Chapter Eight #2
Curran snorted. “You can stop talking as if you want this.”
“What if I do want it?”
Curran didn’t know how to answer that. “I didn’t think you wanted kids.”
“I didn’t think I could have kids. You know how your brother and I were raised.
We’re supposed to sacrifice everything for the king, including any personal and family time.
I always thought it would be easier just not to have anyone, and maybe it would be, but this is an opportunity I can’t regret. ”
“You don’t regret it?”
“Never. It might not be the way I thought my life would go, but it doesn’t make it a bad thing. If I have to have a child with anyone, I’m glad it’ll be you.”
What was Curran supposed to say to that? “I’m glad it’s you, too,” he murmured.
They’d finally reached Curran’s door. The conversation between them hadn’t been as bad as he’d expected, but he still wanted some quiet time to wrap his mind around everything.
He didn’t want to be away from Marlin, but Marlin had to go to work, and Curran had to start thinking about how he was going to do this.
He wouldn’t be raising this child alone, but he also wouldn’t have a partner.
That was going to be an odd situation, but Curran’s entire life was an odd situation right now.
He stopped in front of the door and turned to Marlin. “I’m really sorry this is how you learned I was pregnant,” he said. “I’d been trying to find a way to tell you since I found out, but I was all over the place. I didn’t want you to hate me.”
“How could I hate you?” Marlin asked so gently that it made Curran’s eyes burn with tears. “You might be the one carrying our child, but you didn’t do this on your own. We’re both equally responsible for what’s happening.”
“A lot of people wouldn’t feel that way.”
“Those people would be idiots. A child doesn’t happen with one parent. We both did this, and we both have to deal with the consequences. I know we’re not together, but Curran, you have to remember that you’re not doing this alone. I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
Curran nodded. “Thank you.”
Marlin opened his mouth, but Curran never got to hear what he was about to say. The front door swung open, revealing both of his mothers. They were staring at him and Marlin with wide eyes, and Curran didn’t have to ask to know why.
He sighed. “You heard everything, didn’t you?”
* * * *
MARLIN HAD TO RESIST the urge to run away.
He knew Curran’s mothers well and had spent a lot of time with them, but he didn’t think anything could have prepared him for this situation.
Were they going to be angry? If they were, what would they be angry about?
About the baby or about Marlin being the father?
“I’m sorry. Can you repeat what you just said?” Alaina asked.
Curran sighed. “You heard everything, didn’t you?”
Alaina reached out to slap his chest, then gasped and rubbed the spot she’d just hit. “I’m sorry. I don’t usually go around slapping pregnant people.”
Curran groaned. “Mom, please.”
“What? You are pregnant.”
“I’m aware.”
“You’re pregnant, and you didn’t tell us.”
Curran’s shoulders slumped. “I was going to.”
Yarra snorted. “Of course you were going to. You wouldn’t have been able to continue hiding it.” Her gaze slid down to Curran’s stomach, and she gasped. “Oh my God. You’re really pregnant.”
Curran laughed. “That I am. I just needed a little time to wrap my mind around it.”
Yarra turned to look at Marlin. “And you’re daddy number two?”
“Please, don’t call him that,” Curran said, sounding like he was trying hard not to laugh again.
“What? He is the other father, isn’t he? That’s what we heard.”
“He is, and before you say anything, no, we’re not together. We were stupid, and this was an accident.”
Both of them were silent. Marlin glanced at the end of the hallway. Would they come after him if he ran? He’d outrun them if they did. He knew he could.
“Well, I suppose there are worse people to have accidental babies with,” Yarra said. “At least you know that Marlin’s a good person and that he’ll take his responsibilities seriously.”
“I will,” Marlin promised. “But right now, I need to go to work.” He turned to Curran.
“You have my number. Let me know if you need anything, and I’m not joking about that, Curran.
Even if you don’t want to bother me, think about the baby.
I’m their father as much as you are, and it’s my duty and pleasure to be there for them. ”
Curran looked like he didn’t know what to say. Marlin didn’t blame him. He was going to freak out as soon as he turned the corner. Right now, though, he needed to be calm and collected. He needed to be Curran’s rock.
He wished he could be Curran’s partner, but Curran had been quick to tell everyone they’d talked to that they weren’t together. Maybe Marlin needed to start taking the hint.
He forced himself to smile as he turned to Yarra and Alaina. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Oh, you will.”
It sounded like a threat, but Marlin had faced worse. He’d worked with the old king, after all.
He nodded and told himself to walk away.
It felt like the hardest thing he’d ever done, even though it wasn’t.
He desperately wanted to stay back and talk to Curran, for them to figure things out and come up with a plan, but now wasn’t the right moment.
Curran had had an eventful day, and his mothers would no doubt fuss over him. He’d grumble, but he needed it.
He’d been hiding the pregnancy for weeks. He’d been avoiding the people he cared about so they wouldn’t find out. He’d no doubt missed his mothers, and they needed some time alone. At the same time, Marlin needed to get back to work.
For the first time since he could remember, he really didn’t want to.
Not only did he have to leave Curran behind, but he’d also have to face Birch.
He might have been accepting while Curran was there, but there was a chance that as soon as he saw Marlin again, he’d tear into him.
Even if he didn’t, they’d need to have a conversation, and Marlin wasn’t looking forward to it.
He despised feeling like he’d disappointed anyone, especially his best friend.
He stopped at the dining hall first to grab food for all three of them.
He tried to waste as much time as he could, but he was the king’s bodyguard.
