Page 114 of Rival
Interrupting Mason, I shake my head quickly. “The paint smell didn’t bother her. Couldn’t smell the smoke either. Rest assured boys, she didn’t puke. I could tell she was surprised by how clean it was. I’m not even sure she noticed the new furniturein the living room, to be honest. All she could look at were the walls. Seemed damn near close to tears.”
Jaxon hangs his head, and Mason presses his lips together. I know exactly how they feel. Walls shouldn’t be the thing to move her to tears, but here we are. Her father let her down so significantly that the sight of freshly painted walls is enough to take her over the edge.
We all sit in silence, sipping slowly at our beers. The three of us decided we won’t ever get to the point of being drunk in front of her. Not just because she can’t drink due to the pregnancy, but she’s had enough of that in her life.
Finally, the faint sound of a twig snap lifts our heads toward the house and we see her silhouette moving through the yard until the fire illuminates her face.
She pauses as she notices our drinks, then asks, “Should I go back and grab—”
“God no, Edith. Please, sit down. We’re perfectly fine with what we’ve got,” Jaxon rasps out, moving out of his chair to help her sit. She eyes the beer warily, but sits nonetheless.
I catch Mason’s eye and we both silently agree to set our bottles on the ground, out of sight. Jaxon sees what we’ve done and tosses his into the flames.
Pausing next to her, he leans down and I just make out his murmured question. “You doing okay, sweetheart? Sorry about the beer. None of us are intoxicated, we were just sharing one, but we won’t do it again if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“You all can do what you want. I’m not and won’t be your keeper.”
“You can be my keeper, darlin’. Every fuckin’ day for the rest of my life if you want,” I tell her, then glare at the guys when they try to shush me as if I’m being ridiculous.
Fuck them both because I get a smile from my girl. It’s brief, but I fucking saw it. Lowering her eyes to the fire, sherubs her hands over her legs, getting ready to face all of us. I sympathize with her. There are three of us, all who are hoping we’re the father of her baby and all ready to step up even if we aren’t. That’s got to be a lot for one person. I don’t think she understands we’re all in it for the long haul, not yet at least. But that’s why this talk is so important. Edith Hughes is about to get her world turned upside down by three men who all fucked up and want to worship at her feet.
As soon as Jaxon sits, I start in immediately.
“I know you wanted to talk to us darlin’, but would you be okay with us sayin’ a few things first?”
My hope that she’ll be receptive is shot down almost immediately. Shaking her head, she stares at the fire, not meeting any of our eyes.
“I’d really like to say what I need to, then go to bed. You guys are more than welcome to stay out here for as long as you’d like. I don’t care. I never thought of this place as mine. I am tired, though.”
Mason clears his throat. “Say whatever you need to. We’ll listen.” I raise my brow at how placating his words are, but his scowl shuts me up.
Thankfully, Edith misses our little silent conversation, pushing forward to get out everything she needs.
“I know I messed up, not being smart with protected sex.” We all begin to argue, but a quick flick of her eyes silences us like the whipped men we are. “But what’s done is done and one of you is the father of my little girl. I’m not feeling good about how any of our last interactions went when I told you I was pregnant. But I’m sure you all aren’t feeling great either. None of us expected this. It’s almost ridiculous that it happened, but here we are.”
She chuckles, but there’s no humor behind it. It’s simply sad.
“I want you all to know that she and I are healthy. If you want to accompany me to any of my appointments, you’re welcome to. Once she’s born and we know paternity, I’m sure two of you will disappear, which is understandable. Whomeverisher father, I just want you to know that I won’t keep her from you. I only hope you’ll understand that at the beginning, I’ll want to keep her with me while I’m feeding her. If you need to come to me to see her, you’re more than welcome. Whatever you want to do is fine.”
She thinks we’re all ready to write off her and the baby and I fucking hate that. Her twisted way of thinking keeps pouring out and I’m only getting more and more upset as we let her continue.
“I know no one wanted this. I won’t force any of you to be a father. I’ll love her enough myself, but I won’t have any of you coming around sporadically, then disappearing for weeks or months at a time, confusing her.”
We’re stunned. I know we all fucked up, but to hear she’s not expecting any of us to step up, and actually asking us tonotbe failures as fathers hurts like a bitch.
“I’m gonna stop you right there, girl,” Mason hisses. “I don’t give a shit if that girl is mine or not. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
His statement is abrupt and pulls her up short.
Both Jaxon and I are quickly nodding. “Agreed,” I say. Jaxon following with, “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Edit lifts her head slowly, looking all of us over. “Don’t say that if you don’t mean it.”
I stare hard and wait until she meets my eyes so she knows how fucking serious I am. As soon as we connect, I nod once. “I mean every damn fuckin’ word of it. I hope to God that’s my baby, but if she’s not, it won’t change the fact I’m gonna chase you until you say you’ll have me.”
Her eyes widen slightly before she shifts to peer at Mason, then Jaxon. I don’t need to see them to know they feel the same. We haven’t hadtheconversation yet, but I know neither of themare planning on backing down, even if the baby isn’t theirs. This is going to turn into a situation where she has to decide whatshewants. One of us, or all of us.
“You can have me, girl,” Mason says softly. “With or without them, you can have me.”
