^“So, what are we having?” the guys ask like excited children when Andre and I walk into the waiting area. They all wanted to come into the scan, but the hospital wouldn’t let more than two people go in. Eventually, the guys decided to just let Andre go in with me, to save any arguments. I was kind of shocked how well they agreed to the plan, it took only two minutes for them to decide.

“A girl,” I say, and Kaiden comes over with a big grin as he hugs me. When he lets go, Todd wraps me in his arms as Dominic pats Andre’s shoulder.

“Congrats, a girl, hey? Funny how we started with letting one girl in the house and now there are going to be two,” Kaiden says with a big grin as Todd wraps his arm around my waist.

“Miss Fetcher, you forgot your paperwork,” the midwife says as she rushes over to us, her eyes widen at the sight of all the guys standing around me.

“Thank you,” I say and take the paperwork.

“O-okay,” she mumbles out and runs off. I’ve gotten used to seeing the guys in the last month, I forget how nervous they used to make me. They don’t any more, but I understand her reaction.

“How about we go and see Wendy? We haven’t taken Ellie yet,” Todd suggests. I wonder who Wendy is, I’ve heard her name a few times.

“Good idea,” Kaiden says, and they all nod.

“Who is Wendy?”

“Come on, you trust us, right?” Dominic says with a little wink. The memories of the night at the club come back to me and make me blush.

“Let’s go,” I roll my eyes and a few of them laugh. We get into the cars and drive back towards home. It’s weird to think of the house as home, but I do. My home seems to be with them all, I think as I look over at Andre who is driving. Todd’s is in the backseat and smiles at me when I look back at him. The others are in Dominic’s car.

Andre pulls up in the main village, next to an old café with a multicoloured awning and little tables with red chairs outside. I get out of the car just as Dominic parks his car next to us, and the other guys get out. Todd takes my hand as we follow the guys inside the small door of the café. They all have to duck, and I’m surprised that I have to a little as the door is really small. The café is cute, with a counter at the top and little booths to sit in. A little woman is standing in front of the counter, with a multicoloured bandana in her hair that matches the red and orange gypsy style dress she’s wearing. The woman must be in her eighties with long, grey hair and big, blue eyes, but she moves quickly around the counter when she sees the guys. I watch as she hugs each of them and then surprisingly hugs me before pulling Todd into a hug.

“You finally found a girl to bring to me?” she asks Todd.

“Yes, this is Ellie,” Todd introduces me, and I smile.

“Hi,” I say, and she looks at me.

“You are far too pretty for any of these lads,” she says, making me laugh with her, and then she looks at my bump.

“I can’t wait to see this lovely baby, may I?” she asks, hovering her hands around my bump, which is getting bigger by the day.

“Yes,” I nod, and she places her hands on my bump. I have only felt little wriggles here and there from the baby, and the midwife says that’s normal. I can’t wait to feel the baby kick and move around.

“Do you know what you’re having?” she asks me.

“We just found out, a girl,” I tell her, and she removes her hands with a big smile.

“What lovely news. I’m really good at knitting and would love to knit some baby things for you, if you would accept them,” she offers, and my eyes widen.

“That would be so lovely,” I say.

“Are your parents excited about the baby?” she asks me.

“They don’t know yet,” I say, and I see Andre look down at me in confusion.

“Anyway, why don’t I get you all some drinks?” Wendy says, clearly picking up on the questioning stares I’m getting from the guys.

“I’ll help you. Do you want ginger ale, Ellie?” Todd asks me, and I nod. We all take a booth by the window, with me sitting in-between Andre and Kaiden as the seats are large. Dominic sits opposite us.

“Why haven’t you told your parents?” Andre asks straight away.

“We aren’t talking since the divorce. They wouldn’t care. I might tell them soon or when the baby is here,” I tell them honestly, and Kaiden takes my hand under the table, squeezing it gently.

“Then, they are idiots,” Andre says, shaking his head and making me feel better with just those four words.