He always got served food first because of Killian, especially when some of that food was for the king.
It took almost no time for him to be back in the hallway, containers in his hands, walking toward Killian’s office.
Tito wasn’t at his desk when Marlin walked in. He stopped in front of the door, breathed deeply for a few moments, then knocked with his elbow.
Birch opened. Of course he did. He looked Marlin up and down, and for a moment, Marlin thought he would tell him to leave. He wouldn’t have blamed him. Birch had to be pissed. He’d asked his best friend to look after his brother, and instead, Marlin had gotten Curran pregnant.
What a fucking mess.
Birch stepped aside to let Marlin in, and Marlin made a beeline for the desk, dropping his containers on the surface and reaching for one as quickly as he could. Killian arched a brow, clearly amused, but if Marlin’s mouth was stuffed with food, he couldn’t answer Birch’s questions.
Birch moved more slowly, but when he grabbed his container, he slumped into a chair next to Marlin’s. He turned to look at him, and Marlin quickly shoveled some rice into his mouth.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it,” Birch said. “And it’s fine for now. We are going to talk about it eventually, though. I want to know what happened.”
Killian snorted, which was quite unkinglike of him. “I don’t think you really want to know what happened.”
Birch grimaced. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. Can we stop talking about my baby brother like that?”
“Just saying.”
It had been enough. Killian had broken the tension, and when Birch turned back to Marlin, he was smiling.
“If Curran really had to get drunk and get accidentally pregnant, I can’t think of anyone better than you to be the other father.
It’s going to take some time to wrap my mind around all of this, but that’s just because I still see Curran as a kid.
I’m going to have to accept that he’s a grown-up now that he’s going to be a father. ”
Marlin nodded. He had nothing to say. He was just relieved that lunch wasn’t about to turn into a bloodbath.
* * * *
CURRAN WATCHED MARLIN walk away. He could feel his mothers staring at him, but he wasn’t quite ready to face them yet. Unfortunately for him, he wouldn’t have a choice.
As soon as Marlin had turned around the corner, Yarra grabbed Curran’s hand and dragged him inside. She guided him toward the couch, where he flopped down with a sigh of relief. His day had been a fucking mess.
“I don’t know where to start,” Alaina said as she sat next to him.
“How about we don’t talk about it at all? I could go for that.”
“Nice try, but you know better. You can’t expect us not to have anything to say about this.”
“Our baby is having a baby,” Yarra murmured as she sat on his other side.
He groaned. “Please don’t say it like that.”
“Why not? It’s true.”
“Except for the fact that I’m not a baby.”
“You’re our youngest child. We both knew you’d have children eventually, but we didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”
“But we did expect it to happen with Marlin,” Alaina added. “What’s that about the two of you not being together, though?”
Curran hated that he had to do this, but he knew his mothers wouldn’t let it go. Besides, they’d find out eventually. “We were together the night of the party. We both had too much to drink, and that’s that. I know he doesn’t feel the same way I do, and it’s fine.”
Yarra stared at Curran for a moment. “Is it?”
“What? Fine? I don’t have a choice, do I? He’s going to be in my life whether I like it or not. The baby should have both parents, and they will.”
“And you should have a partner.”
“Maybe I’ll find someone eventually. Right now, though, I want to focus on the baby.”
“You can have both a child and a partner.”
“Not when the only partner I want is Marlin. I know I need to get over this stupid crush, and I will eventually.” He’d have to.
He could only imagine how uncomfortable his life would be if he couldn’t get over it.
He’d have to see Marlin every day. It would be torture if he wasn’t over his feelings and Marlin found someone to settle down with.
Curran was no doubt selfish to feel like that, but he was glad it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.
Marlin’s priority was his job, and now, this baby.
He probably wouldn’t have time to meet and fall in love with anyone.
In turn, that would give Curran time to get over what he felt and, hopefully, by the time the dust settled, they’d both have found someone to share their lives with.
“I think you should tell him,” Alaina murmured as she reached over to take one of Curran’s hands. “He could surprise you.”
Yarra cleared her throat. Curran didn’t miss the way his mothers stared at each other for a moment.
He was pretty sure they were having an entire conversation without words, the way they always did when they didn’t want him or Birch to know what they were thinking.
He’d always been jealous of that because he wanted a partner who knew him so well that he could do the same with them.
He swallowed and looked down. Thinking about Marlin being that partner wouldn’t help. He needed to stop.
“But of course, you should only do whatever you’re comfortable with,” Alaina added. “You’re going to have to spend a lot of time with him, though.”
“I know. We’re having a kid together, and that kind of goes with it.” Curran sighed. “Look, can we stop talking about this for the rest of the day? I’m a mess, and Marlin and I haven’t really had time to talk. I promise I’ll keep you up to date about everything.”
Alaina looked like she wanted to argue, but Yarra quickly nodded. “Of course.” She got to her feet. “Why don’t we watch a movie together? We haven’t done it in too long. I’ll make some popcorn and grab drinks, and we can waste a few hours on the couch.”
Curran allowed himself to sink deeper into the couch.
He closed his eyes, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Not telling his mothers about the pregnancy had been incredibly hard.
He’d had Deryn, but it hadn’t been the same thing.
He was glad he wouldn’t have to hide anything anymore.
Well, almost anything. He was going to have to continue hiding the fact that he was in love with Marlin from Marlin, but he could do that. He’d been doing it for close to a decade.
It hurt as much today as it always had.