Page 104 of Falling for You

“You asshole! You got my sister pregnant?!”

I almost laugh. Almost. But I’m smart enough not to. Rather, I just raise my hands. “Hey, it’s not like I did that alone.”

“Wrong answer, man.”

Olivia’s laughing so hard, she’s clutching her stomach and bending over. “You… you are such an idiot!”

“I’m an idiot? How am I the idiot in this scenario?”

“Because you are!”

“Oh good come back, babe.”

Paul stands up, pushes Ethan out of the way while he makes his way to Chloe. Wraps her up in a hug and then pulls back, hands on her shoulders. “Congratulations, Chloe.”

By the time he makes it to me, his eyes are also filled with tears. He shakes my hand, claps me on the shoulder, nods once, squeezes… hard… and says, “Do right by her, son.”

“Plan to.”

“Good enough. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Paul.”

“I think a toast is in order, don’t you, Ethan?” he says to his son who’s still stunned into silence.

“I don’t know if I’m okay with this yet.”

“Get okay,” I growl. “If you must know, I love her. She loves me. And we’re having a baby.”

“Anyone else feel like their mind just blew up? No? Just me? Great. I’m gonna sit down.”

He does, grabbing his water and chugging it down like it’s going to take the edge off.

“Is this how he reacted when he found out you were pregnant?” Chloe asks Olivia, who rubs her stomach and looks at Ethan in amusement.

“Pretty much. Think what a stellar help he’ll be when I go into labor. He’ll be like the biggest cliché ever — I’m already planning on having to drive to the hospital myself.”

Ethan glares at her. “Only because I don’t want to see you in pain!”

It’s obvious this has been discussed many times before.

The table erupts in laughter. Well, everyone but Ethan, who just looks like he’s about to be sick.

“Stand up, you goof,” Paul demands. He raises his glass in the air and we all follow. He’s quiet for several long beats, emotional when he finally says, “To family.” He takes his time, making eye contact with every one of us. “That’s growing larger by the minute.”

Chloe’s lower lip is trembling.

Olivia’s openly crying.

And as much as I hate to admit it, my throat is tight and nose is stinging.

Chloe and I came together, both of us broken and without family.

But together, we’ve found so much more than either of us expected.

I pull her close and say, “I’m so glad I fell for you.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

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