of them, man, and Grandma too. That’s some serious shit. You’re with her now, dating or whatever. We know that because we’re not idiots. We hear things. You got her pregnant,” he announced.
“Yeah, you hurt our entire family,” Nick added. “Our mom and our baby sister or brother. Basically, we could kill you at any minute and it would be justifiable homicide. You hurt a pregnant lady’s feelings. If that’s not illegal, it should be. She’s already a fucked-up mess, man. Everything lately makes her cry.”
“I know it looks bad. Yesterday was terrible—”
“Why haven’t you been answering your phone? Huh?” Finn poked a finger into my chest.
My mouth dropped open. “I—” I checked my pockets; I didn’t have it. “Look, I was upset yesterday. I was a wreck. I thought I’d lost her for good. I spent most of the night drunk on my couch. Was that a smart thing to do? Obviously not—”
They exchanged a look.
“She called you last night,” Finn finally said. “A lot.”
“She texted you too,” Nick added with a glare.
“I don’t know where my phone ended up. I woke up, showered and came straight here.”
Nick narrowed his eyes on me, and I inhaled a deep breath. This was utterly terrifying, and I wasn’t even the slightest bit embarrassed that I was afraid of a sixteen-year-old kid. His opinion mattered. He held up a finger and pulled Finn aside to speak low in his ear.
“We decided to let you in. Don’t blow this, Jake. You hurt her again and you’re going to answer to us—”
Finn interrupted. “Nah, you decided. I’m still not sure.”
It was time to lay it out. “Look, I’ve known you both since birth. Do you really think I’d put the relationship I have with you guys and your mother at risk? I’m more serious about this than I’ve been about anything in my life. I’m in love with her. I love both of you. I will not lose my baby. I will not lose you two, and I sure as fuck won’t lose your mother. We’re all going to be a family, whether you like it or not.”
Nick grinned at me. “Let him in, Finn.”
“Huh. Okay, yeah. I guess you can come in.” He held the door open and stepped aside.
“Thank you.” I was through the door, but I still had work to do. I looked hesitantly toward the hall. Was she really in there with Rose, Lily, Holly, and Dahlia?
“We were like level one, bro.” Finn gave me a pitying look, sat on the sectional, and dug out the remote.
“Yeah, we’re like low-level bosses, man. You’ve got some pissed off aunties in there. Good luck.” Nick clapped me on the shoulder with a smirk.
“And Grandma.” Finn snickered as he stuffed half an apple fritter into his mouth.
My hand went to the back of my neck. I should have brought flowers. Was it too late? I turned back to the hall and inhaled a deep breath.
“Hey. You’ve got this,” Finn called out. I looked back at him. “She wouldn’t have been that upset if she didn’t like, have feelings for you and want to forgive you.”
“You think so?” I grinned at him.
“Totally. It’s like when we snuck out that one time go to Brianna’s party,” Nick added. “The worse the rage fit is, the more Mom loves you.”
“Thanks, guys.” I took the few steps down the hall and knocked on the closed door.
“Level two,” Finn hollered.
I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
The smile faded when I looked down to see Lily and Rose standing side by side in the doorway, wearing matching pajamas, with matching tilted head glares, looking scarier than those creepy twins from The Shining. “Knock it off, you two,” Dahlia scolded as she stood up from the edge of the bed. “Hello, honey. Come on inside.” I tried to look over the top of Rose and Lily’s heads but couldn’t see Violet. Maybe she was still asleep?
“She called you,” Rose announced, still blocking the door.
Lily raised her chin and poked me dead center in my chest. “A lot.”
Dahlia’s no-nonsense voice left no room for argument when she said, “Holly, drive them home.” I glanced at her to see her rolling her eyes at me in commiseration. I don’t know what I’d done to get her on my side, but I was thankful for it.
“We’ll just go into the bathroom to change. Come on.”
“I hope you have a good explanation for not answering your phone all night long,” Lily hissed.
“I