Chapter 4
When Teddy arrived at footy training, his brothers were all wearing matching smirks. Immediately suspicious, Teddy approached slowly. It had been a week since he’d seen Kylee, and surely they weren’t still going to tease him about that?
“How’s the jetlag?” he asked Nate, hoping to distract them.
“Pretty much gone. It’s time to get back into the swing of our normal routine at home.” Nate waved at the stands where Eloise and Alice were sitting, each sipping from a keep cup.
“Fresh air will be good for you.” Owen swung his leg up onto the boundary fence and stretched his hamstrings. “Besides, we’re all so excited to hear more about Teddy’s new girlfriend.”
Teddy tied his long hair into a bun and then added another hair tie so it was extra secure. If he didn’t respond, they might drop it.
“She’s been thinking about him for years, guys.” Raff couldn’t even get the whole sentence out without chuckling.
“Why are we still talking about this?” Teddy asked.
“Because the heart wants what the heart wants, Ted. Who am I to stop someone from shooting their shot? But I’m still confused about why you don’t want to see her again?” Raff said.
“Is this about …” Nate looked up at the stands, and Teddy followed his gaze.
Nate’s best friend Charlie had just arrived with his wife Sera and—oh shit—Bianca.
She wasn’t facing him, but Teddy would recognise the woman with short dark hair anywhere.
They’d hooked up a few times over the last year or so, but he hadn’t seen her for ages.
At least he could relax and be confident there wouldn’t be another scene like the one at the pub last week.
He and Bianca could’ve co-authored The World’s Most Chill Guide to Being Friends With Benefits.
“The plot thickens,” Owen said. “I didn’t realise you two were still a thing.”
“We were never a thing. I didn’t know she was here.” Teddy bent over and double-knotted his shoelaces. He thought he’d got away with it when none of his brothers replied. But when he looked up, Bianca had twisted to the side.
Teddy’s mouth dropped open.
“Wait, is she …” Raff whispered like saying the word aloud would make it true.
Pregnant.
Bianca was pregnant. She was wearing a black crop top, and her belly was bare.
Teddy knew it was never okay to comment on women’s bodies, but her belly was huge.
His mind scrambled as he started to do some backwards maths.
He’d last seen her nine months ago. And they’d … They’d … He blinked furiously.
“Do you need to sit down?” Nate asked.
“That’s … No. No. We used a condom. Every time.” Teddy dragged his hands through his beard.
“I’m sure she would’ve told you,” Owen said gently.
“Sera did say she was looking for you earlier,” Nate added.
Christ.
What was it that Lulu had always said? That if Teddy kept fucking around—yes, fine, he was paraphrasing—he’d find out?
Teddy would always laugh and offer his mother her favourite smile—the one that was equal parts mischievous and charming with just the right amount of confidence—before asking “Find out what?”
Now the consequences of his actions might be standing in the middle of the bleachers.
“I’ll be right back,” Teddy stammered, climbing over the boundary fence and stalking up the stairs to where Bianca was standing with the rest of the women.
Logically, he knew he wasn’t the father.
Bianca was brash and showy, but she wasn’t mean.
But a little voice in the back of his mind reminded him of what his teachers had drilled into everyone during sex education classes: abstinence was the only birth control method that was one hundred percent effective.
A condom didn’t mean a woman couldn’t get pregnant.
Everyone stopped talking when Teddy climbed the last step to where they were sitting. “Ladies, you are all looking lovely,” he said with none of his usual charm because his heart was busy running laps around the oval. “Can I borrow Bianca?”
How was he supposed to start a conversation like this? Was ‘hey, did we make a baby’ too blunt? And, shit, if the answer was yes, how hard would it be to get ‘why the hell haven’t I heard about it until now?’ out?
“I’m surprised to … see you here,” he finished quietly as they ambled over to the aisle. He searched her face intently.
Bianca rubbed her stomach and grinned at him. “Calm down, stud. You’re not the dad.”
Teddy almost folded in half with relief.
“God, you should see your face.” Bianca giggled. “Somehow, and I’m still confused about how it happened, I’ve become one of those people.” She played with the engagement ring he’d missed on her finger. “I met someone. He’s so great and …”
Her wistful tone did something to Teddy. Not because he wanted Bianca. Of course, he liked her, and they’d had a good time together, but he’d never thought of her as a long term option … Jesus, he’d given up on the idea of anyone being a long-term option years ago.
