Page 25 of Orange Spell
“We’re going to talk about this,” Marlin insisted.
“Eventually, sure, but the baby isn’t going anywhere.They’re not the most important thing right now.”
Marlin disagreed, but he understood where Curran was coming from.He couldn’t say Curran was completely wrong.If Pearl succeeded in whatever she was trying to do, Marlin was sure that he and Curran would never have the opportunity to meet their child.
Marlin needed to protect his child and Curran, and that meant focusing on Pearl and what she was up to.It meant letting go of talking about the child and everything else, but just for now.
Marlin would find out what the fuck was going on with Curran and why he hadn’t come to him earlier.First, though, he’d take care of Pearl.
Chapter Seven
Curran was freakingout.After Pearl had talked to him, he’d known that he needed to tell Marlin, and he hadn’t thought about the baby or the fact that just this morning, he’d been sure he was starting to show.He’d tried to convince himself that only he could see the bump, but clearly, he’d been wrong.
It was the first thing Marlin had noticed when Curran had barged into his rooms.Curran hadn’t missed the way Marlin’s gaze had gone straight to his midsection, and he’d known.He’d known that Marlin could tell he was pregnant, and from there, it wasn’t a huge jump to guess that he was the baby’s father.Curran hadn’t been with anyone else in months.He wasn’t sure that Marlin knew that, but Marlin knewhim.He knew that Curran wasn’t one to have many people in his nest, and not only because he still lived with his mothers.
Curran wanted love.He wanted a relationship, something steady.He wanted someone to go home to at the end of the day, someone with whom he could raise children.
He almost snorted.Sure, he was going to raise this child with Marlin, but that was where things ended.He wouldn’t have the relationship he’d always dreamed of with Marlin.They’d be co-parents, and it would have to be enough.
Marlin cleared his throat.“She didn’t say anything else?”he asked.
“There wasn’t much else to say.She has to be careful, right?She knows there’s a chance I could go to Killian.”
“And you did.”
“I came to you.”
“It’s the same thing.Do you know if she followed you to my rooms?Or maybe someone else?”
Curran shuddered.“I hope not.You think she would?”
“I think she’s testing the waters.I don’t know if she’s planning something specific yet, but she’s interested in you, so clearly, she thinks she can get something from you.You’re right when you say that it has to be your connection to Killian.She implied that Birch was violent towards you?”
“Yeah, she did.”And if Curran hadn’t been as afraid of her as he was, he would’ve snapped at her.He and Birch might fight, but they were nothing like Pearl and Killian.They would never hurt each other.
He didn’t think that was something Pearl could understand.
