“Good thinking,” I immediately agree, giggling again, because there’s no denying he’ll need it.
✽✽✽
We make the drive to Bridgeville early Sunday morning and I have never seen Ryan look so nervous. His knee jerks off the floor the entire trip, and he’s gripping the steering wheel so tight it’s a wonder he has any blood flowing to his fingers.
“You’re sure Austin has said nothing to them?” he asks me as we breach the town perimeter.
“He promised he hasn’t said a word. He knows he owes me for the way he reacted last week.” I pat his hand. “Try not to worry. I already told Mom you were my boyfriend, so at least that’s not a shock, and I should be able to get her on our side quick. She’ll help me protect you.”
“Not funny, Summer,” he grits out as little beads of sweat form on his brow.
“At least they already know you,” I supply, trying to help ease his anxiety. “That helps.”
He snorts. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
“It’s a good thing,” I reassure him. “They know you’re a good guy.”
He looks skeptical. “I hope you’re right.”
Ryan looks like he’s about to vomit as he pulls the SUV to a halt outside my parent’s farmhouse. I fix my off-the-shoulder sweater, slip on my heels, and slick gloss on my lips. I tried harder with my appearance today, deliberately wearing more makeup than usual and wearing a smart sweater with skinny jeans and heels. Ryan’s not the only one who’s nervous, and looking good helps my confidence. Plus, I wanted to convey maturity with my look, so I avoided my usual Converse and casual clothes.
Ryan opens my door, helping me out. I place my hands on his shoulders and stretch up to kiss him. “I love you, and no matter what happens here today, it’s you, me, and the baby that matters. They’re bound to be shocked, but I know my family, and they’ll support us. It might take a little while to process, but they’ll be okay with this. Trust me.”
He rests his forehead on mine. “I do, baby. I really do. I just don’t want to mess anything up. I want them to see I’ll love and protect you both. That I won’t let you down.”
I press my body into his, angling my head and pulling his mouth to mine for a slower, longer, deeper kiss.
“Ahem.” A loud throat clearing has us pulling away, and I look up at my brother Charlie, meeting his scowl with a wide grin.
“Big brother, Charlie. How are you?” I go on an immediate charm offensive as I walk up the steps toward him. Ryan grabs the gifts for my parents from the back seat, following behind me.
“Seriously, Summer?” Charlie grumbles as he pulls me into a bear hug. “I know I warned you off the horny frat boys, but he’s almost old enough to be your dad.”
“Don’t talk crap, man,” Ryan retorts, narrowing his eyes at my brother. “I was only eight when she was born.”
“Not a medical improbability,” Charlie argues, and I jump in before this thing escalates.
“Don’t be an old fuddy-duddy.” I thump him in the arm. “Age is irrelevant. I’m an adult. Ryan’s an adult.” I snake my arm around Ryan’s waist. “We love each other, and there’s no law that says we can’t be in a relationship.”
Charlie’s jaw hangs open, and his eyes pop wide at the mention of love. I close his mouth with a carefully placed finger under his chin while ushering Ryan into the house. “That fish out of water look is not attractive on you.”
“Is that my princess?” Dad calls out as our footsteps echo along the hardwood floors.
“Hey, Daddy.” I bound into the kitchen, wrapping my arms around my dad from behind.
“Hello again, Ryan,” Mom says, welcoming him with a warm smile.
“It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Petersen,” Ryan politely replies, handing her the large box of chocolates from that expensive handmade place she loves. “These are for you.”
“You shouldn’t have.” She kisses his cheek, accepting the gift. “My lips thank you. My hips not so much,” she teases, setting the box down on the counter and looping her arm through his.
“And this is for you, sir,” Ryan says, looking my father square in the eye as he hands over the gift-slash-bribe.
Dad pulls his glasses down from his head, inspecting the label on the special edition bottle of whiskey Ryan picked up for him. “Very nice, son.” He pats Ryan on the shoulder. “We’ll sample that after dinner,” he adds with a wink.
Ryan grimaces. “I’ll take a rain check. I’m driving.”
“I can drive back,” I say with a shrug.
