Page 54 of Summer Kisses

"Jesus, you don't have to be so crude." Even though that's exactly what I was thinking. My mind was blown that Hazel had come downstairs in just my shirt and nothing else. She was a walking sex dream, and I couldn’t believe my brother was cockblocking me the morning after I finally got the object of my fantasies in my bed.

"Like that's not what you meant," Dalton mumbled.

"I know you're miserable because of this situation with Oakley. But we're happy, and I want to do this right."

"Is this coming from Hazel?"

I skipped over that question. "We should have this time to ourselves, and you were the one who moved out. If money is an issue, I can buy your half of the house.”

"I appreciate that. It’s just that everything is so volatile right now. I don't know if Oakley wants me there or not."

"Maybe you should get your own place and set it up for the baby. Assume that you'll be on your own. It's not fair for her to invite you to live with her and then kick you out. That's messed up."

Dalton nodded. "It is."

"Either she treats you with respect, or you're doing this on your own." I'd never been in this situation, but it didn't seem healthy for Dalton or the baby.

His gaze was on the counter. "I don't know why I let her treat me like this."

"Would you be with her if she wasn't pregnant?" I asked.

Dalton lifted his gaze to meet mine. "You know I was planning on breaking up with her."

"Then why are you with her? Nothing has changed. Pregnancy didn't all of a sudden make her the perfect partner. There were cracks before the baby came along."

Dalton sighed, pushing away his now-empty plate. "I thought it would be better for us to live together when the baby came, and I want to be involved."

"But it sounds like she's going to control the whole situation."

"What if she doesn't let me see the baby?" Dalton's tone was vulnerable.

"You get an attorney and find out what your rights are. You won't see the baby as often, but I don't think the situation you're in is healthy."

He blew out a breath. "I'm going to be a dad."

"And this is how you become a good one. Oakley's messing with you. You need to protect yourself and the baby as much as you can. You have our support, and you have rights."

He blew out a breath. "That's a good idea. I'll start looking for a place of my own."

"One of us can go with you. Cooper is Ivy's main contact now. With all the inspections he's been doing for her, I know she'll make finding you a place a priority."

"I'll send her a message." Dalton refilled his coffee. "And I'll be more respectful. I can text you before I come over."

I squeezed the back of my neck. "You'll probably want to knock too."

Dalton winced. "It's like that, huh?"

I grinned, remembering how I'd pleasured Hazel in the bathroom. "It's to be expected."

"I don't think things with Oakley have ever been like that. I don't want to spend more time with her unless it means being more involved in her pregnancy. I want to help her and go to appointments. But I'm tired of the drama."

"You're tired of the games and the push-pull. I get that. But not all relationships are like that. You need to focus on what's healthy for the baby and you."

He sipped his coffee. "I always wanted to be a father. But I thought I'd be married, and we'd have a relationship like Mom and Dad."

I sighed. "Life doesn't always work out like we planned."

"Did you think you'd be engaged to Hazel?" Dalton asked.

---