Page 16 of There Are No Words

“Mine. It’s mine. Allegra is pregnant with my baby.”

He cleared his throat. “I didn’t even know you two slept together. I mean, I know you have a crush on her, but I didn’t know you got to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.”

There was something wrong with just about everything he’d just said, but I decided to address one problem in particular—“It’s not a crush.”

“It’s a crush.” He smirked.

I wanted to wipe that look off his face. “Piss off.”

“Haven’t you ever heard of a little thing called condoms? Did Pa not tell you about them?”

Oh, man, I didn’t know what I’d do without Jack. A condom! Why hadn’t I thought of that?

I gritted my teeth at the insinuation that I’d be so reckless as to not use a condom. “Of course we used one. But those things aren’t exactly foolproof.” Which they were not. You know, just to spell it out for you in caseyouskipped sex ed or didn’t read the back of box. You’re welcome, by the way. I just saved you from having to shop for strollers and car seats.

“I’ve never gotten anyone pregnant,” Jack countered. “At least, not that I know of.”

Told you—he’s an idiot. Too bad I love my brother even knowing this.“Good for you. I’ll print out an achievement certificate online for you. Does that make you happy? It can readJack Moore Has Earned This Achievement for Never Getting a Girl Pregnant.”

“Yes, I would like that very much.”Figures.

We were once again getting off track, though. I was still freaking out about this whole thing. “I don’t think I’m cut out for this, man. I can’t be a dad. Not a good one at least.”

He brought his brows together, looking confused. “What makes you say that? Pa was a good role model, so just follow everything he did.”

I had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy. “I own a pub with you, dumbass. It doesn’t exactly scream father of the year. It’s certainly not a place I could bring my child.”

“Do children go to work with their parents often?”

I shook my head. Jack wasn’t getting it. I moved on, saying, “Allegra and I aren’t even together. What will that mean for our child?”

“It won’t matter. Two loving parents, that’s all a kid needs.”

I picked up my scotch and stared at the liquid in the glass. It didn’t have the answers, but I wished it did.

“Listen, Brady, you’ll be a good dad,” Jack said, turning serious. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, it was nice. “I’m sure of it. There’s no one way to be a dad, and you’ll find your rhythm. You only just found out she’s pregnant. You’ve got like, what, nine months?”

“Less than eight.”

“Woah, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I could’ve thrown you a baby shower.”

And moment of seriousness over.“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a jackass?”

“Only you,” he said, batting his eyelashes and angling his head like a pretty little girl.

Stifling a laugh, I quipped, “Shame, because you are.”

“So you two getting together now? Making your little fantasies come true?”

Ha! If only.I raised an eyebrow and shook my head. “Will you believe it if I said she never once asked for anything from me? Just dropped the bomb in my lap. That was it. Not that I didn’t promise her I’d be there for it all, because I did. And I will be. But she didn’t seem to care one way or the other.”

Jack whistled low, then laughed. “Brother, you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

He was telling me.

Chapter Seven

Allegra

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