Page 87 of The Complication with the Best Man

I answer.

“How long did you keep the engagement going once you knew Harper was pregnant?” Liam asks.

“Harper told me one weekend when I was here on my own, organizing wedding stuff. Tamra couldn’t join me. I called off the wedding when I returned and made plans to move up here. I didn’t want to be thousands of miles away from my child.”

“And so, what, you and Harper are together now?” Denver asks.

I nod. “We are. I care a great deal about Harper, and I plan to do my best for her and the baby. We may not have planned to have a child together, but I think that maybe this baby was what was supposed to bring us together.”

Easton scoffs.

“What, you don’t think that’s possible?” Kingston asks him.

Easton scowls. “Hell no. I think they screwed around and weren’t responsible, and Harper got pregnant. It’s not fate.” He shakes his head and rolls his eyes before looking at me. “Sorry, man.”

“She was on the pill, and we used a condom every time.” I look at Austin. “Sorry.” Then I look at Easton. “You can’t convince me that the universe wasn’t working in our favor.”

“C’mon, man, where’s your romantic side?” Denver squeezes Easton’s shoulder.

“I don’t have one, remember?” he grumbles.

Most of the room laughs, clearly knowing something I don’t.

“All right, are we done interrogating this poor kid? I want to turn the football game on. I have money riding on it,” Denver says.

Everyone turns to look at Austin. He gets up out of his chair. “Yeah, I guess we’re done. You did good, Finn. Held your own.”

I look at all the guys whose demeanors have now relaxed. Gone are the stoic, pissed off looks, and in their place are a bunch of easygoing guys smiling at me.

“Was this a test?” I ask no one in particular.

“Hell yeah,” Rome says. “Hudson already filled us in on everything before you got here. We knew you’re good people.” He claps me on the back.

Whatever my expression is makes everyone in the room laugh.

“You want a beer?” Austin asks me, walking across the room.

I blow out a breath. Might as well get this over with now. “No thanks, I don’t drink.”

He studies me for a beat.

“I’m an alcoholic, so no booze for me.” I wait for their judgment to rain down on me, but it doesn’t come.

Austin merely nods at Jamison. “Well, you’re in good company.”

Jamison gives me a small smile. “If you ever need anything, you let me know, all right?”

I give him a grateful smile. “Will do.”

The rest of the afternoon is spent watching the football game, and by the time Harper returns with her mom, I realize that I’m completely relaxed. I’m a part of the family, even if officially I’m not.

Well… not yet anyway.

forty-two

HARPER

Ibarely slept last night because I felt anxious about the ultrasound today. While I’m excited to get another peek at our baby, I’m also nervous my aunt will find something wrong. But I’m trying to keep that possibility out of my head as much as possible.

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