1. Vlog, but for God’s sake no giveaways. I swear, Satan keeps putting boxes in my path just to watch me vomit. And my God, is this ever going to get better???
2. Call the student store and demand to speak with a manager. It’s not a lot to ask that there be a minute maternity section in the vastness of all that dead open space. Especially when coeds such as myself are moved to shop for a “friend.” And perhaps suggest they look into firing that sorority sister eyeing me with judgment as if I were the friend in question. A congenial staff is apparently an impossibility to come by these days.
3. Work on building up a stash of those cupcakes I keep noshing on from the caf. The red velvet surprise are to die for. And I will kill if needed to fulfill my nightly cravings for one.
4. Find Seth and take him up on that bodily massage he offered by way of his tongue.
5. Burn to-do list.

As much as I appreciate the fact Izzy has been syphoning me her wardrobe discards as she grows out of them, I can’t help but note they look so very—well—maternity-inspired. As slimming as they are, they still scream baby on board, so for the most part I’m only utilizing the cute jeans and jeggings she’s gifted me. The bright blue dress with the Peter Pan collar is a clear throwback to the eighties, and seeing that it still has a tag on it, it was out of bounds for even Izzy. Nope, not for me. I’ve relegated myself to wearing old baggy sweatshirts, most of them hand-delivered by my newly minted boyfriend himself. Just the way he’s doing now.

“Thank you!” I pull him into my dorm and seal my mouth over his with a lingering kiss. This is all I really want to do on this lazy Friday evening. But duty calls and I’ve got regularly scheduled programming to tend to.

Seth pulls back and examines me with sleepy eyes. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, but half the janitorial staff has more fashion sense than me these days. My viewers are leaving me by the droves, and I pinpoint it directly on the fact my hair looks like an oil spill no matter how much I wash it, my face looks as if a flock of chickens pecked at it, I’m bloated, have bona fide luggage under my eyes, and I have to take a piss every thirty seconds while trying to enthusiastically talk about the latest greatest freebies the cosmetics giants are freely sending my way. And soon, I’m guessing, that well will dry up, too.”

Seth bounces a smile. “At least you haven’t lost your ability to see the bright side. Do you mind if I hang out?”

I pull him over to my bed. “As if I was going to let you leave. Trixie headed out with Rush, so we have the place to ourselves. I just have to shoot a quick video. Feel free to take a nap or watch me in action.”

“Take a nap?” he balks. “Honey, if you’re in the room, I’m sleeping with you.” He gives a quick wink while hopping on my bed and kicking off his shoes. “Do your thing. I’ll drool in the corner.” He folds a pillow under his chest and falls on his stomach as I ready myself on the floor. I swear, it takes me ten times longer to get up from any sitting position, let alone the carpet. Soon I’ll have to shoot it from my bed, which means I might actually have to make it, lest my viewers see how I really live and ditch me for far more tidier cosmetics pastures.

I pull up my newest box of goodies—unopened because who likes to be surprised better than me? I flip on my phone and set it in the cradle and turn it on.

“Hey, guys—it’s Sunday Knight! I hope you’re ready to kick off the weekend with a bang, but before you head out and set the world on fire with that Better Than Sex Mascara on point, I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at some of the goodies I scored at the post office.” I slice the box open with a pair of scissors, and Seth catches my eye as he strips off his jacket. I give a sly smile his way without meaning to. It’s a hard and fast rule to shoot these videos when I’m alone so I don’t fall victim to distraction. God knows I’m liable to fall victim to—oh look, shiny!

I abruptly look back to the camera and try my best to shake all thoughts of Seth Baker out of my head as I unpack item after item, giving each one their due. But Seth must be roasting in here because he’s just peeled off his flannel, and I can’t help but note the way his T-shirt stretches taut over his chest. My God, how does he get that cotton to stretch over those muscles? That man is made of iron and steel like no other. Seth is the beefiest basketball player on the entire team. He looks far more football than he does basketball, but I guess that’s what makes him so powerful.

“Sunday,” he hisses my name low and nods to the camera.

