Page 61 of Risk

“Same.” I hug her back.

“Hey, Kaden.” She leans over and gives him a hug too.

I love how Ari doesn’t think it’s strange that Kaden and I arrived together. Considering he wasn’t supposed to be here tonight.

“Uh…” Zeus gets up from his seat and walks over to us. He hugs me and then does that manly handshake thing with Kaden that I will never understand. “Not that I’m not always happy to see you, Kaden, but I didn’t know you were coming, man.”

His eyes swing back and forth between us, and my heart starts beating out of my chest. His brows draw together, a groove forming between them.

“Did you guys come together?” he asks Kaden and me.

Before I even realize it, I’m spewing out, “I’m pregnant. With twins. And Kaden is the father. I’m keeping the babies, and Kaden is going to help me raise them.”

End scene.

Worst case of verbal diarrhea ever.

I did plan on that going differently. A lot differently.

But there it is.

To say Zeus looks shocked is putting it mildly. Ares is equally shocked. My dad looks happy, I think. Ari definitely looks happy. And Cam is giving an encouraging smile. My eyes go to Lo last. I need that expressive support that I know will be in his gaze, and he doesn’t let me down.

I don’t dare even look at Kaden right now. I’m pretty sure he was hoping to say something too.

It’s been minutes, maybe hours. Okay, seconds.

But they are dragging, and no one is saying anything. At all.

“So,” I say in an overly bright tone, clapping my hands together, “that’s what I wanted to tell you all. And I have, so I’ll just be leaving—”

I’m already turning when Zeus’s deep voice says, “Not so fucking fast. Sit down. Now.”

Shit.

What is it about big brothers that can make you feel like you’re still a little kid? Especially ones who practically raised you.

I glance up at Zeus. He doesn’t look angry. Just confused. Maybe a little hurt. And that makes me feel like crap.

On wobbly legs, I walk over to the table and lower myself into a chair at the end. Kaden takes the seat next to me.

I still haven’t looked at him.

I can’t.

Zeus lowers his big frame back into his chair and places his hands on the table. “So, let me get this right. You’re pregnant?” His fingers are tapping on the wooden top of the table.

I nod.

“With twins?” Ares asks, speaking for the first time.

I can’t get a read on his tone. There’s nothing there at all.

“Yes,” I answer.

“And I’m the father,” Kaden says in a low voice, also speaking for the first time since we got here.

Silence descends again, and all eyes are on us.

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