Callan
C allan had spent most of the day going over Manhole’s books and trying to figure out how Cash survived on his own. The man had serious issues when it came to not saving his receipts and how he ran a business remained a mystery to . Cash would just shrug it off every time would bark at him to keep his receipts or remember to pay the electric bill for the building. He told that he had other things to worry about and he was pretty sure that Cash was talking about the sexy little brunette that found her way between the two of them six months ago.
If he was being honest, he couldn’t stop thinking about Mercy either, but Cash had taken pining for her to new extremes. His friend almost seemed obsessed with Mercy and that couldn’t end well for any of them. About a month after their night together, tried to broach the subject of maybe calling Mercy to see if she wanted to hang out with the two of them. He couldn’t get her out of his mind. He hadn’t been with another woman since Mercy, and he was pretty sure that Cash was in the same celibate boat with him. Cash was adamant that their threesome would never happen again. He told that it was a mistake to share her and that he would never do it again—with anyone.
had thought about calling Mercy himself, but he didn’t want to do that to his friend. He had a good relationship with Cash, both private and professional. wasn’t willing to fuck that up by going against what they agreed. At the time, one night sounded like a good deal to him. He wanted Mercy and he thought that one night would stave his cravings for her, but they only intensified. One taste of sweet Mercy had him wanting more, dreaming night after night of her curvy little ass up against him when they all fell asleep together. The next morning, Mercy woke before the sun, pulled on her little black dress from the night before, and snuck out of Cash’s apartment. was awake, watching her and a part of him wanted to tell her to stay, but he knew the score. Watching Mercy walk out of his life and not having any contact with her sucked.
He found himself watching the crowds at the bar, hoping to find her sitting with some friends or even at the bar alone again. But she never showed up, just as promised. Mercy said that they would never see her again and a part of him now worried that she was a woman of her word. He had seen her friends at the bar but never got up the nerve to ask where Mercy was or how she was doing. He was afraid to find out where she lived or worked, knowing that he might just show up and beg her for another night, another chance.
tossed his paperwork onto Cash’s desk, not wanting to even try to figure out the mess that his friend left for him to sift through. Cash grumbled something about having to go to his friend’s wedding and judging by his attire, he was either in the wedding or the actual groom. tried to give him some shit about the monkey suit that he had on, but Cash wasn’t having it. He barked something about shutting the fuck up and just doing his job, grabbed his truck keys, and took off. If knew what was good for him, he would be gone before Cash came back from the wedding, and judging from the late hour he would be due back any time. Well, if he didn’t find a pretty little bridesmaid to take home. If had to take a guess though, Cash wasn’t interested in just any woman.
decided to call it a night and head home. He was starving and with the bar closed for the night, he didn’t have any other option. He shut down his laptop and shoved the paperwork that he would need to finish up everything at home, into his briefcase. turned off the lights in Cash’s office and pulled the office door shut behind him using his key to lock up the bar. He was just about to his car when Cash’s black pick-up shot into the parking lot. He pulled to a screeching halt next to ’s sports car and shot him a look through the windshield that had wishing that he followed his advice and left before Cash got back. Now, Cash looked about ready to murder someone, and he was the only person around, not giving him much confidence that he was going to get home in one piece.
Cash jumped down from his pickup and pointed at , “She’s fucking pregnant,” he barked. took a few steps back from Cash as he invaded his space. “Did you know that she’s fucking pregnant, man?” wasn’t sure what he was being accused of exactly, but he was sure that Cash was about to fill him in. The passenger side door of Cash’s pick-up creaked open and ’s attention flew to the sexy brunette who was about to jump out of the cab—Mercy.
“Don’t you fucking move, little one,” Cash barked, redirecting his finger at Mercy. The look on her face told that she wasn’t feeling very submissive at the moment. He was pretty sure that the look that she shot Cash was downright defiant. “Mercy don’t test me right now.” Cash took a few steps over to where Mercy jumped from the cab, catching her before her feet could hit the ground.
“You can’t just go and jump out of my truck, little one. You’ll hurt the baby.” felt just about ready to swallow his damn tongue. Mercy was the one that Cash was going on about being pregnant. looked Mercy up and down trying to figure out just how far along she was. She didn’t look very pregnant but then again how would he know anything about pregnant women?
“I told you that I don’t need you to help me with anything. I’ve got this,” Mercy said, pointing to her little bump.
“You fucking passed out, little one. What was I supposed to do, let you just hit the floor and walk away?” Mercy huffed out a breath at Cash’s assessment of events. was trying to piece together the whole scene.
“Wait, you're pregnant?” Mercy and Cash both shot him a look and he was pretty sure that he wasn’t up to speed quite yet. Mercy nodded and Cash turned to face him, pulling Mercy along with him.
“Tell me that you didn’t know, ,” Cash growled. held up his hands as if in defeat.
“Man, I had no idea. I haven’t seen or talked to Mercy since that night.” Mercy pulled her arm free from Cash’s hold and took two steps away from the pair of them.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell either of you about the baby. I knew that you’d go full-on caveman, and you two Neanderthals are more than I can handle right now.” Mercy cradled her bump as if trying to protect the baby from the two of them. The realization that the baby could be one of theirs hit like a ton of bricks. He didn’t know whether he wanted to throw up or pull Mercy into his arms and kiss her senseless.
