Page 57 of Wedlocked

He seemed skeptical.

I sighed. “Hurts my feelings a little that they treat Jess like this, you know? I mean, she didn’t even post on socials about the wedding because she was worried it would get back to her mom and she’d come sniffing around for money. Would’ve been nice if my mom could have, ya know, been here for her.”

Prism nodded, and Arsen stepped back into the room. “Fire is fine. I added some wood,” he announced.

“My kids ain’t even gonna have a grandma.”

Prism physically reacted, shooting up and then back into his seat. The move was so sudden it spiked my heart rate. “Kids?” His voice was a little high-pitched. “Is Jess pregnant?”

“What?” I exclaimed. “No. No way. I was talking about in the future,” I said. “Not that I wouldn’t be happy if she was.”

“Isn’t it kinda soon to have a baby?” Prism asked.

“No. I mean, I know what I want. I’ve always known since the day I saw her. But I know she wants to finish college first. So kids will be a while.”

Arsen’s hand was wrapped around the back of Prism’s neck again, his legs spread so Prism was practically between them.

“You okay?” I asked.

Leaning back into Arsen, he nodded. “Yeah, I guess the talk about babies kinda threw me off.”

“You not ready to be an uncle yet, P?” I teased. “You got some time yet.”

“So Hawaii?” Arsen asked, curling an arm around P from behind.

Grinning, I turned the laptop around to show them the screen that held the confirmation for the trip I’d just booked. “Six days at an all-inclusive resort in Maui. It’s going to be sweet.”

“You’ll be home in time for Christmas?” Prism asked.

I smiled. “You worried I’d leave you alone to fend for yourself with Arsen’s parents?”

We were doing a blended Christmas this year with Arsen’s parents, P’s gram, and the four of us at the senator’s house.

“I think he’s more worried you won’t be there,” Arsen said, giving me a measured look.

A quick glance at Prism’s pink cheeks and I realized he was right. “Bro, did you think I’d just abandon you? We always do Christmas together. That won’t change.”

“Even if you’re married now?”

“Especially now that I’m married.”

Prism nodded but said nothing. I recognized that look. The retreat.

“Hey,” I said, reaching over to grab his shoulder. “You know that just because me and Jess are making it official doesn’t mean things will change between us. You’re still my ride-or-die.”

“Until you have kids.”

Whoa. I got up from the chair to stand in front of my brother. When he didn’t look up, I dropped to his level and tapped his knee to make him look at me.

“Me having kids won’t change anything either. You will always be my family. I will always be here for you. You know that…” I glanced at Arsen, who seemed concerned, then back to P. “Right?”

“Things will be different.”

My brother did not like change. It made him very uncomfortable. Why didn’t I realize until now that he would be having a hard time with this? Loosening my grip didn’t mean dropping him.

Damn.No wonder he looked a little tired and rumpled.

Standing, I pulled him out of the chair.

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