What was the point when so many women had told him he was the fun guy, not the forever guy?
He cast his gaze around the stands and the fields. Nate had abandoned training entirely and was sitting in what had been Alice’s seat, his arm around Eloise, their heads together, faces almost touching. Alice had wandered down to the field and was laughing and chatting with Owen and Raff.
His future might not ever look like theirs.
That was okay. He’d find a way to make life fun again.
Eventually.
Bianca touched Teddy’s arm, and he dragged his attention back to her. “I should’ve texted you when I got here. I’m sorry. I didn’t think. My brain has officially gone on hiatus.”
Teddy waved away her apology as one of his trademark, easy grins slid back into place. “It’s fine. It’s great you’re so happy.”
Bianca rubbed her stomach, her expression softening. “Could I offer you some unsolicited advice?”
“That’s my favourite kind,” Teddy said.
“It’s true what everyone says. When you find the right person, everything’s so much better. Not that it’s not a lot of fun finding them if you’re able to keep your feelings out of sex, like we both could.”
His expression must’ve dipped because Bianca rushed to add, “That’s not a bad thing, either.
Sex is great. I love it. I’m sorry. Hormones.
I can’t believe half the sentimental crap I say these days.
But once you know how happy you can be, you want everyone to be that happy, too.
Oh, Jesus. I’m tearing up. Being pregnant is like an alien invasion. ”
There was a whistle in the background, and someone shouted his name.
“I’d better go.” He hitched his thumb over his shoulder, grateful for the reprieve. “But it was good to see you, Bianca.”
She laughed and wiped her eyes. “You too, Teddy.”
He hurried over to where Owen and Raff were doing star jumps.
If Nate had been there, he wouldn’t have done this—babies were an understandably touchy subject for his brother, given his fertility issues—but seeing as though he and Eloise were out of earshot …
Besides, this is what his brothers would expect him to do.
To make a joke, like he always did. “Holy shit, have I got some news,” Teddy said.
Owen froze, his arms extended out in a Y-shape. “Seriously?”
“How far along is she?” Raff said at the same time. “Are you sure?”
“Settle, petals. You’re not going to be uncles any time soon.”
Owen’s arms flopped to his sides. “That must be a huge relief.”
And it should’ve been, but it wasn’t.
Teddy just felt empty.
The next day, Teddy was putting his lunch in the fridge in the small tearoom of the Somers Gully Dental surgery when Dr Nolan walked in. The older man was in his standard uniform of dark slacks and a white dental tunic with his name embroidered over his heart.
“Ah, Theodore. I was hoping to catch you before you started. I’ve pushed some of my appointments to you later in the week so I can do some interviews.”
“You’re hiring someone else?” Teddy asked.
Dr Nolan reached for the kettle and filled it with water. “I’m going away for a few weeks next year, and we’ll need a locum to step in and manage the clinic. Finding someone with enough experience and availability is always difficult.”
Teddy swallowed and tried to push away the sudden buzz of nerves that zapped around his body. This could be the opportunity to win Dr Nolan over that he’d been waiting for. “I’d be happy to step up and take on some additional responsibilities.”
Dr Nolan’s answering gaze was more assessing than usual, but Teddy ploughed on.
“I know I don’t have a huge amount of experience, but I’d love the opportunity.” He almost said that he was confident he could do it, but Teddy didn’t want to come across as arrogant. It was bad enough that Dr Nolan thought he was … well, whatever he already thought about Teddy.
“It’s a lot of responsibility.”
Okay. That wasn’t a no. Teddy would take whatever wins he could get.
“I pride myself on being very responsible, Dr Nolan. This would be a great opportunity, and I’d love to be considered.”
Dr Nolan frowned. “Well, it’s certainly something for me to think about. I also wanted to tell you that we’ve got a new receptionist. Kylee? Can you come here?” he called through the doorway.
This was a nightmare. Teddy needed to wake up. Right now.
“Shut the fucking front door!” Kylee said, and Teddy swallowed a groan.
Excellent. The Ghosts of Hook-ups Past were continuing to haunt him.
Was the universe angry about what had happened with Lena?
Because he would swear on his mother’s life that he hadn’t known she was married.
And nobody loved their mother more than Teddy did.
