Page 87 of Acceptance

“That’s only because you won’t tell anyone who helped you make the newest member of the family.”

“Second newest, now,” Kent offers.

Gavin moves to punch him, but he stops as he looks at Nolan in his arms. “You know, holding the kid is probably a good idea.”

“Dude, you’re over eighteen, and the chick’s legal… right?”

“Yeah, she’s fucking legal!”

“Then what are they really gonna do? You don’t live at home. Both of you are eighteen plus.”

Grabbing her son, Gracie moves away as Gavin slugs Kent. “I’m still a Prospect. Maybe Mom can’t make my life a living hell, but Dad sure as hell can.”

“Then remind him you’re older than he was when you popped out of your mom’s vagina. Pot meet kettle. Or is it kettle meet pot? I’ve never been good with metaphors.”

“Look at you correctly identifying a metaphor,” Gracie says and lays the baby in the crib. “I’m actually kind of impressed.”

“I’m not just good looks, Gracie.”

Crossing her arms again, she shakes her head. “I was thinking more along the lines of not being as dumb as you look, but you just keep thinking positively.”

“Ouch. And to say that to the man who carried your heavy ass to the pickup, then the emergency room, and then the delivery room.”

Jaw dropping, she gapes. “I so regret giving Nolan your name now.”

“No, you don’t,” he says with a smile and a wink.

“You’re not as smooth as you think you are, Kent Conway.”

“You two banter like you’re married or something,” Gavin says. “And you’re both completely unhelpful to me. Except for the holding the baby thing. That’s kind of genius. The rest of this conversation? Not helpful.”

He turns on his heel and storms out the front door, slamming it behind him. Both of them look in the crib to find Nolan still sleeping soundly.

“I think he could sleep through a tornado,” Gracie says with a shake of her head. “Which is probably not something I should complain about.”

“So… Tell me… Planning on taking a little vacation so your brother can’t use your kid for protection?”

“Kind of,” she says and giggles. “My family is rarely boring these days.”

“Well, not if you keep popping out kids. It’ll get redundant eventually.”

“Go. Away.”

Chuckling, Kent winks at her. “See you later. You made a cute kid, Gracie Short. But maybe wait a bit for the next one.”

“Trust me, sex isn’t happening anytime soon. The first and only time was enough to turn me off of it forever. Not to mention the humiliation after it being completely lackluster. But at least I got a cute baby out of it. And he looks like me.”

The way she describes conceiving Nolan doesn’t sit well with Kent, but he brushes it off. “See you around.”

“Thanks for the presents, Kent. Stop by anytime.”

Be careful what you wish for, Gracie Short.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Griffin’s Beach

VP

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