Page 34 of Break

“Turn right here… Okay and here’s the house, the one with the two trees in the front. Park in the driveway on the far right.” I nod as I park and blow out a slow breath as I stare at the house.

It looks big enough for them, a one story with a decent front yard. It’s a gated community, and Nolan gave his name before we passed through the gates. So it’s safe.

We’re on a cul-de-sac and there are only six houses on the street. I would live here. Seems like a calm, quiet neighborhood.

We walk up to the front door and I stare around at the plants and flowers. It’s homey and comfortable. The exact opposite of what my house feels like now.

Nolan walks right in and I scowl at him as I follow. He’s obviously comfortable here, not even knocking on the door.

Is he lying about not being the father? Are they together?

I don’t pay attention to the furniture or the décor. I follow the scents permeating the air from the kitchen and find her in a pair of yoga pants, a tight white shirt, so snug against her growing belly. Her long brown hair is braided down her back.

Damn.

She turns and smiles sadly at me, lips pressed tightly together. Her cheeks are flushed and she looks so blissful and radiant. I guess time away from me has given her room to shine, to come into her own.

Fuck, my head is spinning.

“Hey, dinner is going to be ready soon…” She moves her gaze over to Nolan with a wide smile and she laughs when he hugs her and drops down onto his knees to press a kiss her belly. I feel like I can’t breathe. Why the fuck does that feel like a kick to my balls.

He told me he’s not the father, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t stepped up. Why do I feel like I’m having a heart attack?

“Sounds good,” I clear my throat and look around. The girls are sitting in the living room, watching the TV, ignoring me completely. There’s an older couple sitting on the couch in the middle of them, and a man I’ve never seen before sitting on a chair blinking at me with narrowed eyes.

Right at me.

As if I’m invading his space. Maybe this is the man she’s seeing? I’m so fucking confused. Who are these people? Why do the girls look so comfortable around them?

I tilt my head and glance back over to Marie when she clears her throat. “Come on, let me introduce you to everyone.” She pads down to the living room and waves her hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Evans, this is James Carter… James, this is Mr. and Mrs. Evans, they own the house. That over there is Brenton, their son, and funny enough, also my doctor.”

I wave and smile, making sure not to make eye contact with the fellow in the chair, looking right at home. Nolan stalks rightup to him and the man stands and they clap each other’s backs. Another punch to my gut and heart.

Even my friends are leaving me, aren’t they?

Marie smiles tentatively at me and glances around. “Well, dinner will be right out. Anyone need anything to drink?”

Brenton scowls at her and points at his chair, “Please sit, Marie. You’ve been on your feet enough today.” She sighs and listens, getting comfortable after he stands and moves to the kitchen, almost shoulder checking me on the way.

When she sits she looks even bigger. Is she due soon? How did I not know she was expecting while she lived with me? She hasn’t been gone that long, right? “I’ll get you some water and I’ll finish the meal. Anyone want a beer?” I hear him call out and I wince as his voice carries.

Is he a good man?

Everyone says no and I sit down in a chair close to the couch, blinking at my sisters. Neither of them makes a move to say anything to me or even look at me. I feel like shit. Here they are, choosing Marie because they thought I would throw a fit if she came home pregnant. Was that what all of the animosity towards me was about?

They really had no faith in me? The girls didn’t even know I never wanted kids. We never talked about it. Is Marie turning them against me? Scaring them into thinking I would just kick out a pregnant woman, the woman that I’ve grown up with? Love more than anything, aside from my sisters?

Mr. Evans smiles at me and nods, the old man seems friendly at least. “Finally, meetingtheJames Carter in the flesh!Number forty-three! We watch all of your games, sometimes we make it to a home game.”

I smile, thankful for the switch to sports. “That’s great. Let me know the next time you go, I’ll get you upgraded seats, maybe some merch?”

Mrs. Evans claps her hands. “That would be wonderful! Thank you.” They seem sweet, the type of people that Marie needs in her life. Not a person like me, dragging everyone down around me, apparently.

Brenton comes back in and passes Marie a bottle of water, moving the coffee table closer to her so she can rest her feet. He clears his throat at her and cocks a brow until she puts her feet up. “Excited for the barbecue this weekend?” He asks the room, blatantly in front of me, probably already knowing I wasn’t invited.

Alyssa woops out loud and pumps her fists in the air. “We finally get to know the genders!”

I snap my gaze over to Marie’s belly and tilt my head. “Genders? More than one?”

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