“Only if it’s not late. I don’t want you driving in the dark.”
My heart swells with love like it has all week as Ryan fussed over me, running me nightly baths, driving me to and from classes and the theater, cooking me dinner. He even got up earlier than necessary to fix me a proper breakfast. And he came with me to the Ob-gyn, where my pregnancy was officially confirmed, asking questions while I sat there in a bit of a daze.
Mom smiles at me, and I grin back just as my other brother Marc steps into the kitchen. “Marky Mark!” I rush to my brother, throwing myself into his arms. “I didn’t know you’d be here!”
“I flew home for the weekend, especially to see you,” he says, enveloping me in his arms. “It’s been too long, Sum.”
It’s been months since we were together. Marc recently got a promotion at the investment banking firm he works for in New York, and he’s been working flat out with hardly any free time.
“I’m glad you’re here.” I slip out of his arms, casting a glance over my shoulder at Ryan. He’s sweating bullets, and I feel for him. I grab his hand, pulling him over to Marc as he’s the only one in the family he hasn’t met before. “This is my boyfriend, Ryan.” Marc’s expression is carefully impassive as he gives Ryan the once-over. “Be nice to him,” I plead. “He’s important.”
Marc quirks a brow in question, amusement teasing the corners of his mouth.
“They’re in love,” Charlie cuts in, teasing, as he swipes a bread roll from the basket in the center of the table.
“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” Mom says, pulling out a chair for Ryan. “And Austin’s known Ryan a long time, so he’s hardly a stranger.”
Ryan helps me into the seat before claiming another chair beside me. Mom just beams at him like he hung the stars in the night sky. I had a feeling she’d be easy to win over, but I’m still not entirely sure how she’ll take the baby news. Even though it might not be a good idea, we’re waiting until after we’ve eaten to tell them about my pregnancy.
Hopefully, everyone will keep their food down.
“Speaking of Austin, why isn’t he here?” Marc asks.
“He’s working,” Ryan supplies. “We rarely get to take time off at the same time.” It’s not a lie, per se, but the truth is, Austin has barely spoken to Ryan all week and things are tense at home and at their co-owned place of work.
Ryan has tried talking to him, but he refuses to listen to a word he has to say. The tension is unbearable, and I’ve tried talking to Austin too, but he’s furious with Ryan, and nothing I say makes a difference. Miley asked me to back down, telling me she’s working on bringing him around, and I’ve faith she can succeed where we’ve failed.
She has been amazingly supportive since the news broke, and nonjudgmental, and it only makes me love her more. If Austin doesn’t marry her, I might just turn gay for her.
“Hmm.” Charlie bites off the crust of his roll, slowly chewing as he watches me and Ryan. “What does Austin think of your relationship?”
Ryan’s shoulders stiffen, and I reach for his hand, squeezing it in what I hope is a comforting gesture. “Austin’s being a complete ass,” I honestly admit. “Although that’s partly our fault because we didn’t tell him we were seeing one another until it got serious.”
“It’s my fault,” Ryan cuts in. “I should’ve told him from the outset.”
“Austin can blow smoke up my ass,”
Mom declares, and my body rumbles with laughter as Ryan gawps at her. “I haven’t set eyes on his girl yet, and they’re together seven months!” she exclaims. “He’s in no position to criticize.” She squeezes Ryan’s shoulders. “Don’t you worry about my stubborn eldest son. He’ll calm down soon. He just doesn’t enjoy being kept in the dark about anything.”
“Truth,” I add, nodding. “We planned this surprise party for his sixteenth birthday, and he got so mad,” I tell Ryan, chuckling. “All he did was grumble all night we hadn’t invited the right people, hadn’t ordered the right food. Yada yada.” I grab two rolls from the basket, handing one to Ryan.
“And it was all for the sake of complaining,” Mom agrees, setting a plate piled high with food in front of Ryan. “Because he loved every minute of that party. He just hated the fact he knew nothing about it beforehand.”
Thankfully, the conversation moves off us, and my brothers don’t grill Ryan too much, while we all tuck into the gorgeous dinner Mom prepared, and it’s going better than I expected. However, Ryan is still stiff as a brick beside me, and now we’ve finished eating, I want to get this over and done with.
I squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back, and we look at one another, silently communicating with our eyes. We argued on the way here over who would be the one to announce our news.
Ryan wanted to do it.
He feels it’s his responsibility.
But this is my family, and I want to be the one to tell them.
We eventually compromised, agreeing I’d tell my family today, and he’ll break the news to the rest of his family next weekend when we are at his parents’ house for dinner.
We already told Gabby and Slater, because we needed advice on what to ask at our Ob-gyn appointment, and Ryan’s sister was the perfect person to confide in. They were wonderful too, and very supportive, offering their congratulations and help in whatever way they can.
I clear my throat. “So, I have news I’d like to share.” My gaze roams the table. Charlie’s eyes have already narrowed in suspicion, but the rest of them look curious.
Rip the Band-Aid, Summer.
This is even harder than I imagined, and I gulp over the clump of nerves clogging my throat. Ryan squeezes my hand again, sliding his free arm around my shoulders in a blatant show of support. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt before my nerve fails me.
“Oh, my fucking God.” That’s Charlie. “I knew it!” He all but growls at Ryan.
“Are you suddenly psychic?” I question, raising a brow.
“I wish,” he snaps. “Then I could’ve predicted this and warned Austin to keep this douche away from you.”
“He’s not a douche! And I won’t sit here and listen to you hating on him. We have done nothing wrong!”
“Except forget to use condoms it seems,” Charlie continues.
“I’m on the damn pill!” I yell as Ryan pulls me closer into his side. “And unplanned accidental pregnancies happen to lots of women!”
“You’re still a kid!” Charlie bites back.
Tears stab my eyes as my brother pins Ryan with a hateful expression. “Stop it! Just stop.” Tears leak out of my eyes, and a dense weight settles on my chest.
“I know you’re upset,” Ryan says, ignoring protocol and pulling me down onto his lap. His arms wrap around me, taking the edge off my anxiety. “But you’ve no right to speak to your sister like that. And if you won’t keep a civil tongue, we’ll be leaving because I’m not having Summer upset. The stress isn’t good for her or the baby.”
“What are your intentions toward my daughter, Mr. James,” Dad asks, leaning his elbows on the table. Clear shock is visible on his weather-beaten face, and I lose control of my tenuous emotions. I hate thinking I’ve disappointed him.
I bury my face in Ryan’s neck, trying to stifle my sobs. Damn pregnancy hormones already have me in an emotional tailspin.
“I love Summer, and I plan to raise this child with her. I’ve already looked around for an apartment for the three of us, and my work situation is flexible, so I’ll be able to mind the baby while Summer continues her undergraduate program. The gym is doing well, and I can provide for both of them.” He straightens his spine. “I assure you I’m going nowhere.”
“And what about long-term?” Dad asks.
“We’re not together that long, but I already know Summer is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with,” he says, earning a shocked gasp from me. We haven’t once discussed marriage, and I can’t say it’s crossed my mind because I’m still trying to come to terms with the baby bomb.
He drops a loving kiss to the top of my head. “But I know Summer is young, and I don’t want to clip her wings, so your daughter will call the shots. I’m happy to go along with whatever she wants because I just want her to be happy.”
I completely break down then, sobbing hysterical, happy tears.
“Sweetheart.” Concern is laced in Ryan’s tone as he gently lifts my head up. “Don’t cry.”
“Happy tears,” I mumble, sniveling as I wipe my hand across my snotty nose and under my red eyes.
“Attractive, Sum,” Marc says, speaking up for the first time. “It must be love if Ryan is still here,” he quips, and I appreciate he’s trying to reduce the thick tension in the air.
Ryan hands me a tissue from the supply he’s started keeping in his jeans pocket for this very reason. “Your sister is always beautiful to me, inside and out. She’s the most amazing person I’ve ever had the privilege to know.”
That sets me off again, and everyone looks at me with a hefty dose of concern. I bat my hands in the air, half laughing, half crying. “It’s just my hormones. Ignore me.”
