SHE SNUGGLES INTO MY side, her head on my chest, and takes a deep breath before her whole body relaxes.
“I like this Everly. She’s honest with what she wants, with how she feels,” I say, a content hum vibrating in my chest.
Everly’s fingers move across my skin in lazy circles, and I’m almost drunk on how good it feels. “I don’t know how to stop,” she says.
“Stop what?” For a second I think she’s talking about her touch.
She tilts her head back, eyes catching mine. “Being a bitch to you. Not trusting you.”
“I guess the question is why? What about me brings that out?” I ask as I run my hand up and down her back.
“You were my childhood crush, and my heart is a broken, untrusting mess right now. I’m scared you just want me for sex, like all the women you’ve been with, and the first instant I let you in, you’ll devastate what’s left of me.”
Fuck. She’s hurt and lashing out, and I end up being the target because there’s something between us that I know is more than sex.
“You’re not a mess, Ev.”
“Yes, I am,” she argues. “I’m a broken mess. And it’s even worse now.”
“You may be broken, baby, but you’re not shattered. There is a big difference.”
“Maybe, but it’s so much more, Niko.”
“Because of the baby?” I ask. We never did get to discuss whatever it was she came to talk about.
She nods and gives a little sniffle. “I’m scared.”
“There’s nothing to be scared of. I’m here with you, and we’ll do it together.”
I can feel the wetness of a tear slide down my chest, and I take hold of her hand, pulling it up to my lips. A soft kiss while I pull her closer. She’s shaking, crying. Vulnerable in front of me for the first time.
“I don’t know about babies or what to do. I never babysat. I don’t know the first thing about being a mother or about how to let you in.”
“I don’t have any answers there. The only thing we can do is be there for each other, help each other, and in that, maybe you’ll see there’s more to me than you think.”
“Like what?” she asks. I know she doesn’t mean it to hurt, but it still stings how little she seems to know me.
“Like a man who is loyal. Who values family, friendship, and love.”
“Friendship . . .” she trails off. “And there is the number three thing that is making me a disaster.”
“Cam.”
She nods. “I started this by lying to you on a night you were helping out a friend. You were there, waiting for me, doing everything Cam asked of you and I deceived you, but in the end, that won’t matter to him. He’s going to hate you, and it’ll be my fault.”
My lips form a thin line. She’s a little too honest. I almost wish she would lie to me about Cam’s reaction, but I know it’s the truth. No matter who started it, the bottom line is I had sex with his sister. Even worse, I got her pregnant after I found out who she was.
I went after her because I wanted her. So much so that I forgot about my promise to my best friend. All I wanted was more time with her.
“It’s going to suck when he finds out, I’m not gonna lie. I’m going to get the shit beat out of me.”
Everly gasps, her brow furrowed as she looks up at me. “I never meant to hurt either of you. I never wanted that.”
I shrug. “I never meant to knock you up. Shit happens.”
“That’s it? Shit happens?”
“Trust me; I’m not looking forward to a fight with Cam. He’s an attack dog when it comes to you, and I am definitely not safe.”
“Then let’s wait on telling him,” she says.
I scrunch my brow as I look down at her. “And keep up the lie that it’s your shithead ex’s kid?”
She nods. “I don’t think I can deal with it right now.”
“No, Everly. It’s gonna have to be dealt with.”
“I know, but give it a few weeks . . . or months.”
I heave a sigh and shake my head. “If we wait too long, it’s only going to be worse. It’s better just to rip this Band-Aid off as soon as possible.”
“Please? I promise that we will tell him, just not now. We can tell him together.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, but I’ll wait a little longer, Ev,” I concede.
“Thank—”
“But not much longer,” I say, cutting her off. “He needs to know, and it’s best if he hears it directly from me.”
“I don’t know about that, but thank you.” She leans over and places a kiss on my chin.
“Everything is going to work itself out, Ev,” I say as I pull her tighter just to feel her as close to me as possible. “Try not to stress, and take care of you and our baby. Let me worry about your brother. Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
“You’re what?” I ask into the phone. Everly called at one of the worst fucking times with Cam only a few feet away.
“I’m going to tell my parents this weekend. Cam’s going with me,” she repeats.
“That’s great—I can’t wait to hear all about it,” I say, sounding a little too cheerful.
There’s a whispered, “Fuck,” then a loud sigh. “Is he close?”
