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“He’s right.” Jamie nods. “At least one of us has been here every night. We’ve all heard the alarm on your phone to take them and we didn’t check in with you. Please stop saying it’s all your fault.”
They could have blamed everything on me or gotten angry or ended things with me right then, even before we knew for sure, but here they are, being supportive and caring and taking responsibility for their part in all this.
I am overcome with gratitude and something that feels a lot like love.
These men care about who I am as a person, not what I can give them. They treat me well. They empower me instead of squashing me down.
They’re far more than I deserve.
Girl, your standards are on the floor if you think this is gold star treatment. This is the bare minimum.
The voice in my head that sounds a lot like Mia is right.
They absolutely are good men—no doubt about it—but that should be the rule, not the exception. I should expect to be treated with love, care, and support.
It makes me realize how poorly Kyle must have treated me if I think they’re gods among men for this type of treatment.
Damn… maybe I should go back to therapy.
One problem at a time, Avery. Let’s get this maybe baby situation handled before diving into all that.
I take a slow breath to clear my mind of all the clutter.
“Fine, we’re all responsible, but in all seriousness, things are early on in our relationship and I’d understand if any of you or all of you want to back out. I won’t be angry and I won’t put up a fight. If you want an out, you have it.”
I stop for a moment in case any of them wants to speak up, but no one does.
“If we stay together, I don’t care who the biological father is and I won’t want to know. As far as I’m concerned, if there is a baby, they have three fathers—end of story.
“So if anyone wants to back out, you should say so now. I won’t be mad, I promise.”
“Are you done?” asks Wesley.
“Excuse me?”
“Are you done asking if we’re going to leave you yet? If you’re not, I’m going to go get some leftovers and come back when you’re done.”
I’d love to tell you I had an elegant and composed response for that, but all I can do is stare at him with my mouth hanging open like a guppy.
“If you think for one second I’m going to let the woman I love just waltz out of my life and take Leo and my baby with her, you are sorely mistaken.”
“You love me?”
He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. “Sorry, it just slipped out. I’ve felt like this for a while, but it was too soon to tell you and I was going to do it in a far more romantic way than blurting it out to you on Jamie’s couch, but given the circumstances, I might as well own it. I do love you. I don’t care if it’s all four of us or just me and you forever. I can’t picture my life without you in it. I don’t know what anyone else’s choice will be, but I’m not going anywhere.”
“Wesley, if you think for a second that I’ll let you waltz off into the sunset with our woman and not invite me, I swear I will take over your business and make you my employee in the most hostile fashion possible,” Jamie threatens.
I can’t help but laugh at the face Wesley makes at that.
“Avery, I know it might sound cheap because Wesley said it first, but I love you too. I’m not saying that because I feel like I have to since you might be pregnant or for any other reason your anxious brain might come up with. When Julia died, I never thought I’d love anyone again. I figured I’d die alone, but then I met you. You made me want a family again. You made me feel like it was safe to hope for something permanent. I don’t know how much time we’ll have, but I want to spend every moment of it with you and Leo and hopefully, our baby.”
“Damn, that was good. Can you just pretend I said something like that too?” Wesley winks at me.
It’s ridiculous and stupid, but we all laugh, anyway. Somehow, he always knows exactly how to lighten the mood.
“Don’t worry, Wesley, I’ll let you have another try later,” I tease.
Then I turn to Phillip, who hasn’t let go of my hand since I offered it to him out on the deck.
