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I meet her eyes, my own stinging with tears.
Ben erupts in fake laughter. “While we thought they were just roommates, it turns out they fell in love, and now Briar is pregnant with Emmett’s baby.”
“What?” Gillian screeches, gripping my upper arms. Tears well in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sorry, Jude. I love you, Emmett, but you need to grow the fuck up.” Ben tackles Emmett to the ground, and they look just like they did on the softball field, rolling around and straddling one another, punching the other.
“Stop!” I shout, unable to see them at odds because of me.
Surprisingly, they do, and Emmett hops off Ben, fixing his shirt.
“What the hell is going on?” Bruce comes out along with Sadie, Clayton, and everyone else in the family.
Just fucking great.
“Hey, did you know there’s some lady in the bathroom talking on the phone?” Romy asks.
“The baby isn’t Emmett’s,” I spit it out before I lose my nerve.
I step out in front of everyone. My eyes turn to Chad, and his mouth hangs open, his shock and panic evident.
“Who is the father?” Gillian asks.
“It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t know. But…” I step over to Emmett and link my hand with his. “I love Emmett. I know how you feel.” I raise my chin and keep my eyes on Gillian. “That you were so scared he was going to hurt me, but…” I look up at Emmett and the love that shines in his eyes. “He won’t. He’s kind and supportive and funny, and I’ve fallen head over heels in love with him. And if you have a problem with it, then I’m sorry because he’s the one I’ve chosen.”
Emmett unlocks our hands and pulls me into his side, kissing my temple. “I’m proud of you.”
I close my eyes and remind myself that everything will be okay because Emmett has my back.
“But…” Gillian steps forward, and I pull away from Emmett to look at her. “This whole time you’ve been back… you’ve hidden this from me? I thought…” Tears stream down her face. “I’m sorry.” She shakes her head. “I thought I was protecting you.”
“I know. I know you did, and that’s why I didn’t want to disappoint you. I was scared to tell you, but if I’d just been honest, we wouldn’t be here.”
Gillian shakes her head. “No, it’s my fault.”
“You did go a little crazy,” Emmett says, and I hit him in the stomach. “I mean, I love you, Gilly Bean.”
Gillian hugs me—so tight and accepting. “I’m sorry. I never should’ve acted the way I did. But you should know that Clayton is the best thing in my life, and this little one is going to be yours. And I’m going to be supportive. I promise.”
“Well, this is all well and good, but I’d like to talk to Briar if I could?”
My body stills when Chad speaks.
Gillian releases me and turns around. “And who are you?”
Emmett comes to my side, and I look up at him. I know he had an inkling when I froze earlier when Chad came around the corner.
“What’s your name again?” Emmett asks him.
“Chad. Chad Hemmons.” Chad has the audacity to step forward with his hand out. I guess when you’re a secretive fuck, you think everyone else is too. Chad probably assumes Emmett doesn’t know who he is. “Parker just said that Briar was the one with all the plans about the gender reveal, and I don’t have a lot of time, so I wanted to speak with her to get this going.”
“It’s scary how fast you can come up with your lies,” I say.
“Briar?” Emmett asks, and his question is clear.
I nod.
Emmett steps up to Chad, cocking his fist back, and punches him square in the jaw.
