Chapter 26
26
GAbrIEL
“H ow are you feeling?” I look over at Zara, who is walking into the kitchen, wearing jeans and a sweater. We got back to my house yesterday afternoon, after we had breakfast with her parents, which did not go as I planned. At one point, I thought I was going to go to battle with her father. Luckily for me, he simmered down a bit, but he still gave me the stink eye for the rest of the meal.
“Like I’m going to throw up.” She takes a deep inhale. “But I think it’s because of Colson and not the baby.” She walks to me while I’m at the sink, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Do you think it’s a good idea that I’m here?” She tilts her head back.
“Sweetheart,” I say softly, turning off the water before grabbing her and putting her ass on the counter. She opens her legs so I can stand between them. “It’s going to be okay.”
She puts her hands on my sides. “But he doesn’t even know me.”
“Well, he’s going to have to get to know you.” I pull her even closer to me. “You’re having his baby sister.”
“Or brother.” She rolls her eyes at me.
“I feel like it’s a girl,” I tell her, and she puts one of her hands on her stomach.
“As long as the baby is healthy, I don’t care what it is.” She smiles. “I’m just hoping that he’s not, I don’t know, mad at me.”
“For what?” I shriek out the question.
“Because he’s not going to be your only child anymore.” She avoids looking at me and instead looks to the side. “It’s a big deal.”
“He has two other step siblings, and he’s been fine with it,” I remind her. “Now give me a kiss before I go.”
“Ugh, fine.” She wraps her arms around my neck. “But if he hates me, it’s on you.”
I kiss her on her lips before taking her off the counter and placing her on her feet. “I’m surprised you are worried about Colson and not the barbecue we are going to this afternoon.”
She puts her head back and moans. “Why did you remind me?”
“Sorry, Sweetheart.” I kiss her neck before grabbing my jacket and going to pick up Colson, who is waiting for me at the door. He rushes out and comes straight to the truck, getting in the back, making Patricia come to the door and wave before we take off.
“Hey, buddy.” I look in the rearview mirror at him. “How are you feeling?” I ask nervously now that he’s in the truck.
“Good.” He just stares out the window as we make our way to the house.
When we get there and right before we walk in, I put my arm around his shoulder. “I have something I have to talk to you about.”
“Okay,” he says, opening the door and stepping in. “Miss Zara,” he shouts her name when he sees her, running to her, “you came back.” I walk in at the same time he hugs her around her waist and she smiles down at him, kissing the top of his head.
“I did,” she says. “I missed you guys too much.”
“Dad missed you too,” he tells her. She looks over at me and I don’t think my heart has ever been this full.
“Is that so?” she asks him, but she knows how much I’ve missed her. I know how much she’s missed me.
“Is this what you had to talk to me about?” Colson asks me, and I shake my head.
“Let’s go sit down on the couch,” I tell him, and he lets go of Zara to go to the living room. Zara waits for me, grabbing my hand with both of hers and pulling me a little so she can kiss me.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper to her as she holds tightly to my hand.
I sit down next to Colson, my heart speeding up a bit. I really hope he doesn’t react badly and make Zara sad. Zara sits next to me, my hand in hers as I try to make her relax, but she is squeezing my hand nervously. “So we have a little bit of a surprise,” I start to say to Colson. “It’s a surprise to us too.” I look over at Zara with a smile on my face. It is one of the biggest surprises of my life. It’s also one of the best surprises I’ve ever gotten. “You are going to be a big brother,” I announce, and he looks at me, then at Zara, “again.”
We both watch Colson’s face, and I think both of us do it holding our breaths as we wait for his reaction. His eyes go big as he takes it in. “Is Miss Zara having your baby?” he asks me, and we both laugh and say yes at the same time.
“That’s cool,” he finally says with a smile. “I’m the best big brother in the world.” He looks at Zara. “My mom tells me that all the time.”
“I have no doubt you’ll be the best big brother anyone can ask for,” Zara replies, wiping away the tears from her face.
“And now Dad won’t be sad anymore,” he states, and Zara gasps. “He was sad when you left, but he tried to pretend he wasn’t.” Colson spills my secret. “JB and Charlie called him mopey and grumpy.” Zara pushes my shoulder with hers.
“I was sad also,” Zara shares with him, “but not anymore.” She takes her hand out of mine to put it around my neck. “Now I’m happy.”
“Me too,” I tell her.
“Me too,” Colson adds, making us laugh. We both give a little sigh of relief when he gets up and walks to the fridge to get something to eat.
“One down,” Zara says softly, “fifty more to go.” She smiles. “I texted my cousin Zoey to call me when she got up. I should tell her before she finds out and holds it over my head for the rest of my life.”
“Wait, didn’t she elope or something? It’s not like she told you she was getting married,” I remind her, and she grins.
“Good point, thanks, Cowboy.” She leans in to kiss me and we sit back on the couch, her in the crook of my arm, my son asking me to turn on the television.
We get to the barbecue earlier than normal, hoping to catch my parents and grandparents before everyone else. But the cars are lined up down the street. “Wow, there are so many cars today,” Colson says from the back seat.
“Remember, it’s a secret until I talk to Grandpa Ethan,” I remind him, and he zips his lips shut and pretends to throw away the key.
I finally park on the side of the road and walk around to make sure Zara is okay. I put my hand in hers as we walk down the road, seeing all the strange cars. “I thought our family lunch was huge,” she says as we walk down the driveway and head around the side of the house.
