Page 6 of Teasing a King

I roll my eyes. “I wasn’t talking about that. Though, yes. That was incredible. I mean her. She’s amazing. I felt drawn to her. I guess it all culminated at the wedding reception. I saw Finn with Hannah. Ronan and Quinn. Claire and Garrett. Then you proposed to Hope.” I shrug. “It felt like she and I were the odd ones out.”

“I didn’t know you felt that way,” Wyatt says quietly.

I shake my head. “It’s not like that,” I say. “I’m not jealous or anything. I’m happy for you. For all of you. I guess I was just feeling a little left out. Like I was the only one without someone.”

“So, you slept with her because you were lonely?” Wyatt’s tone tells me what he thinks of that.

I sigh. “No,” I say. “I slept with her because she’s beautiful and smart and sexy and funny. Have you met her?”

He holds up a hand to silence me. “No dirty details, please,” he says, making me roll my eyes again.

“Anyway,” I say pointedly. “When she suggested we leave together, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”

Wyatt lets out a low whistle. “You mean she propositioned you? Damn. You still got it, big bro.”

I roll my eyes. “Shut up.”

Wyatt looks back at me, confusion clear on his face. “So, what was all that about? Why is she pissed at you now?”

I feel a squeezing sensation in my chest, and I have to fight to draw in a deep breath. I blow it out before looking my brother in the eyes.

“Because she’s pregnant.”

Wyatt blinks at me before his eyes grow wide. “Holy shit.”

I nod. “Exactly.”

Wyatt sputters for a moment, his mouth opening and closing a few times as he tries to find the words. Eventually, his mouth curves into a small smile and he looks me in the eyes. “Congratulations, Van. You’re going to be a great dad. And I am going to be an amazing uncle. Again.”

Of all the things I’d expected to hear from my twin, that’s not it.

“That’s all?” I ask.

He shrugs. “What do you want me to say? What’s done is done. She’s pregnant and you’re the father. So, congratulations.” His brow lowers in thought, and he looks back to me as if something just occurred to him. “Wait, is she keeping the baby?”

I nod, remembering Mya’s words. “She is.”

Wyatt studies me for a long moment. “Is that what you want?” he asks carefully.

I stop, considering his question. I’ve always figured I’d have kids someday. I’d find the right woman, get married and settle into family life. Talk about the best riding lawn mowers with the other dads in the neighborhood and tell cheesy jokes. Dad stuff. But that had always been an amorphous thing in the far distant future. I know I’m not getting any younger, but I’m far from old. I’d figured that future with me as a dad was somewhere far off. Now that it’s a very real present truth, it’s hard to wrap my head around it. I think back to Wyatt’s question.

“Not that it matters what I want,” I say. “Because it’s ultimately her choice. But yeah.” I nod. “I want her to keep the baby.”

Wyatt’s smile stretches wide across his face. “Then I say again, congratulations.”

For the first time since Mya’s announcement, I feel myself smiling. “Thanks,” I say. I’m still stunned and terrified, but I feel an odd sense of peace settle over me now that I’ve come to this realization.

I grin at Wyatt. “I’m going to be a dad.”

He smiles back for a moment before his expression shifts to confusion. “Why is Mya so pissed again?”

“Shit!” I exclaim, jumping to my feet. “I fucked it up.” I hurry toward the front doors, digging in my pocket for my car keys.

Wyatt’s voice comes from behind me. “You might want to work on your language before the little one gets here. I hear they’re like little sponges, just repeating everything you say.”

“Fuck off,” I mutter.

“See?” Wyatt says from behind me. “That’s the language you should be avoiding.”

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