42. Jay
Jay
Istill can't believe it's been five days. Five days since our entire world changed.
Five days since Selena confessed to us with tears in her eyes and the fear of losing her babies, that one of us was going to be a father. Twins.
She thought we were going to be mad. What she didn’t know is that she made us the three happiest men in the world with that news.
Every time I think about it, my chest puffs with pride. I can’t wait to tell the world. To share that we not only have a girlfriend but babies on the way.
I never imagined I'd hear those words, let alone that they'd belong to us.
We still haven't told anyone.
Not because we're ashamed.
Not because we're nervous.
We just wanted a few days where it belonged to us. Our little secret. Our happiness before the rest of the world got involved.
But before we tell anyone else, our parents need to know.
Which we will do at our next Sunday dinner.
Dad’s already messaged to see if we’re coming and to see if we could try and get Selena there.
Her mother has yet to call her. Hell, the bitch still doesn’t know that her apartment was destroyed in a fire.
Good riddance.
One negative word out of her mouth and she’s cut out of our lives and her grandchildren’s forever. As much as I love my dad, the same goes for him. Why he’s with someone as coldhearted as her is beyond me.
"I'm working today," she says as she waves us away. "And if memory serves me correctly, so are the three of you. Now go on. There are people who are going to need saving."
She crosses her arms over her chest, pressing the oversized shirt tighter to her body.
It’s one of ours, I’m just not sure whose.
I can’t wait until her belly grows bigger and the fabric stretches against it.
Just the thought of it has my cock hard.
But my brothers and I have made a pact. No sex until her appointment tomorrow.
We want to hear the all clear from the doctor, and well, we may have some questions of our own.
“I don’t wanna go,” I whine, kneeling down at her side, resting my head in her lap. “Besides you need me. Need us to take care of you. Rub your feet, feed you.” Honestly the list goes on of all the things I want to do for her.
"I'm pregnant," she reminds me. "Not helpless. Besides, Sam’s back from vacation and spending the day with me. It’s why I need to get this work done."
“Come on, Jay. Time to go to work. The faster we get there, the faster our shift is over. And then we get our woman all to ourselves,” Eli says with a smirk, but I know the fucker doesn’t want to leave anymore than I do. Same goes for Zeke.
The only reason the three of us aren't stressing about leaving Selena today is because Sam’s going to be with her. If we trust her with anyone, it’s him. And thankfully we don’t have to worry about him trying to steal her away from us either.
The doorbell rings, pulling all our attention.
“If that’s him, the three of you are in trouble. I wanted to have this done before he got here and I still have about an hour of work left,” she chastises us.
Zeke heads for the door, opening it to a smiling Sam. Perfect timing.
“Hey man, you’re early.” Zeke reaches out and shakes his hand. “I’m Zeke, just in case you can’t tell me and my brother apart.”
“I can. You have the scar,” he gestures toward my forehead. “Selly told me that would be the easiest way.” He laughs as Zeke stands back so he can enter.
“Hey man, nice to see you again.” I stand up from the floor, letting my arm rest on Selena’s shoulder.
“Sam, you’re early. I still have work to do.” She tells him with a pout. God, I want those pouty lips wrapped around my cock.
“Okay, let’s go.” Zeke steps over to Selena and kisses her softly on her lips. He’s followed by Eli, then myself.
“Oh no, not until I say what I have to say.” Sam’s voice raises as he casts his gaze on the three of us.
Our eyebrows raise, confused at the seriousness of his expression.
“Okay?” Eli says more as a question than a statement.
"I have watched enough crime shows,” he starts, crossing his arms over his chest as he spreads his legs wide.
A power stance if I’ve ever seen one. My eyes drift over to Selena who has her hand covering her mouth, hiding her smile.
“Enough documentaries.” He pauses. "And I have read enough dark romance books to know exactly how to dispose of three bodies without leaving a trace. "
Selena bursts into laughter. Full-on, doubled-over laughing. But Sam never cracks a smile. He still has his no shit given look on his face.
"If any of you break her heart," he continues calmly, "they'll never find what's left of the three of you."
"I think we're being threatened," Zeke says in shock.
"There’s no thinking about it. You are."
"I kinda believe him," Eli says.
"I absolutely believe him. And I’m fucking scared." I step closer to Selena, using her as a shield. “But you can trust me on this. if we ever hurt her then fucking kill us because we deserve it.”
Selena wipes the tears from her eyes. “The four of you are ridiculous. There will be no killing or maiming."
“That’s still left to be determined,” Sam says, a hint of a smile gracing his face. “Now the three of you need to get out of here. We have lots of gossip to do and shows to catch up on.”
“Fine, we’re gone.” I tell him as I give Selena one last kiss and head toward the door, joining my brothers.
I didn’t like Sam before when I thought he was stealing our woman from us. But now, I do.
Seeing that he loves her enough to threaten us makes me honestly appreciate him.
Sam has my full respect.