“Oh, right.” A remorseful laugh titters from me. “So these blushers in the cute little peach compact are my favorite and, my God, they smell like”—Seth pulls off his shirt, and just seeing his bare flesh in my dorm sets off an infernal fire in me—“smells like spice and woodsy cologne, and I love getting my face right in the neck—nectar.” I startle back to life and gape at the camera. Why in the hell am I talking to a handful of girls when I have a perfectly good boy in my room ready and willing to take care of all my hormonal—and, good grief does pregnancy make you randy—needs? “All right, my sweets. Giveaway!” I shout with contrived enthusiasm as I hold up the entire damn box from between my knees. “Let me know what your favorite scent is, and I’ll pick a random winner from the comments.” I turn off the camera and slap my phone over my dresser before crawling into bed with that beefcake taking up residence there.

“What the heck was that about?” His brows furrow as I curl into his arms, my fingers strumming over that steely chest of his.

“That was all your fault. Who do you think you are coming in here and doing a strip tease to seduce me? It’s downright criminal.” My lips find a home over his mouth, and Seth plunges his tongue into me like a punishment. Seth knows exactly how rough and rowdy I like it—mostly because I boss him around until he gets it right, but that’s beside the point. He’s generous enough to give me what I want—what he says I deserve, and all I want is him doing this thing he does with his magic tongue all over my body. Seth is a master at making me moan and groan in all the right ways. I try not to think of the girls who may have gifted him all this experience, and as much as it boils my blood while we’re apart, when we’re together I want nothing more than to pen them a thank you. This boy has skills, and he’s not afraid to use them. Lucky, lucky me.

We strip off our clothes, and before I know it, I’m riding high, on top, just the way I like it, bouncing, having the best time of my round-bellied life, when the door flies open, and Trixie screams as if we were a couple of vandals. A tall head of hair struggles to peer in behind her—RUSH!

Trixie shuts the door once again like a reflex, and Seth and I scramble to put on our clothes so fast he ends up wearing my sweatshirt, which was technically his to begin with, and I’m left in his flannel with the front buttoned wonky, and the girls—and, my God, are they huge now—peeking out as if they too were concerned for our safety.

There’s a gentle knock, and Trixie hops in, sealing herself over the door as if to keep my brother out. He’s either dropped dead or has no clue what was really happening because neither Trixie nor a locked door couldn’t keep him from exploding into the room.

“Are you kidding me?” Trixie hisses it low like a mean whisper. “You almost got caught.” She looks to Seth. “And you almost got killed.” Her glare reverts my way. “I told him you were doing naked yoga! That’s your story, and you’re sticking to it. He’s waiting for me at the elevator.” She bolts to her bed and swipes her phone off the pillow, holding it for me to see. “I forgot something.” She snickers at Seth. “I’d say use a condom, but I guess you don’t need to. Please leave a shoe outside or something in the future to signal the fact you’re getting busy. And by the way, nice reverse cowgirl. I might try it myself sometime.”

“Aaargh!” I scream and toss a stuffed animal at her as she cackles her way out the door. “I hate you!” I shout, only half-teasing.

“Keep up that naked yoga!” she screams through the door.

“Gah.” I fall back onto the bed and cover my head with a pillow. “I think I just saw my life flash before my eyes.”

“You?” Seth pulls me into his arms and sits here panting with fear instead of pleasure. Having your brother nearly walk in on you will do that. “Maybe I should say my goodbyes right now. If Rush found me here, under you like that, he would have thrown me off the side of the building.”

“It would be funny if it wasn’t true.” I nuzzle into the safety of Seth’s neck. I could sleep soundly for a good solid eight doing just this. “We need to get everything out in the open, don’t we?”

Seth pauses for a moment too long, and I look up at him to find his forehead wrinkled with worry. “I think it’s time.”

A quick flutter rattles me from the inside, right in the exact spot where—

“Oh my God. I think the baby just moved!” I take Seth’s hand and lay it over my belly, and the two of us freeze solid, not even daring to take our next breath. The flutter goes off again, harder, far more jolting, and we share a laugh.

