Page 113 of Secret Baby for My Brother's Best Friends

He must have noticed the subtle distance because he says, "She's different. Different from anyone I've ever met."

I smile at him, trying to hide my fears at the same time. At the back of my mind, they still linger.

The trip to the grocery store is quiet. We're both thinking about the love confession, but probably from different directions. He's probably thinking that I haven't told him 'I love you' back, and I'm thinking of whether he even truly means it. He did say he hasn't been in love before, so what if what he feels isn't that? What if it's something else?

And how would the rest of the men react to knowing that Jake said he loved me?

We go back home with our same thoughts, but before we get close, Jake pulls me into his arms and kisses me.

This time it's hot, lingering, his tongue consuming me.

He kisses me like he doesn't want to stop.

I kiss him back with the same desperation, the same all-consuming passion.

I love you,I think. Ilove you.

"What the fuck?"

The sound of my brother's voice has me stiffening. Jake ends the kiss before I can, and I spot the apprehension in his expression before we both turn in unison to find James standing there, pale-faced.

Fuck.

I knew I should have told him earlier. Somehow this feels inevitable.

There's a moment of silence as we wait for the incoming implosion. We don't wait long.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Adam cries out.

"James–"

"You're fucking two-timing Adam?"

"No," I shake my head. "I'm not two-timing anyone."

"Then why are you kissing his friend? I told you the kind of guys he is. Why didn't you listen..."

"James just..." I put a hand up. "Let's go inside and talk about this like adults."

"No," he says, but I start walking away anyway, and he follows me.

"How could you do this to Adam?" he asks. "He's over at work, and you're here screwing his best friend, who I thought was supposed to be injured? Is that what you two have been up to the entire time? Just making a fool of Adam?"

I ignore him as I get the key in the door and walk in. His words are making me upset, but the last thing I want is to have a screaming match in front of all the neighbors, announcing our entire business to them like my brother is doing.

When I walk in, he follows me, continuing his rant. "And with Jake of all people? Not even Sam? God, Chelsea, I thought you were smarter than that. I thought you were smart enough to–"

"Okay, that's it," I turn around. "Enough, okay? If you actually want me to tell you what's going on here, you'll pipe down so I can talk before you continue insulting Jake. Or me."

He seems shocked by my response, probably because I'm not begging or pleading for forgiveness. I'm just staring at him matter-of-factly.

"What?"

I steel myself for the next part of this, which will probably be the hardest. Jake comes in and stands by me, taking my hand. His presence gives me strength.

"I'm not cheating on Adam," I say. "Adam knows about us. I'm dating both of them. And Sam."

That scrambles my brother's brain for a few seconds. He blinks rapidly, struggling to process it.