Page 19 of Orange Spell
Deryn.
Curran’s best friend was bound to notice soon, anyway.They spent a lot of time together, so it was surprising that he hadn’t already.It wouldn’t last for long, and Curran wanted to keep his revelation under control.That meant taking the lead and telling Deryn.Hopefully, he’d be able to keep his mouth shut.
Curran had no idea if Deryn would be happy for him, but even if he wasn’t, Curran was sure that his friend would support him.He’d ask Curran what he wanted to do and stand by him.Right now, that was what Curran needed.
He didn’t need to be berated and asked how it had happened.He didn’t need to be asked if he was sure.He wasn’t, but what was he supposed to do?He was terrified and needed a friend.
Which was why he was standing in front of Deryn’s door.He lived alone, which was why they spent most of their time here.Curran had been thinking about getting his own place, and he would have to now, but his mothers had always been too afraid to let him out of their sight.Before Killian became king, Curran had been fine with that.Hell, he’d been afraid, too.
He didn’t have to be anymore.He was an adult.He was pregnant.He needed his own place.
He knocked.He didn’t wait for Deryn to answer.He never did.He pushed open the door and walked in, not surprised to see his best friend spread out on his nest of blankets in front of the TV.He didn’t have a couch like some dragons did, including Curran’s mothers.He had a big nest in his bedroom and a small one in the living room.
Deryn didn’t get up.He didn’t even try to.Curran quickly made his way to the nest and climbed into it, wrapping his arms around his best friend’s waist and hugging him tightly.Deryn made a surprise sound and hugged Curran back, and for a moment, Curran could tell himself that all of this was a bad dream.Then, the nausea kicked in again, and he had to lean back.
“What’s up?”Deryn asked as he turned toward Curran.
Curran couldn’t look him in the eyes.“I have something to tell you.”
Deryn slowly nodded.“Whatever you need, you know I’m here.”
“Something happened the night of the party.”
Deryn frowned.“You didn’t tell me about that.Are you okay?”
“Yes.It was a good thing, well, in a way.I spent the night with Marlin.”
Deryn stared.“You didwhat?”He reached for Curran and gave him a good shake.
It was exactly how Curran had expected Deryn to react, and it made him smile.“You heard me.I spent the night with Marlin.”
“That’s incredible.It’s what you always wanted.How was he in bed?He took care of you, right?Was it as incredible as you always thought it would be?”
Curran swallowed.Ithadbeen incredible.He didn’t regret it, but he wished things had ended differently.“It was great,” he confirmed.“He took care of me.”
“I know you won’t give me details, but damn.Does that mean you’re together now?”
Curran shook his head.“We’d both had too much to drink.I don’t even know if he remembers what happened.”
“You do.”
“Because it was more important to me than it was to him.”
“You can’t know that.You should talk to him, maybe see if you can have a repeat.”Deryn grinned.“Hell, maybe he’s madly in love with you.”
Normally, Curran would’ve dismissed him, but instead, he started crying.He tried to stop, but it was useless.The tears were rolling down his cheeks, and he couldn’t breathe.
Deryn’s eyes widened, and he reached for Curran, pulling him close again.He didn’t ask why Curran was crying, which was a relief, but it would only allow Curran to hide for a few more minutes.
“Whatever it is, we can work things out.You just have to tell me,” Deryn murmured.
“I’m pregnant,” Curran confessed.He was afraid to look at Deryn.
He didn’t have to.Deryn’s entire body went rigid.He didn’t push Curran away, but he also didn’t say anything.Curran waited, afraid his best friend was about to tell him to leave.
“Oh, Curran,” Deryn murmured as he hugged him even tighter.“I’m sorry.It was an accident, wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t realize I was fertile until the next morning when my mom asked me if I used protection.”