“Sunday.” Seth’s affect changes to that of grief as he quickly sobers up. He glides down until his mouth is over my stomach and presses a soft kiss over it. “I love you.”

And just like that, my heart melts. “Seth.” I rake my fingers through his thick, soft hair. “You love my baby?” I know he does. Seth is just that wonderful, but it makes me feel bad that I’m dragging him into my drama. And as a person who is openly allergic to drama, it makes my heart hurt for him.

“I love you and your baby.” He swims back up and holds me with those dark navy eyes pinned to mine, their secrets as unknowable as the depths of the sea. “You’re both mine, Sunday.” He swallows hard, and his eyes tear up. His lips quiver as if he’s trying to push his words out, but they’re strangling him instead.

I land my finger over his lips and shake my head. The room fades in a blur as the tears come hot and heavy. “Don’t say anything else.” I feel like a monster. Here I am selfishly making him bed me just to ease my insatiable desire, and all the while I have Eli Gates’ baby inside of me. I’m sick. Only a sick person would do that. Seth and I should have waited. We could have cultivated both our relationship and our enthusiasm for what was to come. Instead, I jumped the gun per usual. My greed knows no bounds.

Seth and I fall into a hot, delicious kiss that feels as if it lasts for hours. Seth makes love to me thoroughly as if he owed me something, and per usual I greedily accept all he has to give. But I don’t let him breathe another word. I don’t have it in me to hear him tell me it’s all right when I know it’s not.

That, right there, is the next thing on my list—making things right. And the first thing I need to make right is telling Eli Gates he’s going to be a father. The father of my child.

It’s time to grow up, do what needs to be done, and as much as it hurts, I refuse to back down this time.

* * *

On Saturday, Nolan sent a group text to Rush and me letting us know he’d like to take us to dinner at the Black Bear. Dad is in town, so he’ll be there, too. Seth mentioned Misty invited him as well. Maybe that’s the right time to tell everyone how we feel about each other. There’s no way my brothers will really kill Seth. They love Seth. Murder isn’t a realistic option. I hope.

I decide to hit the Black Bear a little early because I happen to know that Serena is almost off work, and she’s on my long list of people I need to make restitution with. The truth is, I miss Serena. I miss her with an aching heart. And I can’t believe I’ve been letting any and everything get between us. It was my petty jealousy of her that led me to that frat house that fateful December night to begin with. If only I had been a bigger person, none of this would have happened—but in a psychotic way, I’m sort of glad it did. I mean, I have Seth in my life in a special way now. My hand glides over my belly a moment—a cardinal sin in and of itself when you’re trying to keep your blooming body out of the public eye. I scan the vicinity for my sweet cousin, but there’s no sign of her bubbling redheaded eminence. Instead, I zero in on the very person I was sort of expertly avoiding—number one on my list of restitution, Eli Gates.

There he is, alone, bent over a book, most likely studying for finals. This entire semester seems to have whizzed right by. Seth and I spent all of spring break trying to raise more funds for the homeless shelter. I haven’t dared to ask how much our meager fundraisers have raised so far, and Seth hinted that he’d rather keep that information to himself. He’s so sweet, he probably doesn’t want to upset me.

I’ve got less than a half an hour before my entire family shows up, and since Serena is nowhere to be found, it’s as if the universe has laid out the golden moment for me.

My feet start in that direction without my permission, and I take a seat across from him without saying a word.

He looks up with mild concern before his entire face brightens. “Sunday, what’s up? You ready for that cheesy rematch? Are you laying down the nacho gauntlet?” He pushes his books away, offering his full attention.

“No, actually”—my body trembles with a nervous laugh, but I don’t dare take my eyes off his. I’m doing this. There is no turning back. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something else I laid down.” I nod, hoping to prod his memory along.

His brows knot up at the base as if he were trying to piece it together. “What’d you lay down? Did you lose something? Are you looking for a pink jacket? I just saw a waitress haul one to the back.”

