Page 28 of Inked Obsession

“I mean, you do have a spare,” Archer said, and Colton and Lee both snorted as Jacob took up some free weights beside Archer.

“That would be a lot to clean up, though, wouldn’t it?” Marc asked, and I nearly choked out a laugh. Marc was quiet, seemed like a really good guy, but he didn’t usually joke with us. Maybe we were getting better at this whole family thing if he was that comfortable with us these days.

“Anyway, I’m sorry I’m late. We had an appointment that ran over,” Jacob said as he began counting his reps. Benjamin started to lift, and I watched him as I kept my attention halfway on Jacob, as well.

“Appointment?” I asked.

“A routine doctor’s appointment. Annabelle said I could tell you, but I don’t know if a gym is the bestplaceto tell you.”

I quickly latched on to the bar as Benjamin pushed it at me. I settled it into the brackets, and then we all stared at Jacob.

“Is something wrong with my little sister?” I asked, my voice a growl.

Everybody had stopped moving, their weights either hanging loose at their sides or on the floor.

Jacob looked at us and blinked before letting out a breath. “Annabelle’s fine,” he said, an odd smile on his face. “Your fucking genes seem to have pulled through.” He growled.

I looked at Benjamin, and then at Archer before I threw back my head and laughed. “Twins? Are you fucking kidding me? You’re having twins?” I asked, a smile breaking out across my face.

“Two heartbeats. And not just one of the heartbeats being hers. What the hell am I going to do with two kids?” Jacob asked, his voice going a little high-pitched.

Archer let out a whoop and then threw himself at Jacob. “Aww, you knocked up my sister with twins. It was meant to be. She is a twin, after all.”

He kissed Jacob’s cheek with a loud, smacking kiss.

Marc let out a sigh before pulling his boyfriend off Jacob. “Okay, let the man breathe. Let’s not make out with him in public.”

“So I should do it in private?” he asked, and Marc narrowed his eyes before rolling them.

Archer blushed and then shrugged. “Sorry, I’m just excited. Two babies. Two new souls out in the world that you’ll have to mold into decent human beings, take care of, watch, and make sure they are fed and cared for and loved and know how to do Common Core math and all of that. And, oh my God, I think I’m having a panic attack,” Archer said, clutching at his chest.

Lee just snorted, giving Jacob a fist bump.

Colton winced. “Twins. That’s a lot,” he said. “I mean, I’m really excited for you,” Paige’s boyfriend added. “Kids sound like a big deal. I should probably just shut up if I’m sitting here with my girlfriend’s brothers and friends, as I’m kind of freaking myself out over the fact that you’re having twins.”

“No, I’m freaking out with you,” Jacob said. “Welcome to my freak-out party. Annabelle is all about lists, and I’m pretty sure she and Paige have a planner set for each baby at this point.Each baby. I didn’t know that existed in plural until just now.”

I went up to him and hugged him hard, slapping him on the back. “I’m damn proud of you. Well, that’s a really weird thing to say about my brother-in-law. So, how about…don’t worry about anything. Your babies will have tons of aunts and uncles. They’ll never want for anything.”

Jacob swallowed hard. “I’m just really glad that my mom knows. She was the first person we told,” he said, his throat working as he swallowed hard. “Enough of that, because if I keep going, I’m going to cry like a baby. And, apparently, we already have enough babies. And we’re at a gym. We’re supposed to be all manly and growly and full of sweat.”

“That’s a lovely image,” Lee said, shaking his head. “And I’m so sorry that my sweet Annabelle didn’t wait for me like I asked. I understand. If she must go to someone, I suppose it’s okay that it’s you.”

“You really do like walking on that tightrope, don’t you?” Benjamin asked softly before hugging Jacob hard. “You’re going to be a good father. Annabelle’s going to be a great mother. And we are all going to figure out how to be aunts and uncles together. Thankfully, we have two of them, that way, we can share the attention equally rather than putting it all on one sad and unsuspecting child. There are a lot of us Montgomerys. We could scare the poor thing,” Benjamin teased.

“I’m glad that I could give you a two-for-one deal.” Jacob shook his head as he studied the room. “I’m really not into this.”

I laughed. “You mean working out or having a baby? Because I’m pretty sure you are kind of on the path for one of those things already.”

Jacob’s cheeks reddened. “I meant working out. I drove all the way here, but I’m afraid if I sit here, I’ll end up dropping a weight on my foot or falling off the treadmill while doing cardio or something.”

“You should be doing leg day,” Archer added again as Marc squeezed him to his side.

“Behave,” Marc chided, and Archer rolled his eyes.

“How about we go get a beer?” Benjamin asked, grinning.

Jacob nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah. A beer. Annabelle’s off with the girls—I’m sure all of them, and her mother. I think they’ve tried to get my mom to come out with them, but she had a tough day today,” he said quickly, gliding over the words. I knew he didn’t want any of us asking why—and we wouldn’t.

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