Page 35 of Falling for You

“Mom, Dad,” I shout as I walk into the house.

“Uncle Tay-Tay,”Kaylah shouts back, and I catch her as she barrels into me, making me chuckle.

“Hey, sweet girl,” I mumble and hold her close, squeezing my eyes tight as she wraps her arms around my neck.

This little girl, she’s everything.

“Hey, baby boy,” Mom says as she approaches me.

I smile as she kisses my cheek, then walk into the living area where my brother sits. I lower Kaylah, who runs straight to him, and he places her on his lap. Hannah smiles beside him while Xanthe scowls from the chair near the window as my dad smirks before looking my way.

“Since when do you come over before practice? I thought you’d be on your run by now,” he says with concern.

I take a seat on the dark brown couch and reassure him, “I went for a run this morning.” He nods, but his concern doesn’t disappear while Dylan winces. He managed to get everyone here for me without mentioning my name. He is also well aware I’ll be running out here as soon as I’ve dropped the bomb.

Kaylah kisses Dylan's cheek, making him smile, before she jumps off him and runs to me again. I chuckle, pick her up, sit her on my lap, and hold her close.

“Kaylah has a dance show next week,” Hannah says, and I look at her. “Will you be in town?” she asks while Kaylah gives me puppy dog eyes with her gorgeous green eyes, the brown more visible today.

I smile and state, “I will be. I wouldn’t miss it for the world, and I may be bringing two people with me if that is okay?”

Hannah blushes and admits, “I already invited Ezra, whichever other teammate you bring cannot hit on her dance instructor.”

I grin wide. “Finally decided to give into your true feelings and give him a chance, huh? Instead of acting like he disgusts you?” I ask, and she rolls her eyes, not replying, making everyone except Xanthe laugh.

Shaking my head, I admit, “Actually, it’s not Ezra I’m hoping to bring,” they look at me with confusion.

I swallow hard as I make eye contact with Dylan, who nods. “I’m hoping to bring Penelope,” I finally state, and Mom gasps, but Dad soon stands when I add, “and our one-month-old son Hudson.”

I see Xanthe’s body tense, but I ignore her and make eye contact with my father. He’s tense, and anger shines off him, yet he doesn’t say anything. I know he’s waiting for the whole story before anyone, mainly my mother and Xanthe, can make up stories.

“Turns out for nearly a year she has been trying to get a hold of me,” I gently run my fingers through Kaylah’s hair, “she was blacklisted from every place I attend, including the arena, which Ezra managed to undo that day for that one. She was banned from my building. The receptionist explained the situation, and I rectified it, and the day she went into labor, she was served with a restraining order, all without my knowledge.”

“Elena?” my dad questions quietly, and I nod, causing him to curse.

“For months, Elena has done everything she can to ensure Penelope couldn’t get a hold of me, even going as far as lying to my lawyer when a letter was delivered to him expressing Pen was pregnant with my child, stating it was all false,” I explain, then look at my sister and admit, “Nurse Vine who went on maternity leave, she is Penelope, my Penelope.”

Hannahs eyes widen in shock, and I give her a sad smile as Kaylah gasps, “Is Nurse Vine going to be my auntie?”

I chuckle, kiss her head, and admit, “Hopefully, squirt,” making her squeal.

I look at my shocked family and sigh, “It’s been a week since I’ve found out. I walked into Harry Calvin's house with Tony and Dylan when I saw her and Hudson. It was a shock for her aswell because she was in the middle of serving me for a DNA test, and that was just so she could get in touch with me. She figured out what Elena was doing and decided to take it further,” I look around my family, again except for Xanthe and confirm, “I did do the DNA, and he is mine, something I didn’t deny at all. He has my eyes, my nose, and he’s perfect. I just wasn’t willing for anyone,” I side-eye my sister-in-law, “to claim otherwise.”

“Where are they now?” my dad asks.

“She lives in Brooklyn. She has had problems with her family. Uh, you know Carl Vine and the rumors about selling his daughters to get higher?” Dad nods, “Well, it isn’t a rumor; it’s true,” his eyes widen, “Avery, Pen’s younger sister, did marry Harry because it was arranged, though she’s now looking at a divorce because she’s in love with Tony, but Pen refused to bend backward for her family’s wealth as Avery did. She has worked hard all her life, refused to marry for them, and when she said she was pregnant, they disowned her. It was only when she went into labor that they finally begged for forgiveness.”

My family looks at me in shock, but my dad is eyeing me.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Dad asks, already picking up on my tension, which doesn’t shock me.

“She asked for some time a week ago when I showed up at her condo,” I admit, and Dad finishes, “and you haven’t heard from her.”

I shake my head, “Not a peep.”

He nods as Kaylah hugs my neck, making me smile, but my smile soon drops when Xanthe mutters, “Wouldn’t surprise me if she’s packing her shit ready to do a runner once she’s drained you dry.”

I glare her way because the bitch doesn’t know jack shit. Her eyes widen because not once have I given her any hostility even though I know she has caused nothing but hurt and drama for my brother, and then my mom chimes in, making my jaw tick.

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