“No. Actually”—my laughter hikes up a notch—“I was talking about something else entirely.” I lean in, trying my best not to run out of here screaming, knocking down all the coeds in my way like bowling pins because I’m so angry at myself for taking so damn long to do this. “Eli, I have to ask your forgiveness.” His eyes widen as if I just jumped sanity’s rails and he has no clue what to do with me. “I can’t believe I’ve let so much time lapse, but in my defense this has been very, very hard on me. I’ve been so sick, and I can’t sleep half the time, and now my hair is falling out. It’s falling out! I’m going to be bald by September.” I sob unexpectedly. “And I cry,” I whine my way through the words. “I cry for no reason all the time.”

“Shit.” He slides the entire napkin dispenser my way. “Are you okay? Let me call your brother.”

“No!” I shout so loud, so harsh, he bolts upright in his seat as if he were fearing for his life and mine. “I’m fine.” I do my best to swallow down my emotions. “I promise, everything is A-OK. Here’s the thing. What I’m about to say is going to come as a total shock to you. I just want you to know in advance, I’m not looking for money or anything else. I just need you to understand that. I simply need you to listen.”

He inches back as if I struck him. “You got it. What’s going on?”

“Last December, you and I were at a frat party—last one before winter break.”

He tips his head back and looks past me as if reliving the scene. “Yeah, I was there.”

“Okay, well, I got wasted, and I think you were pretty tanked yourself. The next thing I knew I was in your room, and we were—”

“Oh shit.” His eyes round out because I think he just did the vomit-inducing math. “Are you trying to say that we—”

I give a quick nod. “And we accidentally made a person.”

His hand thumps over the table as he slumps into a catatonic state. His face goes white as chalk, and I’m half-afraid if he doesn’t take his next breath we’ll have a funeral to plan. I’ll be the girl who killed Eli Gates with her vagina.

“Please, don’t worry about anything.” I’m quick to try to bring him back to the land of the living. “I’m okay. The baby is, too. I’ve already decided, I’m going to raise it myself. And I promise you there is no pressure at all for you to be involved. I just”—I shrug as the tears come back to the party—“I just thought you should know.”

Eli stares at me as if I’ve just confessed to hacking down every person in Cutler Tower before he exhales and his body melts against his seat. “Thank you for sharing that with me. I really appreciate it. And I’m really sorry I haven’t been there for you.” He leans in, tears glittering in his own eyes as he takes up my hand. “I promise I’m going to make it up to you.”

I glance at the time on my phone. “Well, don’t worry about it. If I were you, I’d take off right about now. My entire family is set to burst in at any minute. I’m getting ready to tell them, too.” I wince. “I’ve sort of kept this close to the vest.”

“Yeah.” He stands and collects his books. “I think I need to wrap my head around it for a bit before I face your brothers. Maybe brush up on some boxing moves.”

“Sorry.” I grimace. “Maybe we can get together sometime next week and I’ll take you up on that nacho challenge. We can get some things ironed out then, too. I’ll bring an ultrasound picture of the baby, and you can see it if you want.”

“Baby.” That heavy look of concern melts into a sorrowful smile. “Yes, I would absolutely love that.” He comes over and offers a strong hug before dropping a sweet kiss over the top of my head. “I’ll text you tonight. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me.” He points hard as he walks out backward, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he has a slight spring to his step. Maybe this isn’t the worst news? He backs into a body, and it’s Seth coming this way. “I’ll call you,” he says before heading out the doors.

Seth steals a kiss from my lips before taking a seat across from me.

“Watch it!” I glance over my shoulder for signs of my psychotic brothers. “God forbid they see you kissing me.”

“But it’s okay if they see Eli?” He’s so jealous it’s downright adorable. “What was that about, anyway?”

I bite down over my bottom lip for a moment. “I told him.”

“Told him what?” He looks genuinely confused.

“About the baby,” I practically mouth the words, and his eyes widen ten times their size.

“Oh shit.”

“Yes, oh shit is right.” I fan myself with the menu. “It took everything I had to muster up the courage to do it. I’m just sorry it took so long. He was really nice about it, though. And I think he wants to step up. He said I could call him anytime if I needed anything at all.”