“We are acting like cavemen because you chose not to clue us in on the fact that one of us is going to be a father,” Cash barked causing Mercy to jump. could see his instant regret for scaring her and he made up for it by pulling her into his arms. The crazy thing was Mercy willingly went to him, taking his comfort and even wrapping her arms around him. If didn’t know better he would have thought that the two of them were a couple and that thought had him seeing red.
“What the hell is going on here guys?” didn’t try to mask his anger. He was done playing guessing games and trying to tiptoe around Mercy for answers. He let Cash take the lead the one night that they were together but now he wouldn’t hide his dominant side. It was time that he stood up for what he wanted and damn it, he wanted his turn to pull little Mercy into his arms and hold her, telling her that everything was going to be all right, just as Cash did.
marched over to where the two stood tangled up in each other and pulled Mercy from Cash’s reluctant arms. He knew that he was probably going to piss his friend off, but he didn’t give a fuck. He needed answers.
“I’d like to know what’s going on here, Mercy. Catch me up because apparently, you two have had a nice little reunion that I wasn’t let in on.” shot Cash a dirty look and watched as his friend just shrugged like finding the woman that they both wanted, pregnant wasn’t a big deal.
“I was in a wedding,” she stuttered. She shivered and swore realizing that she was cold, he took off his jacket and wrapped it around her slight body. His hands gently brushed her baby bump as he closed the jacket around her and every protective instinct that he ever felt came roaring to life. The thought of the three of them creating another life during their short time together made him lose focus. Cash cleared his throat bringing them both back to the here and now.
“Yeah, sorry,” Mercy continued. “I was in my friend Emily’s wedding and Cash was one of her husband’s best men.” shot Cash another look, turning back to question Mercy.
“Husbands, as in two?” asked. Mercy nodded.
“Yes, Emily married two men today and she is very happy.” Mercy sounded defensive and that was the last thing he wanted. wanted her to talk to him, not shut him out.
“Okay, so two husbands—go on.” didn’t want to push her, but they were standing in the middle of a parking lot trying to figure out who’s baby Mercy was carrying. He wanted to get this shit show over with. What he wanted was Mercy in his arms, his bed, and even his life. But he’d get to that.
“Well, I must be showing more than I thought because Cash noticed. I felt light-headed and Cash kept me from hitting the floor when I fainted.” Mercy looked around , “Thanks for that by the way.” Cash nodded at Mercy but stood silently waiting her out.
“I guess with all the excitement of the day and not eating very much, I just passed out. I’ve also been dealing with morning sickness, still. The doctor said that it’s not unusual for women to be sick their entire pregnancy.” Mercy grimaced with her last words. almost wanted to laugh but the thought of being physically sick for nine straight months wasn’t funny.
Cash shoved his hands into his pockets as if trying to stop himself from touching Mercy. He stood next to her and understood the draw of wanting to touch her. He felt the same way. “I need to know little one, how far along are you?” could tell that Cash was holding his breath waiting for her to answer. They both were.
Mercy shook her head as if not wanting to answer Cash’s question. Finally, she sighed and whispered, “Six months.” Cash sucked in a breath and cursed.
“So, the baby is ours?” Cash seemed to give up the fight and pulled her into his arms. felt a pang of jealousy at how willingly Mercy let Cash hold her.
Mercy nodded, “Well, one of yours. I just don’t know which one of you it is,” she sobbed into Cash’s shirt and cuddled up behind her trying to offer her some comfort.
“It’s okay, little one. How could you know which one of us is the father? We both took you at the same time. Fuck, neither one of us used protection. I’m so sorry that we didn’t take better care of protecting you. I just assumed you were on the pill,” Cash said. had to admit, he thought the same thing, but he also felt like a complete asshole for not asking.
“I am on the pill,” Mercy cried. “The doctor said that this happens sometimes, contraception fails and babies are made.” She cupped her tummy, “That’s how this baby was made.” Cash ran his hands down to join hers and damn if they didn’t look like a couple again. Feeling left out by the two of them was starting to piss off.
“I won’t know which one of you is the father until he or she is born.” Mercy looked back to where stood, “There was no reason to tell the both of you. I was going to wait until this peanut was born and then have a paternity test done. I wasn’t trying to keep either of you in the dark, I swear.” Mercy looked nervously between the two of them as if pleading for them to believe her. wasn’t sure what he was thinking or even feeling.
“So, you’ve known about the baby for months now, but you weren’t going to clue us in?” knew that he sounded like a first-class ass, but he didn’t care. It was late and he was ready to go home, drink a few beers, and try to wrap his head around the fact that he might be a dad. Did he even want kids? Hell, up until a few minutes ago, he didn’t have a care in the world, and now, he might be a father. He needed some air and some space and time to think. He couldn’t do that with Cash looking at him like he did something wrong. Mercy looked at him as if he slapped her across the face, hurt and confused. He needed to get out of there, and fast.
“Listen, guys, I have to run. How about you just let me know whenever you figure this all out, honey.” He got into his car and slammed the door, speeding out of the parking lot, he chanced a look back to where Mercy stood in Cash’s arms crying and his friend watching him like he just lost his fucking mind and maybe he had.