Page 27 of The Best of Us

My stepbrother was in the Air Force, and while he hadn’t been in the service too long, maybe he knew someone who could help. Since he was on leave, I assumed it’d be safe to call him.

Easton picked up on the second ring. He’d always been there for me—ever since my mom married his dad when I was fourteen and he was fifteen. He was the brother I’d always wanted but never had. He’d welcomed me into his family without any pushback, and I’d be forever grateful to him for helping me get through my mom remarrying after leaving my dad.

“Hey, you okay? It’s midnight your time.”

Is it?I dropped down on my bed and started sobbing all over again. I’d probably lost a pound of tears in the last forty-eight hours.

“Can you give me a minute alone?” I heard him whisper.

And crap, he probably had a woman in his bed.

He gave me time to get a grip and finish crying before asking, “Did someone hurt you? What’s wrong? How can I help?”

Holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder, I wrapped myself up in a blanket and sat up against the headboard. “I’m pregnant.” It was the first time I’d said those words out loud. Now they were real. No takebacks. It was happening.

A heavy breath fell over the line, creating static.

He had to be shocked. His never-in-trouble stepsister was now very much deep in it.

“I don’t know who the father is.”Well, that sounds horrible.I quickly explained what had happened, leaving out a few details he wouldn’t want to hear, then finished with, “We, um, were safe, though. No idea how this happened.” I sniffled. “I’m telling you because I’m hoping you can help me find him.”

“I, uh. Well, damn.”

“I thought maybe you’d have some spy friends who’d have access to the best tools to track down people and all.”

“I’m Air Force, not special ops. Not CIA.” No sarcasm from him. Just stating facts. He didn’t want me getting my hopes up if he couldn’t deliver.

I know, I know.“But I was hoping you’d know someone who could pull security footage from the bar and my hotel. If there’s a photo of his face, we can get a name, right?” When he didn’t reject the idea, I kept going, spilling as much information as I could remember. “Pretty sure his first initial is C. Older than me, but definitely still in his twenties. Also, he had an accent. Maybe Greek or Italian. Turkish? Somewhere Mediterranean. Tan, dark eyes, and brownish-black hair. Tall.”

He was quiet for one of the longest minutes of my life, second only to waiting on the results of that first pregnancy test. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you!” I did my best not to start crying again. “He has to know I’m pregnant with his child and having his baby.”

“What about medical school? Your dreams? Your dad is going to freak.”

I shifted the blanket aside and felt my stomach, feeling life inside me. Not just my soul, my child’s was there, too.

“My dreams aren’t over because I’m having a child.”Being rerouted for a bit, maybe.Even if I had to say goodbye to becoming a doctor, so be it. “And I’ll handle my dad.”But yeah, he’ll be disappointed, and that’s going to shred me.

“Well, yeah, okay. If this is what you want, I support you.” He paused. “I’ll do my best to help you find him, but I?—”

“Please.” I couldn’t handle any realistic warnings about improbabilities. “He has to know. He has to know he’s going to be a dad.”

“I promise I’ll try.” His words rumbled over the line.

I did my best to latch on to them, to believe he’d succeed because he had to. My child needed their father. And maybe I needed him, too.

Chapter7

Juliette

Present Day

I setmy hands on Constantine’s wrists, a silent request to let go of me so I could explain. “I have something to show you.”

Hesitation passed over his hard, masculine features. Faint lines formed around his eyes, and the ones in his forehead deepened. The tightening of his lips was the final straw that had me worried he may not hear me out. And if he did, would he believe me?

But then the word, “Okay,” slipped free from his lips, restoring hope in my heart that he’d listen.

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