“I bet he did,” Seth groans and buries his head in his hands a moment, but before I can assure him it was for the best, Serena breezes over and wraps her arms around me in a hearty embrace.

“You know I love you, right?” Her watery green eyes light up like Christmas trees.

My entire body radiates with warmth. “I know.”

“Come on, guys.” She pulls me out of my seat. “We’ve got a bunch of tables reserved in the back.”

Seth and I follow Serena over just as a small mob heads this way, and I offer Trixie and Rush a warm hug right along with Nolan and Misty. My father lunges at me like he means it and presses a quick kiss over my cheek.

“I’ve missed you, princess.” He pulls back to inspect me, and my stomach drops because there’s an inquisitive look in his eyes that I can’t deny. “You look different. You’re glowing.”

“Oh—um, it’s probably just this new highlighter I’m using. It makes my skin shine bright. It’s all the rage. I mean, who doesn’t like a Chernobyl tan once in a while?” I look to Serena. “Am I right, or am I right?”

That amused look on her face glides right off. “She’s right,” she says, pulling me to the side. “Hey, not to make you squirrely, but that sweatshirt of yours is looking awfully full.”

I glance down and wince because it’s true. I look like someone stuck a pillow up my shirt. “I’ll have to tell them today. I mean, I wasn’t planning on it starting with that. I was sort of going to fill them in on Seth and me, but you’re right—there’s no hiding this anymore. And I’m running out of time.”

The baby kicks, and I can’t help but coo at Serena. “It’s kicking!” I steal her hand a moment, gliding it over my tummy and, sure enough, there’s another wallop.

“Oh my God!” Serena dips on her knees a moment.

Seth pops up with a wild look of worry. “Hey.” He nods to the rest of the party behind us, and I note his parents are here along with Lex and Axel. My God, Lex is going to hang both Eli Gates and me by the toes. Axel’s brother, Shep, is with them, and I’m hoping Lex will be moved to behave because of it.

She makes a beeline this way and offers me an impromptu hug. “Hey, stranger. Am I losing my mind, or have you been ignoring my texts?” Lex is totally not losing her mind. Ignoring her texts has become my new favorite hobby. She pulls back and inspects me. “You feeling okay?” She turns her head just slightly, those eagle eyes of hers never leaving mine. “What’s going on? You look like you’re off to a football game. You always dress for dinner.”

“It’s finals.” I shrug. I never thought I’d be so grateful for this detestable time of the semester. “I’ve been pulling one all-nighter after the next. Going to bed at four in the morning three nights in a row wreaks havoc on everything.” I pluck at my hair and pray I don’t end up with a clump in my hand. Lex will be the first person to whisk me off to the emergency room. And when she finds out I’m having a baby in a few short minutes, I’m sure she’ll do just that anyway.

Misty calls for everyone to take a seat, and on my way next to Seth, I spot Izzy watching from the bar with her husband. My eyes sink down that unnaturally curvy body of hers, and her stomach looks as if she swallowed an entire pumpkin patch. Wow, she’s big. She’s the size of a battleship! Just the thought of my skin stretching to unnatural levels has me swaying on my feet.

“Whoa.” Seth helps me into my seat before leaning into my ear—“everything okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just thirsty, that’s all.” That’s actually true. I’m not only eating for two. I’m drinking for two. It turns out, Little Fish needs its amniotic fluid sac filled to the brim, and it’s my responsibility to top it off on the regular.

A waitress comes by and drops off a dozen or so glasses of iced water, and Seth is quick to furnish me with both his and mine.

“Seth”—my father narrows his gaze on him, and if I didn’t know better, it’s a suspicious one—“what’s occupying your time these days?” He smirks as if he already knows the answer. My dad didn’t make his millions with a subpar IQ. The man suspects something, and he’s about to winnow the truth from us.

“Basketball’s over, so I’ve got some free time on my hands.”

“I bet you do.” Dad needles him with the silent accusation.

