Page 2 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

“Hey, Shrimp! What’s up? Did you miss me already?” her brother, Johnathan’s, teasing lilt was expected. Familiar. Her shoulders dropped slightly and a small breath left her lungs as a weight was lifted from her chest. She could just picture him smirking at her with his phone pressed to his ear and his legs crossed, spread out on his leather chair.

Being the youngest of four had always been taxing—like being the last in line for the bathroom during a family road trip, or the default guinea pig for her brothers’ wild science experiments.

However, there were definitely several perks to it, too. Although she was the only woman in the family, her brothers had always tried their best not to exclude her from their lives. They’d taught her everything from how to belch the alphabet (a dubious skill at best) to the fine art of dodging household chores, making her feel like an integral part of their quirky brotherhood.Their antics, both ridiculous and endearing, only deepened her affection for them.

Johnathan, as the eldest, had embraced his role as protector wholeheartedly, especially when it came to anyone who dared to harm his siblings. He was responsible but never cold or distant, balancing his protective nature with a warmth that often made him Allison’s favorite.

For years, he had been preparing to take the helm as CEO, eagerly anticipating the day he could lead the company. However, their father steadfastly refused to step down, leaving Johnathan to navigate the complexities of his current role as Chief Operating Officer.

Leopold, the second-born and eternally rebellious, was far too laid-back to engage in the family business. Allison believed his attitude was partly a way to defy their father, as he had been trying to irritate him since they were kids. Living in Los Angeles, far removed from any responsibilities, often made Allison resent him.

He viewed any work that interfered with his lifestyle as beneath him, reluctantly accepting a Division Head role in their Business Unit primarily because it allowed him to travel for business while still enjoying his freedom.

Frederick was an odd combination of her father and Johnathan—grim, broody, and downright terrifying in the business world. Currently, he was the youngest CFO on the West Coast, working diligently to rise to the COO position once Johnathan took over as CEO.

However, when it came to family, he became surprisingly protective, often showing emotions that others would never believe he was capable of if they only knew him as a businessman. And at times, that made Allison love him a little bit more.

If anyone could help her, it would be her brothers. She knew they would eagerly offer their wisdom, but this situation felt uniquely like a ‘Johnathan and Allison’ moment—a true shrew and shrimp scenario.

“Hey, Shrew,” she sighed.

“Uh oh… I know that sound. Spill,” he urged, the crackle of the phone line amplifying his anticipation and breaking Allison from her trip down memory lane.

“I did something stupid. No, not stupid. Just fucking idiotic. Unhinged. And I screwed up. I screwed up so bad, Johnny, I don’t even know what I—” She cut herself off to breathe, her brain running faster than her mouth again.

“Oh, come on, Allison. Whatever you did can’t be that bad!” Johnathan’s tone was a mix of impatience and curiosity, as if he were waiting for the punchline of a particularly juicy joke. He was a huge gossip, just like her, so he was probably itching for her to just spill the tea already.

Allison took a deep breath, her voice trembling. “Okay, so you know how we always promised to tell each other everything, no matter what?”

“Yeah,” her brother replied slowly, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

“Well, I think I messed up, Johnny. Like, really messed up.”

There was a pause on the line, and Johnathan’s breath caught. “Allison, what are you saying?”

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out, her words tumbling over each other. “I’m pregnant, Johnny, and I don’t know how it happened! I mean, I do know how it happened, but I just—I’m so scared.”

Johnathan was silent for a moment, absorbing the shock. Her brother was a big talker, so it surprised her how he had shut up so easily.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! I took three tests just to be certain. All positive.” Her voice broke, a mix of fear and disbelief. “I don’t know what to do.”

There was a long silence, then her brother spoke, his voice soft and steady.

“I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”

Allison sighed. “I’m not Johnny. That’s the point. I got drunk and—” she cut herself off, realizing how bad this sounded. “I just need your help. Please.”

“Okay, okay. We’ll figure this out. It’s not the end of the world. We’ll do this together, alright?”

“Together?” Allison echoed, her panic subsiding slightly.

“Yeah, together,” Johnathan affirmed. “You’re my sister, and I’ve got your back. We’ll talk to the guys and Dad, and we’ll plan out the next steps. You’re not alone in this.”

Allison nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “Okay. Thank you, Johnny.”

“Always,” he replied, his voice filled with a comforting warmth. “Now, promise me you’ll try to stay calm until I get there. We’ll handle this, one step at a time.”

---