Page 28 of Orange Spell
It was no wonder that Marlin had fallen in love with him.
* * * *
CURRAN JUST WANTEDto go home.He didn’t want to think about Pearl or to have anything to do with her.Was that too much to ask?
Clearly, it was.He could tell he wouldn’t be able to get out of this mess, and not because the people in the room with him didn’t want him to.Hell, Curran could see from Birch’s expression that he wanted nothing more than to grab him and drag him back to their mothers so they could never let him out of their sight again.
No, Birch, Marlin, and Killian weren’t the problem.The problem was Pearl.
She wanted something from Curran.Curran had no idea why she’d decided that she would get it from him of all people, but she had, and he doubted she’d leave him alone.She’d taken the first step.More steps would come, and Curran would need to be prepared.
He wasn’t sure he could be.
He cleared his throat.“Well, I told you what happened, and you don’t need me anymore.I’m going to go home.”
He prayed that the three were too busy thinking about Pearl and what she was up to to try and stop him, but he should’ve known better.Hedidknow better.Killian might have let him go, but Birch and Marlin?There was no way they’d let Curran go anywhere without talking to him first.
“Tell me about the baby,” Birch ordered.
Curran made sure not to look in Marlin’s direction.He might not be able to continue lying about the baby, but he could avoid telling Birch who the other father was for a while longer.He and Marlin hadn’t even talked about what all of this meant.They needed a little time, and he didn’t think it was too much to ask.
“What do you want me to say?As you can see, I’m pregnant.”
“When did it happen?And please don’t tell me it was the night of the party.”
Curran stared at Birch without saying anything.Birch waited, tapping his foot.
“Well?”he asked eventually.
“You told me not to tell you it was the night of the party, so I didn’t say anything,” Curran said.
Birch groaned.“Really?You knew better, Curran.You knew better, and I told you to be careful.What the fuck were you thinking?”
Curran grinned.“I don’t think I was thinking, if you know what I’m saying.”
Birch groaned.“I don’t want to know what you’re saying.I don’t want to think of you in that position.”
“Well, you can’t really avoid it, can you?It’s pretty obvious what I did when you look at my stomach.”
“Who is it?When I left you, you were alone.”Birch frowned.“Wait, that’s not right.When I left you, you were with Marlin.”
“Yes, I was there, so I remember,” Curran quickly said.“And I still maintain that I don’t need either of you to protect me.”
“This shows otherwise.”
“No, it doesn’t.I knew what I was doing.What happened was my fault, and nothing you or Marlin could have said or done would’ve changed the decisions I made that night.You’re going to have to accept that even though I’ll always be your little brother, I’m an adult and can make my own decisions and mistakes.”
“I’m not saying this is a mistake.Itwillchange your life, though.”
“Maybe I wanted to change my life.”
“So you’re keeping the baby?”
“I am.I talked to Palmer about the options, and even though I’m terrified, I want to keep it.”
“Good.You’ve always wanted to be a dad.”
Curran was still not looking in Marlin’s direction.He didn’t want to see Marlin’s expression.
