Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“What’s wrong?” My mom had panic in her tone as she rounded the snack tables and came to my side. “Is this why you didn’t want to come?”
“Mom?” I corrected her as I looked up and caught a tear before it could slide down my face. I got to my feet to face her and everyone else in the room and finally get the whole mess off my chest.
Daniel’s voice broke the silence of the moment in the most gut-wrenching way. “You didn’t want to come?”
I drew a breath, and then I stepped away from everyone and shook out my arms to relieve some of the anxiety I was feeling. My eyes hit each one of the brothers individually, and none of them looked like they were going to stop me from telling our parents what had happened.
“When we were in Hawaii, I fell in love with someone.”
“Oh, well, that’s lovely,” my mom interrupted with her sharp voice that cut right through me.
“Mom, just stop,” I said, but I couldn’t look at her. Instead, my eyes drifted across the brothers endlessly as I continued to explain what we had done. “I fell in love with these guys.” Each of them looked back at me with a soft gaze, and for the first time since I had met them, none of them were trying to compete.
“Well, isn’t that just the sweetest thing?” Danforth offered.
Daniel took a step forward, bringing my hand into his and then up to his mouth for a kiss. “It isn’t a sibling love that she’s talking about.”
The look on my mother’s face was priceless. She was mortified to say the least, but Danforth was laughing.
“Um, Dad,” Dax tapped his shoulder, “they aren’t joking.”
“Oh, I can tell.” Danforth walked over to the wet bar and popped open a tall metal bottle of beer. “I know true love better than all three of you,” he said as he pointed a finger at each of his sons. “I can spot it a mile away.”
“Did you know?” my mom asked. Her expression softened just a bit.
He shook his head, still laughing a little to himself, and he said, “No, but just look at them.”
She tsked and crossed her arms. “How could you let this happen?”
“We didn’t exactly plan for this, Mom.”
“You should have stopped yourself.”
“From love?” The words left my mouth too quick for me to stop them.
Damien had come closer to me a few seconds ago, and Dax was on his way. I had the support of all three of them, but still not my mother. I could see it all over her face. Of course, there was no better time to tell her she was going to be a grandmother than in that very moment, because if I didn’t they’d be asking me if I was sick. Everything that was going on was making my stomach turn and I was sure to reveal myself sooner or later.
“Listen,” I withdrew my hand from Daniel’s and took a step away from the brothers, “I didn’t want to have to tell everyone like this, but it’s now or never.” I looked around at each of their faces, but my eyes ended up landing in Daniel’s. There was just something sweet and gentle about his demeanor right then, almost like he had actually read my mind and knew what I was about to say. “Not only did I fall in love with three amazing guys… that I probably shouldn’t have, I’m also pregnant.”
My mom let out a gasp. I knew she wanted to say something, but it was obvious the thought of it all was making her gag.
“Parvati,” Daniel whispered my name. He reached out a hand, and in that moment I really wanted him to comfort me, but I pulled back.
“Think what you want of me, but the baby deserves a good life.” I choked back the tears as my eyes found the door across the room. “With or without any of you.”
Damien grunted. “What? Hang on,” he called to me, but I was headed for the door. I heard Dax say something quietly to Damien as I tugged open the heavy wooden thing. He was probably holding him back so I could get away before crying my eyes out in front of everyone. He had such a way with feelings.
I hurried out of the room just as my tears started to fall. Somehow, I just knew that Daniel was back there watching me, torn between following me and scolding my mother. Either way, it didn’t matter. The baby was my life now, and if they couldn’t accept that, there was no place for any of them.
24
DAMIEN
Parvati was gone. All that was left was her mother, gasping as she held her hand over her mouth. I wanted to curse at her for making Parvati feel like an outcast, like she’d done something wrong, but all I could think about was how badly me and my brothers messed things up.