Especially because my brothers and I intend on spending the rest of our lives proving he never has to follow through with his threats.
The drive to the station feels different today. It's the first shift where all three of us are scheduled together since rescuing Selena from her burning apartment and since finding out we’re fathers.
“Can’t we tell our captain, our co-workers.
It’s not like it will get back to our parents.
Or to anyone else we know. We can swear them to secrecy,” I plead with my brothers.
“I want to tell someone. And I may have been carrying around some cigars in my bag.” I reach onto the floor board and pull out a box of cigars.
They’re not the expensive Cuban ones, but for celebrating they’ll do.
“I’m with Jay. I’ve been dying to say something. Hell, Johnson caught me looking at cribs online and had a million questions for me. I gave some bullshit answers when all I wanted to do was scream the truth.”
“Fine. We can tell Cap and the guys, but no one else. Selena will kill us if our parents find out from anyone but us.” Eli finally gives in and I give them some cigars to hand out from the box before taking my own and sticking them in my jacket pocket.
We pile out of the truck together, boots crunching across the pavement as we head toward the firehouse. I catch the other two smiling like idiots and I know mine looks exactly the same. The bay doors are already open.
Our captain stands beside Engine Two talking with one of the probationary firefighters. He glances up at us as we walk in.
"Morning, boys," he says before marking something off on his clipboard.
We don’t respond right away. Instead, the three of us reach into our pockets and pull out the cigars. I’m closest to him so I hand him one. He looks at the cigar then back at us with a raised eyebrow. "So... who's getting married?"
I grin.
"No one. Yet." I bite the end off mine, and my brothers do the same to theirs.
I’m too fucking excited, and my body is thrumming with anticipation. I can't hold it in another second.
"We're gonna be daddies!" I shout across the bay. "Our girl is having twins!"
For a moment there’s nothing but silence as the men in the bay turn to us, some with shock on their faces. Silence lasts for a minute or two before everyone starts shouting their congratulations.
Then the captain's entire face lights up. "I'll be damned." He laughs. "Congratulations!"
"No kidding?" The probie says. "Twins?"
"That's huge!" Johnson says.
They walk over one after another, clapping us on the shoulders.
"Congratulations, man," one says.
"Proud of you," Michael’s voice raises above the others.
"That's awesome," Jensen adds.
I shake hands until I lose count. My cheeks actually hurt from smiling. One of the older firefighters chuckles. "So... which one of you?"
I cock my head to the side.
"What do you mean?"
He blinks like I’ve asked a confusing question. “Which one of you is the dad?”
"What? All three of us are. We're going to be dads."
His forehead wrinkles.
"We?” he asks again.
Realization slowly dawns on me. We’ve told people about Selena but only a few know that we’re all dating her.
Another older firefighter looks between the three of us. "Wait... our?"
"Yeah," Eli answers. "Our girlfriend is pregnant."
"And she's officially moving in with us," Zeke adds, his chest puffed out proudly as he hands out the rest of the cigars in his hand. "Both things worthy of celebrating."
Someone whistles.
"Damn right it is." Captain grins.
Hanson scratches the back of his neck, his face slack, as he debates if he should ask the question I know that he and others have.
"So..." He gestures awkwardly between us. "You all...?"
"Share the same girlfriend," I finish for him.
He waits for an explanation. And I don’t plan to give it to him.
"It works for us," Eli states boldly.
Nobody says anything for a second. I can practically see the questions forming.
How? Why? Doesn't that get weird? Who's really the father? The answer to that last one? We don't know. And honestly, we don’t plan to find out. None of us care. They’re our babies. That’s all we need to know.
What people don’t understand is that family isn't built by DNA alone. Family is who you choose to make it with. If there were some dire medical need to know and we weren’t biologically related, then at that time, of course we would find out. The thing is, it still wouldn’t change anything.
Finally the new transfer speaks up. "Well." He reaches out and shakes my hand again. "Congratulations, and here’s to having healthy babies and your girl having an easy pregnancy.”
See now, that’s more of the response we wanted.
"Thanks," we say in unison.
Then I add, “We’ll be sure to extend those wishes to Selena. She’s had a rough go with the morning sickness.”
Captain’s grin goes wider. "You boys are gonna have your hands full."
"No kidding," Zeke says. “I hope they turn out sweet like their momma.”
The captain folds his arms, smiling at the three of us. "I don't pretend to understand your relationship. But I can see how happy you idiots are."
I laugh.
"Yeah. We are.” Zeke smiles, his face turning red.
"I can also tell you love her," our captain adds. “So enjoy your cigars cause we’ve got work to do. Who knows when the next call is going to come in.”
We break apart, and my brothers and I head to our lockers.
Yeah, there’s going to be people who don’t understand what we have. But we don't feel the need to explain ourselves. It's our relationship. Not theirs. People can accept it. Or they can't. Either way, it doesn't change a damn thing.
We're going home tonight to the woman we love. And the two tiny lives growing inside her.
Nothing else matters.