Page 125 of Mace

My stomach plummets into the ground. She knows about Link? “About what?” I act dumb, hoping she doesn’t know the truth.

She rolls her eyes, rocking the baby in her arms. “You think I haven’t heard you throwing up? I know you’re pregnant, Maylie. The thing I don’t know is why you’re hiding it.”

My heart stutters even as my chest swells. “Because you deserve to have this moment,” I say.

“You’re never going to change, are you? You don’t have to burn yourself to keep others warm. And this isn’t a competition.”

“I guess it’s not. I just wanted you to have this.”

“So, you are pregnant?”

I nod, unable to stop the beaming smile from spreadingacross my face. “It was pretty rough in the first few weeks, but I’m starting to feel better now.”

Ivy gets this look on her face that she always does when she’s thinking about her pregnancy. “It gets better for a little bit and then it gets worse again, but then at the end, you get this perfection.” She peers down at her baby before lifting her gaze back to mine. “I’m really happy for you. You deserve all this, Maylie. Your whole life, you’ve always put other people first. It’s time for you to live your life now.”

I move over to sit next to her, pulling her against me. “I have no idea how we’re going to deal with two babies in the apartment.”

“I’m not your responsibility anymore, Maylie. I’ll find a place for me and Seren.”

I rear back as if she’s punched me in the face. “No, you won’t. This is your home. And hers. How can you get a job and take care of a new baby? Besides, they’re going to be cousins. They should grow up together. And I’m not letting you move out, at least not until you’re ready to.”

Ivy stares down at her daughter, who grabs for her finger. “What if I’m never ready?”

“Then you’ll stay here forever,” I say as if it’s obvious.

The sound of the key in the lock and the door opening sends a wave of anticipation through me. I hold my breath, my skin heating as Mace steps into the room. As always, he floors me with how handsome he is. Today, he looks especially good. His hair’s longer than it was when I first met him, and his jaw is covered in a thin layer of hair that makes him look so hot.

My body alights instantly in his presence, and I don’tknow if it’s my hormones, but I want to mount him like a horse.

He comes to me, and I stand as his hand wraps around my neck and he gives me a blistering kiss. My toes curl and my stomach flutters as he claims me with that possessiveness I love about him. When he pulls back, his gaze darts between us. “Everything okay?”

“Yup, just having a sister moment,” I say as his hand slides down to my hip.

“Can we keep PDA to a minimum?” Riot asks from behind us. I didn’t even realise he was with Mace. “There are young people you’re scarring for life.”

Mace growls something under his breath, but all my attention is locked on my sister, who averts her gaze to her daughter, completely ignoring Riot.That’s new.

“You okay?” Mace asks me, ignoring his brother. What he’s really asking is if our baby and I are okay.

“Ivy knows,” I say, my fingers curling into his shirt.

Mace’s expression gives nothing away for a moment, then his gaze slides to my sister.

“Congratulations to you both, but you should’ve said something sooner,” Ivy chastises. “I’m not some petulant child who needs to be the centre of attention.”

Riot drops onto the sofa opposite, spreading his legs out in front of him as if he owns the place. “What are we congratulating each other on?”

“You’re going to be an uncle.”

Riot blinks, and it’s almost comical to see him completely lost for words for a second before his gaze snaps to Mace. “You’re having a baby?”

Mace smiles, and it makes my belly dip. “Yeah. I’m gonna be a father.”

He pulls me against his side, his hand resting on my stomach, and then I’m discarded as Riot pulls Mace out of my grasp and into a violent hug. He whoops and yells, fist punching the air.

“Fuck. This is the best news ever. I mean, for you. Me getting someone pregnant would be a nightmare.”

“I’m sure you have a string of unclaimed kids roaming around Birmingham,” Mace says, still grinning.

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