Mr. Baker leans back to get a better look at my dad. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Dad growls at poor Seth, never taking his eyes off him. “It means I can see the way he’s looking at my daughter.” His voice rises an octave, and now both Nolan and Rush are glaring at the two of us.

“No way.” Rush shakes his head. “Baker knows what side his safety is buttered on. He wouldn’t dare hit on my sister.” He glowers at him. “Isn’t that right, Seth?”

Shit. Why the hell did Rush have to go and offer it up like some testosterone-based challenge?

“What’s it to you?” I ask as I glare right back at my brother before offering my father the same caustic stare. “Really, is it any of your business who I see?”

“All right”—Nolan bats his hands for everyone to calm down—“Sunday’s got a good head on her shoulders. I’m sure it’s fine.”

“Thank you,” I’m quick to tell him. It’s about time someone around here acknowledges the fact—even if I will disprove him in a few mere moments.

Nolan gives a sly wink. “She’s just a kid. She has no business hanging out with Seth for anything outside of school. Isn’t that right?”

My mouth falls open. “How dare you!” I scoot back violently in my seat as I look to the entire table with their judgmental stares. Everyone here thinks I should be kept under lock and key as if I were a three-year-old who needs constant supervision—as if I’m prone to making life-changing mistakes. I am, but that’s not what this is about. I jump to my feet as I ready to tell everyone off and leave in a dramatic fashion because that’s exactly what my mutant hormones are demanding that I do, but Rush stands right along with me, accidentally knocking his elbow into my swollen belly with a hard jab, and I land sloppily on top of Seth clutching at my stomach.

“Oh my God, the baby!” the words spring from me, loud and strong like a reflex, and I swear on all that is holy the entire restaurant falls silent for a few ripe seconds. I squeeze my eyes shut tight in remorse before righting myself as Seth stands by my side.

Literal steam emits from my father’s ears, and I’m pretty sure it’s a YouTube-worthy moment if ever there was one. “Holy shit!” he barks with an instant rage percolating from him. His face is red with fury. His eyes bulge with disbelief. “What did you just say?”

I look to Nolan, to Lex, to Rush, all staring at me wide-eyed, and I can’t help but note the disappointment on their faces.

Rush shakes his head. “She didn’t mean it. She’s pulling our leg.”

I glance to Misty, and she gives a slight shrug as if suggesting I go with it, so I do.

“I’m not pulling anyone’s leg.” I clear my throat as their eyes grow double in size. “I’m having a baby, and Eli Gates is the father.”

“What?” Rush riots so loud the room thunders with the sound of his voice. Chaos erupts all at once as everyone at the table springs to their feet as if there was a fire in the building.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker look the calmest of them all, and if I didn’t know better, they actually look as if they’re gloating. As if they’ve been apprised of my slutty ways all along, and tonight my belly and I stepped up to prove the point.

Lex springs up next to me. “Who is this Eli Gates, and where can I find him?” she hisses while holding up a butter knife.

“Lex!” I snatch it from her. “This isn’t the time for violence!” I look to my brothers, hoping I’ve somehow convinced them, too.

Nolan strides forward with his chest expanding wide. “The hell it’s not.”

My cousin, Marlin, strolls over with his Jepson PD uniform, looking every bit pissed for no good reason. “What the hell’s going on here?”

Rush steps in close. “Don’t you worry about it. Just let me borrow your gun.”

“Nobody is killing Eli!” I scream over the melee with all the power my lungs allow. My God, I hope at least twelve different coeds have texted the poor guy by now, alerting him to the fact he should indeed run. I hear Mexico is nice this time of year.

“The hell I’m not!” Rush riots back, and Seth stomps his seat over the floor a moment, creating a horrible drumming sound that brings us all to attention.

“Enough!” he shouts so loud my skin reverberates. “I’m not doing this anymore.” An awful look of pain crests his features, and it breaks my heart to see it. I knew Seth had a breaking point with me and my fetus and here it is. It’s clear he wants nothing to do with us. He looks to me with a sorrowful expression, and I can feel it coming. “I’m sorry, Sunday.”

