Page 28 of Breathtaking

Grown men don’t quote Pitch Perfect, Atticus.

Atticus

Grown men don’t know what they’re missing out on. It’s fabulous, and I’d bend that uptight little blonde over until she was singing my name.

Lennon

Eww. I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Atticus

Morning sickness?

Lennon

No. Brother sickness, you twat.

Atticus

Okay, you’re in Kroydon Hills. Have you seen the mafia prince yet? Does he know he has super sperm?

Lennon

Remind me why I put up with you.

Atticus

Because if you kill me, you’re one step closer to the throne, and none of us want that.

Lennon

Point taken. Fine. You may live.

Atticus

There’s my evil queen. Okay. You’re in Kroydon Hills. What’s the plan, Stan?

I shake my head. I swear, having a conversation with my brother can be utterly exhausting sometimes. Our parents had him tested for ADD once, and to all our surprise, he doesn’t have it. Keeping this man on track is hard. Matching his level of energy is even harder.

Lennon

I don’t exactly have a plan.

I walk into the living room of the penthouse suite I’m renting and find Maria already sitting on my couch instead of the room I rented for her, one door down. We got in late last night, and she and I went to our own rooms, but Maria always has a key to my room. I guess she let herself in while I was showering.

I may have overslept a bit. But in my defense, I’m not sure I’ve ever been as physically and mentally drained as I am right now.

She looks up from her laptop, nods, then goes back to work.

A woman of few words.

Atticus

Okay. How about this? Tell the baby daddy he’s about to be a daddy. Then go for round two, and let him be your DADDY before you have to come home and marry the douchey duke.

I stare at the message, with ice coating my veins, reading it and rereading it.

I may not have planned anything about this pregnancy or even thought I wanted this, but all it took was hearing that galloping little heartbeat for me to fall in love. And the thought of still marrying Monty and letting him anywhere near my baby scares me to the core.

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