Dr Nolan whipped around to where the blonde stood behind him. “Kylee. That’s not appropriate workplace language.”
“Sorry, but Teddy and I go way back.” Her words dripped with suggestion. “Remember the guy I was telling you about, Uncle Gabe? The one from the pub the other night?”
Uncle Gabe? Teddy’s eyes widened.
“The one who was about to make the biggest mistake of his life? The guy who broke my heart?”
And there goes any chance of ever getting Dr Nolan to like me.
But it was one night, years ago.
“That’s not what happened.”
If Dr Nolan were a supervillain, his power would be incinerating someone to ash because that’s what it felt like was happening to Teddy right now. The air conditioner kept the clinic at a pleasant temperature, but Teddy was sure he was standing on the surface of the sun.
“Are you implying my niece is a liar?”
“No, no.” Teddy shook his head so violently his man bun listed to one side when he stopped.
“We …” They’d been twenty-two and in a tropical paradise.
Some sweaty nightclub grinding had made them both horny.
One thing had led to another. After seeing Kylee at the pub the other night, Teddy had racked his brains trying to remember everything about their time together.
He’d given her what he liked to think of as the Air Teddy Safety Briefing: climb aboard, get comfortable, follow the safety procedures and have fun but this is a one-way flight.
“I don’t know what to say,” he finished lamely because, hello, rock and a hard place, also known as ways to kill your career before it even properly gets started, my name’s Teddy.
“What you choose to do in your private life is your business, Theodore. But I would suggest you refrain from toying with Kylee’s affections.”
This was too much. But what was he going to do? Teddy was pretty sure he’d only got this job because most other grads didn’t want to work for someone who had a reputation for being hard to please. But there was hard to please and then there was this.
“I’d also like to remind you both that fraternisation between staff is strictly forbidden.”
Well, thank fuck for that.
“You wouldn’t bend the rules for true love, Uncle Gabe? Not even for your favourite niece? Because this is a sign! The universe keeps throwing Teddy and me together. We’re obviously meant to be.”
Teddy’s head throbbed, which wasn’t conducive to thinking of a way out of this clusterfuck that wouldn’t embarrass himself or Kylee.
“I have a girlfriend,” tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it. Dr Nolan glared at him. “Now,” Teddy corrected. “I didn’t then, but I do now.” What was he saying? Why had his brain gone there?
Because it’s time to stop sleeping around and expecting there to be no consequences, a voice very similar to his mother’s whispered in his mind. Where did that come from?
“Why didn’t you mention her at the pub then? Oh God, it was the pretty girl there, wasn’t it? With the curly hair? She was staring at you with hearts in her eyes.” Kylee’s lip wobbled. “And I saw you look at her a few times too.”
“Sure,” Teddy said, still all discombobulated.
It’d be a lie to say he’d never thought about Jessica that way.
He’d always liked Jessica and teasing her gently?
Trying to coax out those rare smiles she guarded so fiercely?
Well, that had always made Teddy smile too.
But he’d discounted his attraction to her because a) she was a Wattle Junction local and b) as if a single mother with her hands already too full would be interested in him.
“So, you’ll be bringing her to the company picnic? Uncle Gabe was just telling me about it.”
Teddy had forgotten about the company picnic. Each year, Somers Gully Dental sponsored part of the local fair, and all employees were expected to show up and support the clinic.
He nodded.
“Oh my God. You are? Wow. Okay. So, it’s serious? Do you love her? Because my whole ‘you’re going to regret this’ thing was reverse psychology. I was going to ask you out again.”
Teddy blanched. This is why he shouldn’t have lied. What started as a small falsehood would get bigger by the second if he didn’t get it under control.
“Don’t answer that,” Kylee said. “You don’t need to. Your face just told me everything.”
“I said my circumstances had changed. I’m sorry,” Teddy said as gently as he could without being accused of being condescending. The grim lines on Dr Nolan’s face started to disappear.
“This is so unfair.” Kylee spun on her heel and rushed away.
“I didn’t realise you were seeing someone,” Dr Nolan said. “It’s good to see you settling down.”
That was the nicest thing Dr Nolan had ever said to Teddy.
But, shit, there was no backing down now, was there? Why did Teddy always act first and then think later? “I’d better get ready for my first patient,” Teddy said, nodding towards the door.