I nod as a wild hiccup bucks from me. I knew that Seth was going to eventually cut me loose. I just never envisioned it would be here with both of our families present. I can’t say I blame him, though. Those bedroom shenanigans I’ve enlisted him in were pretty brutal. I’m nothing short of a disgusting predator to him.

I open my mouth to let him off the hook myself, and he holds up a hand. That expression on his face looks ten times more pitiful.

“Eli isn’t the father of your baby, Sunday.”

Dad chokes at the thought. “What the fuck is this?” He looks to Nolan. “She doesn’t even know who the father is?”

Seth doesn’t break his gaze with me. “Eli’s not the father of your baby. I am.”

“Geez.” I roll my eyes, a part of me filling with relief. Of course, Seth wants to pretend he’s the father. He’s so sweet, he’s willing to lay down his life for Eli just to ensure my sweet baby doesn’t grow up without a father. “And here I thought you were going to break up with me.”

Rush towers over me. “Break up with you? Are you seeing this asswipe?”

“Yes.” I give my brother a shove. “And he’s not an asswipe.” I can’t help but steal a glance at the Bakers as their son gets taken down a notch. “And Seth has been nothing but an upstanding gentleman. He just wants to make this better for me.” I pick up both his hands. “Seth and I are in love.” I melt like candlewax as I look into his eyes. “He wants to help me raise the baby. But he’s not the biological father. That’s Eli.”

Mrs. Baker gags as if someone shoved a breadstick down her throat. “Seth, you will not raise another man’s child.” Her voice is high and shrill, and here it is. The truth comes out. She hates me. I’ve suspected so much all along.

“You’re right, Mom.” Seth gives my hands a squeeze, those midnight blue eyes penetrating me so intimately. “I’m not raising another man’s child. This one would be mine. It’s true, Sunday. That baby you’re carrying isn’t Eli’s. I’m sorry I let you think so.” His voice breaks, and suddenly the moment takes a dark turn. “You didn’t sleep with Eli that night. You slept with me.”

Dad looks to Rush. “What the hell kind of threesomes are you allowing your sister to partake in?”

“No threesome.” Seth shakes his head just barely, his eyes still pinned to mine. “We were alone, Sunday. I was the one you woke up with in the morning. It was never Eli.”

The Bakers gasp in unison, and Misty offers them water as if they might pass out.

“Seth, this isn’t funny.” A horrible sinking feeling grips me. “I woke up in Eli’s room with Eli.”

“You never saw his face. That was me you were looking at.”

“No.” I pull my hands away and take a step back. “Why are you doing this? Why are you saying these things? It’s not funny, Seth. You’re going to confuse everyone. Most of all me.”

“I’m not trying to.” His eyes glisten with tears, and his cheek twitches as if he were struggling not to break down right here in the bar, not that it would be a stretch since we’re pretty much causing a scene. He glances down before coming up for a lungful of air. “I’m sorry, Sunday. I let you believe something that wasn’t true. It just never felt like the right time to tell you.”

It sinks in hard and fast, like only the truth can. All thoughts of Seth faking this moment to be some kind of a hero are off the table. That look on his face, that tone in his voice can’t be faked. I know Seth enough to realize when he’s telling the truth, or at least I think I do. One thing is obvious. I don’t really know Seth Baker at all.

“Five months?” I take another step back and land against Rush. “You lied to me for five months? You never wanted to tell me, did you? You were happy letting me think it was Eli’s baby while you played the part of some hero. You let me apologize to you over and over again for being with me while I was pregnant with someone else’s child, and you never said a word!” My father and brothers share a quiet groan. “Oh my God.” I laugh like a loon. “You said you loved me. Was that a lie, too? Because I’m really starting to think so.”

“No, I swear it. That was God’s honest truth.” He tries to take a step toward me, but I push into my brother before turning to Rush.

“Get me out of here. I can’t take another second of it.” I make a mad dash for the exit, and Rush is right there with me, protecting me, loving me like only a true brother can.

I feel like such a fool.

Hell, I am one.