Page 74 of Her Protector Daddies

Other than my news.

Despite being all cried out, tears started to build once more and I tried to force a strong smile.

“It’s over,” Bailey confirmed.

“There will be the court case obviously, but that will take a long time. The danger to you and your father? It’s passed,” Tyler assured me.

“You can go back to your life,” said Jay.

“Or embrace your new life.” Bailey’s brow lifted suggestively, and then he glanced at his two friends. “Think I can speak for all of us when I say you’re stuck with us.”

Murmurs of agreement rose from the other two and my tears spilled over. In this moment, things were some semblance of perfect and then my gut churned, reminding me of the news I’d learned that could ruin everything.

It would. There’d never been any talk of what came after, and despite my love for all three of them… this was different. This was huge.

“I uh…” I started to say then I stopped as my voice wavered. Three pairs of eyes locked onto me and I froze.

Fuck.

“The doctor, earlier… when he was here he told me that…”

Bailey’s grip tightened and Tyler’s brow pinched together while Jay’s lips pressed flat.

“He told me that while I was in surgery they learned that I was pregnant. I’m so sorry! I had an implant so I didn’t even think about anything like that, but apparently with the stress and fluctuations, things like that don’t work as well so when we were all sleeping together, it just wasn’t working.”

The words poured out of me in a rush and I was unable to look either of them in the eye as I continued.

“I’d been sick, sure but I thought it was just anxiety and stress and I—I’m so sorry, I know what we have isn’t that serious. Definitely not baby serious but now there’s a baby inside of me and I have no idea what to do! I’ve been attached, shot at, beaten, and nearly killed and yet this—this baby and the possibility of losing you all is more terrifying than any of that and I’m just— I’m sorry!”

A tense silence fell in the absence of my words and my heart pounded so painfully in my chest that my stitches seemed to throb in time to the beat. I couldn’t look up, unable to stomach whatever look would be on the faces of these men.

Suddenly, Bailey laughed and it was such an unexpected light sound that I glanced up in shock.

“Fuck,” Bailey chuckled. “I always wanted to be a dad. Not how I pictured it ever happening but Selena, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have a baby with.”

“What?” His words didn’t sound real.

“You know,” Tyler cut in. “I’m the same.” His hand rubbed up and down one of my legs through the blankets. “Selena, if you couldn’t tell by now that we love you, then let this be the moment you realize.”

This wasn’t real. I’d fallen asleep, hadn’t I? This was just a dream.

“I always wanted a sibling for Dae,” Jay said with a wide smile. “I hadn’t considered when but given everything, this feels kind of perfect.”

“You’re serious?” I whispered, staring at them through my tears. Weren’t they mad? I wasn’t being kicked to the curb?

“The decision is yours,” Bailey said, reaching out and warmly cupping my cheek. His thumb swiped away a few of my tears. “If you want to keep the baby, then we will support you. If you want the baby, and you want us then we’re right here for you.”

Tyler and Jay nodded solemnly in agreement.

I did want the baby; that had never been a doubt in my mind. And I definitely wanted them. All of them. I couldn’t and wouldn’t ever choose.

I’d be a fool to say no.

28

SELENA

“You know, you could have stayed longer,” Bailey said, holding the door open with one arm while refusing to let go of me with his other.

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