his brother’s house. Granted, Hudson hadn’t been over there since Teague had gotten out of the hospital five days ago. They’d spent most of their time around the marina, getting Charger familiar with everything. They’d even gone out on the water yesterday afternoon for a couple of hours. Charger was a natural when it came to the lake. But that had been the extent of their outings. Well, except when Teague had gotten a peek at Hudson’s gym on Sunday. The crazy bastard had invited him to go work out.

  Right.

  Working out?

  Not Teague’s thing.

  Hell, just watching Hudson work out made him tired. He told Hudson from now on, the only working out he was willing to do required them both to be naked. Hudson hadn’t complained when Teague had showed him what he meant as soon as they got home.

  Teague texted Hudson back. You sure he doesn’t want to talk to you alone?

  Hudson’s response was almost immediate. Let me rephrase that. I would like you to go to my brother’s with me. Will you?

  Teague laughed, looking up to see Hudson standing at his office door, staring back at him with a huge grin on his handsome face.

  “Of course I will. What time?”

  Hudson signed: Six.

  “I just need to take Charger for a walk after work, then I’ll be good to go.” Charger was two years old, which was practically a puppy. His energy levels were high, which Teague had learned the first night he’d stayed with Hudson. They’d been woken up by a very rambunctious dog pouncing in an attempt to get their attention. Turned out he had needed to go out. That was easy enough to satisfy, but after that, Charger wasn’t interested in sleep, which meant their day had started at six. In the morning.

  Since then, Charger had gone everywhere with Teague. Everywhere. Even to work, where he wandered around the shop or napped in Hudson’s air-conditioned office when he got tired. They’d all three settled into a fantastic rhythm, as though they’d been doing this forever.

  Hudson nodded.

  Teague wondered if AJ’s need to talk had anything to do with whatever was going down with Milly. He’d overheard Cam on the phone with Gannon last night when Cam had showed back up at the marina unexpectedly. Teague had gotten into a conversation with him when Cam’s phone had rung. The guy had been rambling on and on and then bam! Not a peep out of him. Teague had glanced over to make sure he was all right, and Cam’s eyeballs had been the size of spaceships.

  Whatever it was, Teague was more than happy to go with Hudson.

  He was just getting back to work when his phone buzzed again.

  Oh, and afterwards, when we get back, I plan to spend the rest of the night lodged somewhere in your body. Mouth. Ass. Your choice.

  Warmth consumed him as he read the message.

  Then after that, I hope you’ll spend the night again.

  Hudson’s last comment made Teague’s chest swell. The first night Teague had made the first move, sneaking into Hudson’s apartment and crawling into bed with him. Then on Saturday night, Teague had stayed at his own place. On Sunday, Hudson had snuck into his bed. Last night, Teague had again slept alone. He found he preferred going to sleep and waking up next to Hudson.

  Who would’ve thought?

  I’ll be more than happy to stay the night. Just remember, Charger’s gonna wak
e us up early.

  Teague knew better than to put his phone away, so he waited for Hudson’s reply.

  Not a problem. Maybe I’ll be nice and even let you sleep while I take him out. After all, I do plan to wear you out.

  Teague chuckled, then shoved his phone in his pocket and got back to work. The sooner he got this done, the sooner the day would be over. They could go to AJ’s and come home. He was certainly looking forward to the last part.

  TEAGUE LET OUT a long, low whistle while Hudson stared at AJ slack-jawed.

  Hudson wasn’t sure he’d heard right.

  Pregnant?

  AJ nodded.

  Hudson couldn’t believe what his brother was telling him.

  Milly was pregnant.

  “Dude, they make these things called condoms…” Teague supplied unhelpfully.

  AJ smirked, continuing to scratch Charger’s head while the dog sat on the floor between Teague’s legs and AJ’s. “We used a condom. But when your dick is pierced…”

  “Got it. Don’t need details.” Teague turned to look at Hudson. “You gonna say something to your brother?”

  Hudson shrugged. What the hell was he supposed to say?

  For one, he couldn’t tell if AJ was happy about it or not. He sounded entirely too calm, which meant either he was okay with the news or he was going to go postal at some point. With AJ, it wasn’t easy to predict.

  “When’s the baby due?” Teague asked, managing to carry the conversation without Hudson’s input.

  “Her due date is March sixth.”

  Hudson managed to get with the program.

  How do you feel about this?

  “How am I supposed to feel?” AJ asked, but Hudson could tell it was rhetorical. “Here’s this woman who I had a fan-fucking-tastic time with for nearly a week, the same woman who ignored me as soon as we got back to dry land … and we’re now gonna have a baby together.”

  “So, you’re still on the fence?” Teague muttered sarcastically.

  Surprisingly, AJ laughed.