“I...” Taylor opens and closes her mouth repeatedly.
She didn’t expect us to still want her? If anything, this only makes my determination to have her stronger. She isn’t going anywhere; I won’t let her.
“You guys can’t want this,” she finally says.
She might think she’s hiding it, but I can see the hope blossom in her eyes.
“Why can’t we?” Allistar challenges.
Taylor throws her hands in the air in exasperation. “The four of you are going to stand there and tell me you’re not upset knowing that I’ve slept with all of you? You’re okay with not knowing who the father of the baby is? You won’t get upset to find me kissing, hugging, touching one of your best friends. You’ll shrug it off if you find me in bed with one of the others. You’ll keep the bond you have now and not let jealousy tear you apart. We can live happily ever after and raise the baby to know you all as their dads.”
“Yeah.”
“That about covers it.”
“Mhm.”
“Basically.”
She reels back, not expecting our immediate responses. “You really want this? All of you want me and a baby you didn’t plan on? You’re not just saying this because you feel responsible for the baby?”
“Goddamn it, Taylor!” I don’t mean to shout, but she’s being a stubborn brat. Since she’s pregnant and we’re in front of my brothers, I can’t bend her over the couch like I want to and teach her a lesson. “We told you we want this before we knew anything about the baby.”
Allistar drops a hand onto my shoulder, a silent reminder to breathe.
“We’re going to get jealous,” Marak admits, rolling his eyes when I growl at him.
What the fuck does he think he’s doing? That shit won’t convince her how serious we are.
He hobbles closer to Taylor. “We will get jealous of each other because all of us want to keep you in our own bed forever. But knowing you’re loved and safe with the three other people we trust most in the world will outshine that jealousy every time.”
Syn strides up next to Marak, patting him on the back. “Does it make me crazy to know you’ve slept with them and will continue to while you’re with me at the same time? Hell yes, but that’s only because I’ll be wishing I can sneak you into my bed every ten minutes.”
Marak chuckles and bumps fists with Syn. “Same, bro.”
“Is it going to be weird seeing you kiss and touch them? Yeah, it’ll be weird at first.” Allistar shoves his hands into his pockets. “Then, it won’t be weird anymore, and we’ll all adjust to our new normal. A normal we’ve all decided we want.”
“That baby,” I say pointing to her stomach. “That’s our baby. I’m that baby’s father. I will protect that baby and you with everything I have. I’ll take care of everything that needs taking care of. I’ll make sure the car seat is installed correctly. I’ll check crib ratings to make sure we get the best one. I’ll research schools and send him or her to the best school.”
She starts to protest, but I hold my hand up. “Allistar is that baby’s father. He’ll be there to hold that baby when it cries because of a skinned knee. He’ll teach that baby how to treat others with respect. The baby will run to him when their friends are mean to them or someone breaks their heart for the first time.”
Allistar swallows hard a few times, blinking back moisture as it wells up in his eyes. “I will, I promise.”
“Syn is that baby’s father. He’s going to teach the baby terrible knock-knock jokes. He’s going to be responsible for the baby’s first laugh and many more that’ll follow. He’ll be there to run around the park and to swing on the swings and slide down the slide. He’ll be the one to buy them their first box of Legos with the excuse it’s for them, but really, we’ll all know that it’s because he wants to play, too. He’ll keep them young and carefree for as long as possible.”
Syn grins wide and goofy. “I really do like Legos.”
Taylor giggles through her tears.
“Marak is that baby’s father. He’ll introduce the baby to superheroes and sci-fi and whatever other dorky crap he likes. He’ll help with homework even after the rest of us can’t keep up. He’ll show the baby how to see the world with the glass half-full. He’ll encourage them to follow whatever dreams they have, and he’ll do everything in his power to help them achieve every single goal they set.”
Marak drops his head in an awkward nod, his cheeks turning a little pink. “He’s right.”
“And you,” I say, wrapping her in my arms. Allistar comes up to her left side while Marak leans on her right with his good side. Syn slides up behind her, his hand sliding over her side to rest on her belly. The gesture makes my heart squeeze. This feels like where we’re supposed to be. It feels right. “You’ll teach our baby to love fiercely and with their whole heart. You’ll pick them up from school and drop them off at soccer or whatever other activity they decide is right for them. You’ll veto our decisions when the four of us become overprotective fathers. You’ll be the mom your Grammy was to you, and you’ll be so damned amazing at it.”
Taylor falls apart in our arms, but she allows the four of us to hold her. “I’m scared,” she admits.
“You don’t need to be, baby.” Syn kisses the top of her head. “You’ve got the four of us. We love you, and we won’t ever let anything happen to you or our baby. We’re a family, and we’re in this for the long haul.”
“Will you please accept that we want you and that we love you?” Marak asks. His pout is theatrical and over the top, but it gets a smile out of her.
She takes a few deep breaths, then finally nods. The four of us sag in relief. “We should probably take this slow, though,” she says. “It’ll give you all time to ease into it and all.”
She rests her head on my chest while her hands reach out for Allistar and Marak. Syn drops his chin onto her shoulder. All of us holding our girl.
She’s crazy if she thinks we’ll take any of this shit slow, though. The look me and my brothers exchange says it all. We’ll have her moved in by the end of the week.
The End…For Now.