Chapter 33 Drew
DREW
Daisy shows up after lunch, which for me was a piece of toast. I can’t seem to get the queasiness to completely disappear.
She’s got a paper bag and her big sister face on when she closes us in my office.
We camp out for most of the afternoon, and once the guys know she’s here, they don’t stop in as much, giving us our space.
It’s enough cover to do what I asked her here for.
But it doesn’t keep me from freaking out…or appreciating their mature brand of respect for me and my family. Totally not something I’m used to.
Daisy’s eyes exaggerate her blinks, and I roll my eyes at her implied accusation.
Are you going to stop being a chicken and go use what I brought you?
Of course I am.
I stand and hold out my hand for the test, which I promptly stuff in my pocket to take to the employee bathroom at the end of the hall.
Once I’ve peed on the stick, I stuff it back in its wrapping and go back to my office to wait with Daisy.
“Either way, it’ll be okay.” My sister soothes me with a hand on my arm.
“I don’t even know whose it would be…” It’s too soon, right? There’s no way I can actually be pregnant.
I’m tired. Sore. Overwhelmed from getting everything I wanted last night.
Life’s going to find a way to snatch it away from me again. Isn’t it?
“You don’t mean the cheater…?”
“No. God, no. He was diligent about wearing a condom at least. That on top of my birth control? Chances are slim. No. It could be any of the three men I’m currently sleeping with.”
“Ooo, listen to you. Having three men so hopelessly in love with you that they’re willing to share you. I want to say what a dream come true, but sis, that sounds exhausting.”
I laugh a little. “It certainly can be exhausting. But in the best way.”
Daisy waggles her brows. “I bet. Just like I bet it’s Greyson. We already know he’s got viable swimmers.”
“Oh god.” I drop my head in my hands. “I don’t want this to impede him from being able to see his daughter.”
“That’s not for you to worry about. So don’t.
Besides, it could be Adam’s. Or Gabe’s. Ooo, can you imagine all of that surly quiet in a child?
Too bad we never got to see him as a kid.
Or maybe he’ll have that uber confidence Adam has.
Although having a dominant personality like his is going to make his offspring a lot to handle. ”
I groan into my palms. “You’re not helping.”
“Hey, I’m not the one who moved so fast.” Although her tone is teasing, it still hurts more than it should because it’s always been true. There’s a reason Greyson used to call me Speed Demon Drew.
“It’s fun to imagine how you’re going to tell them. Oh, the drama. I want to be there when Amy Green hears the news. I know she’s always had it out for you. And she’s going to be put in her place when you show her up by having a beautiful family with three gorgeous, smart, and kind men.”
Oh god. How is this possible? Why would any of them want to stay after this? I’m a fucking disaster.
Daisy pulls my hands away from my face and ducks to catch my gaze. “Hey, stop it. I’m teasing. Remember: no matter what, you’re not alone.”
The sincerity in her brown eyes eases a little of my worry, but only a little bit. Because this is a lot. It’s going to change everything.
The timer on Daisy’s phone dings, and I can’t. I can’t do it. I’m not ready to know.
“You do it.”
My big sister rolls her eyes at me and flips the test over so we can see it at the same time. No hesitation. All dramatic flair.
The results hit like a gut-punch—positive.
I can’t breathe. This…this isn’t part of the plan. Not that I had such a big grasp on what my plans were to begin with, but this didn’t factor in. Why wasn’t I more careful?
Silence hangs between us as I spiral.
This isn’t real, right?
A false positive?
I’m sure that happens all the time.
Right? Right?
“Well…damn.” Daisy takes my hand, squeezes it, grounding me without words. Words never did me any good when life got too much for me. It’s why Gabe always managed to calm me down when others couldn’t.
There’s no way he would be calm right now. Not about this. How am I supposed to tell him? How am I supposed to watch his opinion of me change?
What if none of them want me now? What if I turn into a burden? I swear I’ve never been more than that to anyone. I’ll cease being useful. And they’ll be stuck with me.
“Stop it, Drew. Whatever train of thought coursing through that brilliant brain of yours is not helpful, so stop it. You’re fine. You’re going to have so much help with this that you won’t even know what to do with it.”
I don’t know how she looks so reassured, but her confidence helps even out my breathing in increments. “They’re all going to drop me after I tell them. Why would they want to stay? It’s too soon.”
My jumbled thoughts don’t make much sense as they fly out of my mouth, but Daisy gives my shoulders a good shake.
“Whoever it is, they’ll be over the moon.”
But I’m not so sure.
Daisy makes me look at her. “Let me tell you what’s obvious to me, okay?
As someone outside of this. Adam wants you.
A kid is going to make him happy. He’s not getting any younger.
Greyson loves kids and barely gets to see his own.
And Gabe…he never liked kids, but he always liked you.
There’s no way it would be any different with your kid. ”
A kernel of hope burns, but it’s short lived under the onslaught of my panic.
How the hell am I supposed to tell them when I don’t know whose it is?
Will it break the tenuous relationship we’ve built?