Chapter 31 #2
I glance toward the house, catching the faint movement of Mia’s silhouette in the kitchen. She’s pacing. Thinking. Maybe panicking.
The twins look between us, confused. Emma tugs on Damon’s sleeve. “Did we do it wrong?” she asks.
Damon crouches, his face softening. “No, sweetheart. You and your sister did perfect.”
Ella looks toward the house. “Then why did Mommy go inside?”
We don’t have an answer.
Damon ruffles her hair. “We’re gonna figure it out, okay?”
Zane crosses his arms. “Waiting around isn’t gonna do anything. I’m gonna go talk to her.”
“Bad idea,” I mutter. “She’s not gonna want all of us coming at her at once.”
Zane glares. “Well, I’m not just sitting out here.”
“Neither am I,” Damon says, already moving toward the house.
I sigh, following after them. One way or another, we need to get to the bottom of this.
Inside, Mia stands by the counter, gripping the edge like she needs to steady herself. She doesn’t look angry. She doesn’t even look upset. Just… lost in thought.
She turns when she hears us. “I’m sorry,” she says before we can speak. “I didn’t mean to freak out. I just—” She exhales, running a hand through her hair. “This is a lot.”
Zane leans against the fridge, arms crossed. “We figured that much.”
Damon steps closer, voice low. “Mia, if you don’t want this—”
“That’s not it,” she interrupts, shaking her head. “That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?” I ask. “Because, no offense, but walking out like that was a hell of a way to react.”
She presses her lips together, searching for words. Then, finally, she sighs. “I didn’t mean for you guys to find out like this.”
She hesitates, then turns to face us fully. There’s a flicker of fear in her eyes, something raw and uncertain.
Then she holds out her hand.
I stare at the plastic stick in her palm. Two pink lines.
Pregnant.
My stomach drops.
Zane swears under his breath, and Damon takes a step closer, his gaze locked on the test like it might vanish.
Nobody speaks.
“Surprise,” she says sheepishly.
Damon is the first to find his voice. “You… how long have you known?”
“Since this morning.” Her grip tightens on the test. “I was going to tell you after dinner, but then… you proposed.” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “And I panicked.”
Zane runs a hand through his hair. “Jesus, Mia.”
“I know.” Her voice wobbles. “I know this is a lot. I know we weren’t expecting this, but—”
“You think we’d walk away?” My voice comes out rougher than I intend.
Her eyes snap to mine, wide. “I don’t know, Asher.
That’s the problem.” She takes a breath, frustration and fear bleeding through.
“I have been raising these girls on my own. Even with you guys here, my brain doesn’t just switch off and assume it’s all fine.
It tells me I need a plan. It tells me I need to be prepared for when things don’t work out.
” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Because I’ve never had anyone stay. ”
The room is dead silent.
Then Damon moves. He takes her hand—the one still clutching the test—and brings it to his chest. “We stay, Mia.”
Zane steps in, voice firm. “You’re not alone in this.”
I let out a breath, moving closer, placing a hand on her waist. “We love you. All of us.”
Damon is the first to move. He steps back, his expression unreadable. He drops to his knees.
Right there, in the middle of the kitchen.
Mia stiffens. “Damon, what are you—”
Zane follows, lowering himself beside him. “You panicked because you thought this wasn’t real,” he says quietly. “That we'd leave. That this—us—wouldn't last.”
I swallow hard, my chest tightening, and then I kneel, too.
Three men. Three rings.
Mia covers her mouth, eyes wide, breath hitching.
Damon takes her hand first. “I was always yours, Mia. Even before I knew it.” His grip tightens. “I love you. I love our girls. I love this family we’ve built. And I will spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”
Zane’s fingers brush over her knuckles next. “You changed everything, Mia. I never thought I’d have this—a home, something worth fighting for. But you gave me that. And I want to be here. Always.”
I take a breath, my heart pounding. “I spent my whole life moving. Never staying in one place long enough to belong. Until you.” I swallow. “I don’t know what comes next, Mia. But I know I want it with you.”
Tears slip down her cheeks, and her fingers tremble in Damon’s grip. “You idiots,” she whispers. “I haven’t even said yes.”
Damon smirks. “We’ll wait."
Zane grins. “Take all the time you need, baby.”
I just hold her gaze, waiting, letting her see everything I feel. Letting her know.
Mia exhales, and then—finally—she nods.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Yes?” Zane echoes.
“Yes.” Her smile breaks through the tears, radiant, full of everything we’ve been waiting for. “Yes to all of you.”
Damon slides the ring onto her finger first, then Zane, then me.
And when she laughs—a soft, happy sound—I know we’ve just won the greatest fight of our lives.
Mia kisses each of us, slow and deep, like she’s finally letting herself believe this is real. When she pulls back, she’s biting her lip. I almost lean in for another kiss. Almost.
“Who’s the father?” I ask.
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to find out,” she says. “But I mean, if you want to establish paternity, we can do that—”
“No,” Damon says firmly, cutting her off. His hand rests on her stomach, protective and certain. “You’re right. We are all the kids’ dads. Let’s keep it that way.”
Zane nods, his expression serious. “No point in changing what already works.”
Mia exhales, something in her shoulders loosening. “Good,” she says, smirking now. “Because you know what they say about pregnant women and how horny they get. I’m glad I have three men to take care of business.”
Damon groans. Zane curses under his breath.
And me? I just grin, already reaching for her.
“Well, baby,” I murmur, lifting her effortlessly into my arms. “We can get started on that right now.”