“Usually, it’s a lot of people, but nothing like this since—” I start to say and then round the corner, and we both stop in our tracks. “Is that your father?” I ask her, looking at Viktor, who is standing there with Matthew and my Uncle Casey, talking about I don’t even know what. All three of them have a beer bottle in their hands.
“Is that my uncles?” she asks before scanning the whole area. “Oh my goodness.” She points at where my mother and her mother stand laughing at something.
“Well, there you are.” I turn around, seeing Sofia walking toward us with RC on her hip. “Nice of you to join us.”
“Sofia,” I say in shock as I look over and see that she is followed by her husband.
“Matty,” Zara greets, running to him and hugging him, “you’re here and Stefano.” She looks over his shoulder at another guy coming outside, holding a woman’s hand. “Addison.” She greets the woman with a hug and a kiss.
“There are so many people here today.” I turn around, seeing my cousin Grace walking into the barbecue holding Caine’s hand on one side, as Meadow runs past us toward the horses.
“I know,” I mumble, wanting to find a way to excuse us to go see my parents.
“Well, well, well,” someone says from behind me at the same time as Zara shrieks. “Look at who we have.”
“Zoey!” she yells and rushes over to her and the two of them share a hug, moving side to side. “You never called me back,” she says, smiling.
“What, why is everyone here?” Zara asks, looking around at the group of people standing with us.
“Something about a Bat chain,” Nash answers. “We picked up the phone, and boom, I’m woken up at six o’clock in the morning to go ride a horse.”
“It was eight,” Grace points out, “and you were the one who was like all ‘yeah, I can ride a horse without taking one lesson,’” she mocks him, making me laugh.
“You gave me a wild horse,” Nash defends himself. “I needed a calmer one.”
“You got on the horse and said giddy up.” His brother shakes his head, laughing at him.
“Excuse me, rodeo king.” He glares at his brother.
“So what is all this meeting of the minds for?” Matty looks at Zara and then turns to me. “Is there something we should know before everyone else?”
“No,” Zara denies, laughing nervously, and I raise my eyebrows at her. “We should get something to eat.” She motions with her head for me to come with her, but instead, she comes to me. “I mean, maybe it’s because Gabriel and I are dating.”
“Oh, wow,” Sofia says, “this is brand-new information.” She looks at Matty. “I had no idea.” He side-eyes her. “I may have had a little idea. But not this.” She points at us. “Maybe a little”—she bounces RC on her hip—“but your son is teething, so I forgot.”
“Okay, this is fun,” Zara says, “but I have to go see Mom and Dad.” She looks at me. “And we have to talk to your parents.” I just nod, about to walk away from them.
“Wait a second,” Zoey says, and we turn back to look at her. “All of us got an urgent call to get our asses down here because you two are dating?” She asks the question but not really asking the question. “There has to be more than that.” She looks at me and then at Zara. “Unless… are you guys married?” She runs over to us, grabbing Zara’s left hand and holding it up.
“No, you would be the only one who would do that,” Zara points out to her.
“Yeah, buddy,” Nash says, holding up his hand in a fist and cheering, “got to say, not a bad thing to do.”
“We are not married,” I finally say.
“Then what can it be?” Zoey looks at the sky, and I see Zara open her eyes nervously, wanting to get out of the situation.
“Why don’t you think about it,” I tell Zoey, “and then we can talk later.”
“Oh my God,” Zoey yelps, putting her hand to her mouth, “you’re pregnant.”
“What?” I reply nervously laughing, looking over to see Matty glaring at me. “No.” I shake my head nervously, at the same time to make sure she got my answer.
Zoey gasps, “She’s pregnant.” Her voice is like a shriek.
“Okay,” Zara warns, looking around, making sure no one heard her. “Everyone needs to nip it in the bud.”
“Nip it in the bud,” Stefano repeats. “How long has she lived here?”
“She doesn’t live here.” Grace smirks as she watches the whole thing unfold around her while her husband pulls her close to him.
“What the fuck?” Matty grits between clenched teeth, and Sofia puts a hand on his forearm.
“Okay, all of you,” Zara hisses, “I need everyone to keep their voices down.” She looks at the circle of people. “We haven’t told Gabriel’s parents yet, and it would be rude if they found out because my cousin has a big mouth.” She glares at Zoey, who just pffts at her and puts her hand to her chest.
“I’m deeply hurt and offended that you weren’t even going to tell me.” She turns it around on her.
“I texted you this morning. Besides, you live on the West Coast.”
“The West Coast is not the fucking moon,” Zoey snaps back.
“You got my sister pregnant?” Matty now joins the conversation. “Are you for real right now?” Then he turns to Sofia. “You knew this too?”
“No,” she scoffs, “of course not.” She avoids looking at him. “Maybe.” She moves side to side with the baby. “A little bit, but not everything.”
“I can’t believe you wouldn’t tell me this,” Matty hisses at her.
“Hey,” she hisses back at him, “it’s not about you; it’s about them.” She points at us. “They’re having a baby, not me.”
“Okay.” I hold up my hands. “I get you’re pissed.” I look at Matty. “Imagine how I felt when we found out Sofia was planning your wedding to someone else?”
“Oh, good one, Cowboy,” Zara says to me, nodding at them.
“But I have to tell my parents,” I inform them, “before they find out from someone else.” I grab Zara’s hand. “Ready?” I ask her, and she leans into me and nods.
“I’m ready, Cowboy,” she says, and Matty groans out at my nickname.
“You know what they say”—Zoey snickers—“save a horse and ride a cowboy.” She laughs at the saying. “And she really did that.”