Page 58 of Punish Me

“Of course, I would. But you wouldn’t have to worry. I’d kick his ass myself,” I tease.

“Whose ass are you kicking and why?” Shayla asks, walking through the kitchen door.

“Probably mine,” Ambrose grunts out, setting three grocery bags on the counter.

Shayla accompanied him to the grocery store to give Brayden and me a chance to speak privately.

“You guessed it, buddy,” I tease, turning to receive his kiss as he walks back to me.

“Don’t get too violent too soon,” Shayla says.

“I won’t as long as Ro behaves,” I say as he walks back to the counter and unpacks the groceries.

“Well, we’re going to need you both to behave,” Shayla says, sitting on my brother’s lap as he squeezes her close.

Brayden kisses Shayla, and she giggles.

“What’s going on, guys?” Ambrose asks.

“We’re going to need you two to be the godparents of our little girl next spring,” Brayden announces.

“What? You’re having a baby?” I squeal, jumping up from my seat.

“Yep,” Shayla says, rubbing her belly. “I went to the doctor yesterday and they confirmed that I’m nine weeks.”

I throw my arms around her, almost hitting my brother in his face in my excitement. Shayla stands and hugs me back as we rock side to side, squeezing the life out of each other in our excitement.

I hear Ambrose behind me saying, “Congratulations, man. Can’t imagine you as a dad, but I’ll be there to help you figure shit out.”

Brayden laughs and says, “I’m counting on that, man.”

Shayla and I finally let go. I turn to my brother and hug him.

“I’m so proud of you, Bray. So happy for you both,” I whisper.

Brayden rubs tiny circles on my back and says, “I know. Thanks, baby girl. I love you, and you’ll always be my baby girl; you know this, right?”

Laughing, I say, “I’m grown, Bray. Trust me, you’re going to have your hands full with this one.”

“I know,” he says, smiling brightly as I pull back from his embrace.

“What’s going on in here? I don’t smell food cooking!” Austin, Ambrose’s younger brother, announces loudly, walking into the kitchen.

“I told you we should have stopped somewhere before coming. You know Ro’s always last minute,” another man says behind me.

I turn to see Austin, the one I’ve always considered Ambrose’s twin, accompanied by another man. I met Austin while I was still in college.

But the other man is truly Ambrose’s doppelganger. I have never seen three brothers who weren’t triplets look more alike than these three.

“Oh, my goodness! There’s no way that you’re not Dominic,” I say, walking up to him.

He smiles brightly and extends his hand. “That would be me, and I’m guessing you’re the beautiful Brynlee who has my brother’s head in the clouds,” he says, laughing.

Shaking my head, I open my arms and say, “Sorry, I’m from a family of huggers, and yes, that would be me.”

He hugs me, and it feels warm and comforting. “I welcome hugs,” he says kindly.

Those dark features, thick, dark brown hair, angular jaw, high, broad forehead, full, pillowy-soft lips, and bright, hooded, knowing eyes are characteristics all the brothers hold.

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