I step out the back door where a couple of guys are sitting at the picnic table and keep walking until I’m hopefully out of earshot.
“We have the same shift tonight.”
“I’m sorry, I should have sent a text first.”
“No, it’s fine, really,” I assure her. The last thing I need is to give her any type of barrier. “I want you to call. Just know if he’s nearby, I’ll speak in some code until I can get away.”
“Are we spies now?” she whispers into the phone. “If so, can I be some sexy, confident femme fatale?”
“Trust me, baby, you’re already that.”
There’s a moment of silence, and I pull my phone back to make sure we’re connected. I begin to wonder if I pissed her off somehow when she comes back. “Hold on,” she says, her voice a bit strangled.
Total silence takes over, but it shows we’re still connected, so I wait. It takes a few minutes, but then she’s back.
“Sorry, I didn’t want you to listen to that.” Her voice is rough.
“Are you okay?”
“Nothing but my regularly scheduled vomit session.”
Ah. “Gross.”
“And that is why I didn’t want you to listen.”
“Are you able to keep anything down?” I ask. If she’s not getting any nutrients, that can’t be good for her or the baby.
“A little, but not much.”
“That’s not good. You should talk to the doctor to see if there’s something to help. There has to be.” I don’t know much about pregnancy, but I know about humans, and we need food to survive.
“I have my first appointment on Tuesday, which is another reason I’m calling.”
“I’ll be there,” I say, not even letting her ask me.
“I haven’t even told you what time.”
“Doesn’t matter. Besides, I have the night shift on Tuesday. And anyway, if I were scheduled, I’d switch with one of the guys.”
“Niko . . .”
“Stop, Ev. I will be at every single appointment, no matter what.”
“Even the checkups?”
“Yes, this is important to me, too. I don’t care what I have to do to make sure I’m there, but I will. I told you we’d do this together, and I meant it. All of it.”
“You know, you’re making it hard not to like you.”
A chuckle leaves me. “Good. It’s about time you noticed what everyone else knows is fact.”
“And what’s that?”
The guys at the picnic table are all looking at me, Jenkins is making kissy faces in my direction. I flip them the finger and smirk.
“That Niko Callahan is a god,” I say loud enough for the assholes to hear.
There’s laughter, and I can hear a banging. “A god?”
“Baby, don’t even try to bring me down. You can’t. You’ve prayed for me, and I’ll make you pray again and again. You’ll worship me on your knees.”
“Cocky fuck.”
“Sure am.”
She lets out the cutest giggle. “I’ll text you the information for the appointment.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, and Niko?” she says just as I’m about to hang up.
“Yeah?”
“Stay safe, okay? I need you.” The way her voice wavers is like a knife in my chest. Reminders of the dangers of my job suddenly mean more, make me want to be more cautious and less gung-ho because now I have someone who needs me. I have two who need me.
“Always. Good luck tomorrow.”
“Gym tomorrow?” I ask Cam, knowing full well he has plans. Fuck, I hate this lying shit, but Ev needs some time, so I’ll give it to her, but not too much.
He shakes his head. “Sorry, man, got a family thing. Lunch with a side of revelation.”
I scrunch my brow. “Revelation?”
“Everly’s telling Mom and Dad.”
I clap my hand down on his shoulder. “Better you than me.” And that’s the truth. Then again, I can see his parents handling the news a lot better than Cam will.
“Why the fuck couldn’t you have a little sister so you could understand my pain?” he grumbles.
“I’ve got sixteen cousins, nine of them boys that ask the same thing.”
“Ah, the Callahan clan.”
I punch his shoulder. “Dipshit, we’re Irish, not Scottish.”
“No, they are Irish. You’re only half.” I shake my head at him because he’s an idiot. ”So how do family reunions and holidays go? Do you bring baklava to serve with the boiled corn beef and cabbage?”
“Asshole. You know, you’ve been ragging on me a lot lately. Are you not getting attention down south? Ya boys lonely?”
“Oh, I’m getting lots of action, unlike your celibate ass.”
“Yeah, okay. If you say so, Cam.”
“Which reminds me, can Niko come out and play tomorrow night? I need to let off some steam.”
I shake my head. “Such a jackass, and no, I can’t.”
Cam blows out a breath. “You were so much cooler when you were single. Come on, we’ve got the alarm inspection to do.”
I get up and follow behind him. This is how our relationship has always been, and I want to keep it that way. But he needs to know about Everly and me. The sooner, the better.