* * *

“You do realise the amount of baby things Wendy will knit you?” Andre says as he pulls his car into our driveway. Todd stayed behind at the café to help Wendy with an Ikea flatpack cabinet she needs help putting together. Holy ducks, it was really sweet when all the guys offered to help her when she asked. It’s clear they all look after her.

“I’ll have to get her something as a thank you,” I say, and he smiles.

“I love you,” he says, shocking me into complete silence. I don’t know what to say for a second, completely shocked.

The sound of sirens makes me look away from Andre’s intense stare. I watch as two police cars pull into the driveway in front of us, and Andre frowns as he gets out of the car quickly.

“We’re looking for Dominic Gayne,” a police officer says walking up to us, with another two behind him. Dominic’s car pulls up behind ours, and I watch as he and Kaiden get out of the car.

“Dominic Gayne?” the officer that spoke to us asks Dominic, who nods at him.

“We need to take you down to the station for questioning. I would rather not arrest you if you will come willingly,” the officer says, his eyes going to my bump and back to Dominic.

“What has he done?” I ask the police officers.

“The charges are for the assault of Drew Hershman,” the officer says, making my eyes widen. I look over and catch Dominic’s eyes. I can’t believe he would do this. Well, actually I can, but he must know there is no proof. Wasn’t sleeping with my best friend enough for him?

“It will be okay, Ellie,” he says and walks to the police car as I feel Andre’s hands on my arms. We all just stand and watch as the police take Dominic away, and it suddenly hits me.

“I have a restraining order against Drew. If you tell the police that he turned up here, and Dominic was defending me, it should be okay,” I say quickly, feeling my heart pounding.

“Ellie, go into the house and relax. We’ll go to the station and call our lawyer to meet us there. Dominic won’t get in trouble for this, this is just Drew playing games,” Kaiden says coming over to us.

“I should come, I could–” I start out, feeling tears coming to my eyes. I brought all this trouble to them, and it’s my fault.

“There’s nothing that you can do, and I can speak for all of us when we say we don’t want our girl in a place like that,” Kaiden says, and Andre walks around me and pulls me to his chest.

“You sure?” I ask, my voice a little muffled in Andre’s chest. I hear them both say yes, and I pull away.

“We should get going, man,” Kaiden says, pulling out his phone.

“Go inside and relax. Maybe order pizza or something for when we get back with Dominic,” he says with a smile.

“Why don’t you call Todd, and let him know what’s happened?” Kaiden says, as he types something quickly into his phone.

“I will and I could cook, I fancy making something nice for when you bring him home,” I say, and he smiles at me. I know he’s just trying to keep me busy, so I don’t spend the day panicking over Dominic.

“He would love that, we all would.” Andre says and gently kisses me before getting in his car. Kaiden waves goodbye as he’s on his phone as he gets in Andre’s passenger seat. I’m sure that’s a call to their lawyer. I feel so bad, this is all my fault. Drew seems determined to mess with my life, and he’s doing a good job.

Apparently divorcing him, getting a restraining order, and avoiding him doesn’t seem to be working. He’s just finding other ways to mess with me. I wait until Andre’s car is gone before turning and letting myself into the house.

The house is quiet, but I’ve gotten used to that. Even with all of us living here, it’s such a big house that it’s silent most the time. I smile when I feel the baby kick for the first time, I chuckle out loud and move my hands to my stomach. I pull my phone out and call Todd.

“You’re far bigger than the last time I saw you.”

My smile dies as I look towards the sound of Drew’s voice, he is standing in the kitchen doorway, and I drop the phone on the floor in shock. Drew is dressed in a suit, his hair styled neatly, and yet I can’t see why I ever found him attractive.

“What are you doing in here, Drew?” I say sharply, taking a step back.

“Don’t you miss me? I miss you, Ellie,” he says with a cold smile. It’s calculated, and I know he doesn’t really want an answer.

“Get out,” I say and point a shaky finger at the door.

“No chance, see, I want to talk, and you are going to listen,” he says and puts his hands on his hips, shoving his jacket away from his hips.

I can see the shiny black gun he has strapped onto his belt.

“We are going to talk Ellie, or things are going to get nasty,” he says with a big smile.

I just nod.