Page 74 of Belonging to Them
Kingston’s quiet, but there’s no mistaking the glittering desire in his eyes as he looks at my hands cupping Ella’s tummy.
“I’ve done the dad thing before,” he finally says, “and as you both witnessed, I failed miserably for one reason and another.Nothing scares me more than fucking up all over again.”
“Kingston,” Ella whispers, “it wasn’t all your fault.”
“Some of the fault is mine.”He shakes his head.“But with you two, I might be brave enough to try someday.It would be better if we planned ahead, but if there was an accidental pregnancy, Ella, I wouldn’t be against it, at all.I would embrace you and the baby, both.
Smiling, Ella tugs him in closer for more of a hug.
“There,” King says.“Was that enough talking like ‘motherfucking adults,’ Bash?”
Ella’s laughter echoes musically throughout the kitchen.“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’d love an explanation.”
“We’ll explain while we cook,” Kingston says, and we move in the kitchen, explaining the conversation King and I had before Ella came home, and helping her make french toast and bacon and it’s so fucking domestic, it makes my chest ache.
Someday, we might bring a baby into our midst, and the idea terrifies me a little and delights me a lot.
* * *
Ella
The guys’ reaction to my pregnancy scare went better than I could’ve imagined.I’m annoyed with myself for not talking to them, but what I told Bash was true—I do need space to feel my feelings sometimes.And having two boyfriends who are hyperfocused on me sometimes makes that difficult.
Not complaining, though…especially when that hyperfocus manifests in the bedroom.Or, like last night, against the kitchen island as the dinner mess is getting cleaned up.
I’m just walking out of Mrs.Dali’s apartment building—my former apartment building—after a visit with Mrs.Dali, when my phone buzzes with an incoming call.The screen says it’s Gianna, so I pick up.She’s nearly thirty-nine weeks along, which means any call could be go-time.
“Hey, everything all right?”I ask.
“I’m so sorry to bother you,” she says, sniffling, “but I have a doctor’s appointment and I missed the bus, and I hate to abuse your generosity when you’ve been nothing but nice to me so far, but?—”
“Stop apologizing,” I say.“I’m on my way, and Iwantto help, and please don’t feel bad.Okay?”
She sniffles again and weakly says, “Okay.”
“Where are you?Can you drop me your location?”
“Yeah.I’ll do that now.”
“I’m on my way.”
I give Terrence and Roman Gianna’s coordinates, and we’re in front of her apartment in the Old Thirty-Three in no time.
She climbs into the back seat with me, looking more rotund than ever.I know better than to comment on how big she is, but wow.That’s a lot of pregnant belly.
She’s no longer sniffling, but her eyes and nose are red.Reaching over, I take her hand in mine.
“Talk to me,” I say.“What’s going on?”
“I’m just so damned sad,” she says.“I don’t think Tom’s going to come back before our baby is born.He’s going to miss the birth, and my aunt said she’ll come with me for support, but I just really want Tom there, you know?And then I had to go and miss the stupid bus and bother youagain.”
“It’s no bother,” I tell her, giving her hand a little squeeze.“And I know nothing about giving birth, but I’m happy to stand in for Tom if you want.It’s not the same—at all—but if it’s something you want, I’ll be there.”
Her greenish-blue eyes fill with tears all over again.“Really?You’d do that?”
“I would love to!This is my little niece or nephew we’re talking about.I can’t think of anything more special than being in the room while they’re born.Do you want me there?”
“I do,” she says.
