Page 74 of Baby For My Ex's Brother

"Are you sure? A little celebration never hurt anyone." He's looking at me now with concern etched in the lines of his face.

"Yeah, I'm sure." I force a smile, hoping it looks more convincing than it feels.

For a moment, we sit in silence, the crackling of the fire filling the space between us with a comforting rhythm. I watch the flames dance and flicker, their warmth chasing away the chill of the autumn air creeping through the house.

I should be ecstatic about Trinity, about the future it represents. I should be thrilled that Liam is happy I got in. But as Liam's thumb strokes the back of my hand, a silent litany offears begins to unfurl within me. There's a weight to his touch, a gravity that holds me here even as my mind races ahead.

What I don't tell him—what I can't bring myself to voice just yet—is the suspicion that's been gnawing at me, relentlessly and unbidden. The thought that there might be more than just acceptance letters and celebration dinners on the horizon for us.

I'm starting to suspect... I'm pregnant.

I’ve been feeling nauseous a lot… food tastes wrong, and most importantly, I missed my period. At first, I thought it was just the pill—I started it after Liam and I started seeing each other—but we didn’t use protection that first night on our road trip.

I stopped taking the pill three days ago because this feels true, even if I haven’t taken a pregnancy test.

The realization sits heavy in my chest, a leaden truth that threatens to spill over and shatter the fragile peace we've found here. It's not just about me anymore, or the dreams I've harbored. It's about us, about the precarious balance we've struck between desire and responsibility.

And as I lean into Liam's embrace, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my cheek, I know that this secret will test everything we are to each other. Our forbidden romance, born from shadows and whispered promises, might not survive the daylight of reality.

But for now, I let myself be held, clinging to the solace of his presence even as the future looms uncertain before us.

Chapter thirty

Liam

I normally spend mydays here working—but with Shiloh, I’m playing tourist.

And it’s actually… fun.

"Hey, you're not having wine?" I ask her as we sit down in a local restaurant that boasts the best seafood on the island.

The place is cozy, wrapped in the warm glow of twinkle lights and filled with the soft murmur of other diners. The sun has just begun to set, painting the island in vivid autumn tones.

Shiloh glances at her glass of water and then up at me, her eyes holding that spark I've come to adore. "I'm just not feeling it tonight." She shrugs, but there’s a tired edge to her voice that prickles my concern.

"Sure you're okay?" I lean forward, searching her face for signs of the illness she'd been fighting off before we came here.

She gives me a reassuring smile, one that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, just enjoying the food more without it, you know?"

I'm not convinced, but I let it go. For now.

As we walk back to the house after dinner, the question burning inside me feels like it might just leap off my tongue. Dublin. Shiloh's dream of studying at Trinity College, and suddenly, my dream too.

But can I really ask her to move to another country with me? It's been a whirlwind since she stumbled into my world—or crashed back into it, more accurately. Each day with her only cements what I already know—I want her in every part of my life.

Hand in hand, we stroll along the beach, the crunch of sand under our feet syncing with the rhythmic crash of waves. Autumn's touch has painted the leaves a brilliant gold, creating a striking pathway to our right.

To our left, the sea mirrors the sunset, glistening like a jeweled blanket over the earth. It's breathtaking, this scene, and I find myself caught between two desires: to share my whole world with Shiloh or to preserve this perfect moment without the weight of my confession.

"Thinking about Trinity?" I venture, hoping to steer us toward the topic of the future—a future I desperately want to be part of.

Shiloh nods, casting her gaze toward the horizon. "Yeah, Dublin seems so real now. I guess I'll just move in with Nadia. It’s what we always talked about.”

Her words feel like a punch to the gut. Nadia is her friend from college, the one with the apartment near Trinity. My grip on her hand tightens ever so slightly, but I keep my face neutral. She's young and full of life, and she should experience everything that comes her way—even if it means living with someone else, even if it means stepping away from me.

Even if she doesn’t want me to live with her, I can still visit.

"What do you think Chris would say about all this?" I ask, changing the subject.

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