Page 53 of Playboy

Mills: also

NINETEEN

HANNAH

“When areyou going to be in Boston?”

“We should all plan to be there for the last weekend in June.”

“Yes. Oliver and I will be around then. He’d love that.”

“I might be able to swing it.”

“That should work for me. My dad made me take summer classes, but I can probably leave campus early that weekend.”

“Awesome, I’ll make dinner reservations.”

I look from one little screen to another, my eyes bouncing from brother to brother. Like always, they’re all talking at once, making it hard to keep up with the family chat.

Oddly enough, only a few of them are actually related to one another. For most of the guys, the familial link is me. My mom was married to each of their dads at some point, but because they care about me, they all got close. And now, rather than being an only child, I have six brothers.

“Wait a second. I’m not even in town that weekend.” I deflate as I double-check the calendar hanging on the wall. I’ve marked off the days I’m not traveling for the whole season. It’s easier to note the ten days a month I’m home than it is to highlight the twenty days I’m gone.

“Oh, shit,” Riggs says.

His father was married to my mother when I was in elementary school. He’s a couple of years older than I am, but his brother Ash and I were in the same grade. Riggs is married and has kids, so his schedule isn’t easy to coordinate, and Ash works security for the Berkshires, who are basically American royalty, so he’s rarely in town either.

“What about August?” he asks. “We could come down before the kids go back to school.”

“No can do,” Tim says. “I’ll be back in school by then.”

His brother Kevin nods. “Yeah, I start law school the second week of August.”

Matt, their older brother, laughs. “So don’t plan on seeing Kevin at all for the next three years.”

“Hey”—Kevin points at the screen—“just because you lived in the library doesn’t mean I will.”

“I’ll be back to training in August anyway,” Noah says. “Besides, Hannah will be really busy then.”

I nod. August is one of those months that flies by. Between games and special events, I rarely have a day off. I have no idea how I’ll manage that with how tired I already am.

That thought reminds me of why I scheduled this phone call. Because despite how much I’d love to do this in person, the likelihood that I’ll get all of these guys in one place is nearly nonexistent.

“You guys should still get together the last weekend in June. I can’t be here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t all hang out.”

Six sets of eyes blink at me, and one by one, my brothers offeryeah, sures. They’re placating me. Not a single one of them will follow up. I’m the glue that keeps us all together. We really are our own strange family. The six of them, plus Noah’s dad. Of all my mom’s exes, I’m closest to him and one other who doesn’t have kids.

“Anyway,” I say, dragging out the word. “I didn’t actually call to set up a weekend, although I’d love to see all of you when you have time.”

They all nod, but they’re quiet. They’re probably confused. It’s not like me to be evasive. I’m a get-to-the-point kind of person. No dillydallying. Not a single one of us has time for that.

So here it goes…

“I’m pregnant.”

There. That’s the old Hannah.

“You’re what?”

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