Page 76 of Love Bank
I had every intention of putting a ring on Lucy’s finger, but first, I wanted to sort out the situation with Addi. It had only been a week since she’d come to town demanding inclusion in my life due to a baby I wasn’t even sure existed. The girl was getting tests run, but who knew how long that would take? I owed it to Lucy and our future together, to get that figured out before I tied her to me with marriage.
My new favorite time of the day was in the stillness of the cool dawn air, when Lucy still slept, wrapped around me like she couldn’t stand to have even a sliver of space between us. Her blonde hair tickled my chest as I ran it through my fingers and let it fall. She was so beautiful I couldn’t help but stare at her in wonder. How did I get here? What did I do to deserve this joy? How did I get so lucky to have her love me? All questions I pondered as she slept, oblivious to my silent worship.
The doorbell rang, interrupting my quiet time and waking Lucy. She stirred and I kissed her forehead softly.
“Go back to sleep. I got it,” I whispered and got out of bed as quietly as I could.
It was Sunday, our one day to sleep in as late as we wanted, and I didn’t want whoever was at her door to take that luxury away from her. I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and closed the bedroom door behind me.
I jogged to the front door, not wanting them to hit the doorbell again and wake the whole neighborhood. My skin felt pulled tight remembering the last time someone showed up unexpectedly. Throwing open the door, I saw Jayden standing on the doorstep tapping his foot. His face lit up when he saw me.
“Bain. I’m so glad you’re here.” He stepped forward and I gave him a hug, replete with rough back slaps.
I waved him into the kitchen, closing the door behind him. When he started to talk loudly, I shushed him.
“Lucy’s still asleep. Keep your voice down.”
“Okay, sorry,” he said in the loudest whisper known to Neanderthals.
I rolled my eyes and hit the start button on the coffee maker. Jayden wouldn’t have come all the way up here from LA if he didn’t have a good reason, which meant I needed caffeine. I got two mugs down from the faded lemon yellow cabinets.
“What’s got you on my doorstep this early on a Sunday, little brother?”
“First of all, what do you mean ‘your doorstep’? I went to your house and it was vacant.” Jayden folded his arms across his chest, his crisp white polo looking all kinds of out of place here in Hell.
I got some milk out of the refrigerator. “I live with Lucy now. The second I clear up this shit with Addi, I’m going down and buying a ring and making it official.” I spun around. “You ready to be my best man?”
Jayden’s jaw dropped, but he snapped it closed quickly and tackled me with a hug. “Dude. I’m so happy for you.”
His voice was gruff and the shiny look to his eyes told me all I needed to know. The brackets around his mouth deepened in direct competition to the smile on his face. I wondered about the cause. Now that I was looking, he looked a little sleep-deprived too, a little less sharp and put together like the CEO he always strived to be. I knew Jayden didn’t open up about something until he was ready. Asking him questions was pointless as the guy was sealed up like a vault. When he was ready, he’d tell me.
“Now I just need to tell Mom and Dad.”
Jayden smiled then, the lines relaxing. “They’re going to be ecstatic. Wouldn’t be surprised if they showed up here in Auburn Hill in a moving van.”
I winced and poured a cup of the fresh coffee for Jayden and one for myself. “Yeah, no. I love them, but a little distance is good. Besides, I’ll have my hands full with Lucy’s mom.”
Jayden took a sip of the black java. “Why’s that?”
I shrugged. “Apparently she’s not fond of the male species. To put it mildly.”
“Ah. Well, I’m sure you’ll charm her eventually.” He put his coffee down and looked at me, pensive.
“Just spill it, dude. I know you’re not here for a social visit.”
He looked down at his feet and then back up at me. “I think Addi’s baby might be mine.”
I choked on my sip of coffee, sputtering and sloshing the hot liquid on my hand as I tried to set it down on the counter. I ran to the sink and turned on the cold water, dousing my hand and giving myself a second to keep up with the change in conversation. I was stunned.
When I texted Jayden about what was going on earlier in the week, he hadn’t said much in response. Just urged me to get a paternity test done as soon as possible.
I narrowed my eyes. “When I told you I didn’t remember even sleeping with her you didn’t respond. Didyousleep with her?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “That’s normally how babies are made.”
“Don’t be a smart-ass,” I shot back.
We were talking about a situation that caused me to postpone proposing to Lucy. This was my life we were talking about. If I wasn’t the father, I wanted to know that information now.