Silence descends for a few beats, and I stare at Ryan, trying to gauge his mood. He looks more relaxed now we have distributed the news.
“Very well,” Dad says, reaching across and shaking Ryan’s hand. “All I ask is that you take care of my daughter and our grandchild and you’ve assured me you will.” His voice sounds a little choked and I’m struggling to hold my tears at bay again.
Seriously, pregnancy hormones are no joke.
“How far along are you?” Mom asks, genuine concern stretched across her face.
“The doctor thinks about four weeks,” Ryan answers when he spots my trembling lower lip. “Although we won’t know for sure until our hospital appointment.”
“So, a May or June baby then, most likely,” Mom muses. “That timing is great. You’ll just be finishing freshman year, and if you like, you can come home for the summer, or the first few weeks, at least.”
“Thanks, Mom. We haven’t thought that far ahead yet, but we appreciate the offer.”
“Anything you need, honey. You only have to ask.”
“Let’s all join hands around the campfire and sing Kumbaya, why don’t we,” Charlie grits out. “And pretend that it’s fucking fine that my eighteen-year-old sister got knocked up by a pedo.”
“That is enough, Charles,” Mom demands, her jaw tightening. “And you will apologize to Ryan for that comment.”
“The hell I will.” He stands abruptly, slamming his chair back, and it knocks to the ground. Rounding the table, he looks down at me. “This shouldn’t have happened to you, Summer. You had such big plans.”
“A baby is God’s blessing,” Mom says, trying to be helpful, but it’s the worst thing to tell Charlie.
“A baby will ruin her fucking life, Mom!”
“My sister had a baby at nineteen,” Ryan supplies, and I’m in awe of how calmly he’s speaking after the horrible comment my brother just made. “And she discovered her boyfriend was dying at the same time. I remember feeling similar things, but the truth is, my nephew Billy is the best thing to happen to my sister, and our family wouldn’t be the same without him. I get that this is a shock, and it’s not what I would’ve wanted for Summer either, but I won’t sit here and say I’m unhappy because I know Summer will make a fantastic mother, and a smart woman once told me
things happen for a reason, and I fully buy into that now.”
I remember telling him that, not realizing how prophetic it would be. And as Ryan smiles at me—a sincere, confident, happy smile—I see the truth of his statement written all over his face.
CHAPTER 23
Ryan
“I thought Austin was the biggest drama queen in your family,” I joke as we make the trip back home later that evening, “but Charlie is a piece of work.” He stormed off after my comment about Gabby and didn’t return, not even to say goodbye to his pregnant sister. I feel bad for Summer that two of her three brothers are acting like idiots. And, it’s like I said, I understand it, to a point. But you only need to look at her to see how emotional she is. Surely, they could set aside their feelings about me to support their little sister. That’s what I did, when I was in their shoes, and I processed everything in the background in my own time.
“Honestly, Charlie’s always been prone to dramatics, so his reaction isn’t that unexpected. He’ll stew for a few days and then snap out of his head, call me up, and beg for forgiveness. It’s Austin I’m most disappointed with, because he’s still keeping you at arm’s length.”
“It’s only been a week. It’ll all work out.” I say what she needs to hear because she’s been under enough stress today, but I don’t know if Austin will ever forgive me.
✽✽✽
Another couple weeks pass by, and Austin is still cold-shouldering me. It’s making working together an absolute misery, and I’ve decided we’re having it out today whether he likes it or not. I can’t continue like this, and if he won’t meet me halfway, we need to have a serious discussion over what to do with our business. Whether he buys me out or I buy him out. I don’t want it to come to that, but I’m not prepared to put up with this stress every day for the rest of my life, and business partners can’t run a company together if they’re barely talking.
I call him to my office on the pretext of reviewing the new marketing plan the PR firm emailed over. He’s wearing the same intolerant look that’s been on his face for the last three weeks when he drops into the chair in front of my desk, folding his arms sternly across his chest. I get up and lock the door so we’re not interrupted. He straightens up, eyeing me warily, instantly realizing I’ve hijacked this meeting.
No Feelings Involved: A Brother's Best Friend Standalone Romance Page 19