37. Samuel
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Samuel
I wasn’t nervous.
That was what I kept telling myself as I adjusted my shirt for the tenth time, my fingers drumming against my thigh beneath the heavy wooden table at The Foundry.
The entire back dining area had been set for tonight. One long table, candles flickering, plates and silverware neatly arranged.
It looked warm. Inviting. But my stomach twisted like I was walking into a goddamn interrogation room.
Because in a way, I was.
Sadie sat beside me, her hands folded in her lap, her fingers worrying at the hem of her dress. Kai and Adam flanked her, the three of us moving in sync like always, but there was a weight in the air that we couldn’t shake.
We’d never done this before.
Not like this.
Bringing Sadie here, sitting down with all our parents at once, laying everything out on the table… it was uncharted territory. And the fact that Sadie was pregnant? That just made the stakes even higher.
At least our parents knew about our past relationship with Penelope and were aware of Sadie, so it wouldn't be much of a shock for them. But Hayley… Sadie had chosen to talk to her foster mom separately, needing more time to find the courage to tell her.
Kai exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders back like he was prepping for a fight. Adam, usually the calm one, was uncharacteristically still, his fingers tapping an uneven rhythm against his water glass.
And Sadie looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here.
I reached over, covering her hands with mine. “Relax, darlin’. It’s gonna be okay.”
She let out a breathy laugh. “You sound real sure about that.”
Before I could answer, the side doors swung open and our parents started filing in.
First was my mother, Alicia, her sharp brown eyes scanning the room before landing on me. She arched a brow, lips twitching.
“About time you invited me to dinner here, Samuel.”
Kai’s parents, Leona and Milo, followed close behind. Leona smiled warmly, but Milo’s expression was unreadable, his sharp gaze taking everything in.
Then came Adam’s mother, Marlene, all bright energy and knowing smirks, with his father Richard trailing behind, quiet as always.
They took their seats, the low murmur of greetings filling the space. But the tension was thick, pressing in from all sides.
Then Mom, bless her lack of patience, cut straight to the point. “Alright, what’s this about?”
Silence.
Sadie swallowed, her fingers tightening around mine. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before clearing my throat.
“We wanted you all here so we could tell you… together.”
Milo crossed his arms. “Tell us what?”
Kai sat forward, his voice steady. “That we’re together. The four of us.”
Another silence, this one heavier.
Then Marlene let out a delighted laugh. “Oh, I knew it! I knew something was going on!”
Mom, who had been studying Sadie with laser focus, tilted her head. “And you? You’re with all three of the boys?”
Sadie’s lips parted. “I… yes. I am.”
Mom hummed, tapping her nails against the table. “So you’re telling me you’ve got not one, but three of them wrapped around your little finger?”
Sadie blinked, visibly flustered. “I, uh, it’s not like that…”
Mom threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, honey, I like you already.”
Leona reached for Kai’s hand, squeezing it gently. “Are you happy?”
Kai’s throat bobbed. “Yeah, Mom. I am.”
Adam finally spoke. “We all are.”
Milo exhaled slowly, gaze flicking between us. “And you think this can work?”
Sadie sat up a little straighter, her voice steady despite the nerves. “I do.”
Milo held her gaze for a long moment, then gave a single nod. “Alright.”
Sadie let out a breath she’d clearly been holding.
Richard, who had been mostly silent, spoke next, his deep voice calm. “You’re all in this?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Completely.”
Mom smirked. “Well, I suppose that makes my biggest concern whether you’re taking care of her properly.”
Sadie’s breath hitched, her fingers clenching in her lap.
Leona reached across the table, resting her hand over Sadie’s. “Sweetheart, if you ever need anything, anything , you come to me. Understand?”
Sadie nodded, looking fragile but sure.
Marlene clapped her hands together, grinning. “Well, now that we’ve got that settled, I guess I should start thinking about wedding cakes.”
Adam choked on his drink. “Ma!”
Marlene winked. “Oh, honey, I’m just saying… when you know, you know.”
Laughter rippled around the table, breaking some of the tension, but Sadie was still holding herself too carefully, like she was bracing for impact.
I knew that look.
I tightened my grip on her hand, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles.
“You okay?” I murmured, low enough that only she could hear.
She hesitated, then let out a slow breath. “I need to tell them.”
I nodded, giving her hand a squeeze. “We’re right here with you.”
She swallowed hard, then looked up, meeting the expectant gazes of our parents. The room quieted, like they all sensed more was coming.
Sadie straightened her spine. “There’s… something else.”
Kai shifted beside her, like he wanted to shield her from whatever weight she was carrying. Adam leaned in just slightly.
I just held her hand tighter, waiting.
Sadie exhaled. “I’m pregnant.”
The words landed like a shockwave.
Leona’s eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. Mom’s brows shot up, her smirk dropping for the first time all night.
Milo let out a slow breath, Richard blinked, and Marlene made a choked noise before breaking into a full grin.
“You’re…?” Leona started, then pressed a hand over her heart. “Oh, sweetheart.”
Sadie’s fingers twitched against mine. “I… I know it’s a lot.”
Milo sat back, exhaling. “Who’s…?”
“All of ours,” Kai said firmly.
That got another beat of silence. Then Marlene let out a delighted laugh. “Well, now I really need to start planning a wedding!”
Adam groaned. “Jesus, Ma.”
Mom, on the other hand, had gone quiet, her gaze locked on Sadie. Then, slowly, she softened. “How far along?”
Sadie hesitated. “About ten weeks.”
Her hand rested on her flat stomach. Ever since we’d found out about the pregnancy, we hadn’t really talked about it. No DNA test, no appointments, just the initial doctor’s visit when she fainted.
Even though it was constantly on my mind—and I knew it weighed on the others too—we’d kept the subject on the back burner to give Sadie space.
But now? Now everything had changed. It was all out in the open.
Mom nodded, her sharp brown eyes flicking between us. “And you’re all in?”
“Yes,” Kai said without hesitation.
“Absolutely,” Adam agreed.
I didn’t even blink. “There was never another option.”
Leona let out a breath, her eyes glistening. “Oh, honey, I wish I could hug you right now.”
Sadie let out a nervous laugh. “You can.”
That was all it took. Leona was on her feet in an instant, rounding the table to pull Sadie into a warm, tight embrace.
“We are going to take care of you,” she murmured against Sadie’s hair. “This is a family, all of us. You have us all now.”
Sadie let out a shaky breath, her fingers curling into Leona’s back.
Marlene was already wiping at her eyes, shaking her head. “Well, I wasn’t expecting this tonight, but I can’t say I’m disappointed.”
Milo finally nodded. “Alright, then.”
Sadie blinked at him. “That’s it?”
Milo’s lips quirked. “That’s it.”
She looked like she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Mom leaned forward, leveling a look at me. “You’d better be feeding her properly.”
I snorted. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good,” she said. Then she smiled. “Because now you’ve got two people to take care of.”
Sadie sucked in a breath, like the weight of it was finally hitting her.
But then Adam reached for her, Kai kissed the top of her head, and I leaned in, pressing my forehead to her temple.
We had her.
And we weren’t going anywhere.