Chapter Thirty Two
Chase and I walk through the house; the door was unlocked as usual.
“Kade? James?” Chase yells.
“Hey, man,” Kade says as he walks out of his room, blonde hair loose and messy.
“Family meeting in the living room!” Chase says with a huge grin on his face. I chuckle. He’s so cute when he’s excited.
Kade shrugs and heads to the living room. I hear a car pull up out the front, it must be Nikki. Chase goes to get James and I wait for Nikki at the front door.
“Hey Layla, is everything okay?” She looks worried. Her auburn hair is tied in two braids, and she is wearing black tights with an off the shoulder green top. She looks cute.
“Everything is fine, come in and I’ll explain.”
We walk into the living room, where all three men are waiting. Kade and Nikki eye each other, a weird tension between them. Chase walks over to me and puts his arms around me.
“We’re pregnant!” Chase blurts out. He glances down at me and gives me the most devastating smile, his dimple deeper than ever. “And we are getting married!”
Kade and James look surprised, both wide eyed. They immediately come over and congratulate us, both wrapping me in warm hugs.
“Congrats sis,” James whispers in my ear, giving me a kiss on the cheek. They both hug Chase, their eyes full of emotion. I start to tear up.
Kade sees me and smirks. “Hormones already getting you are they, princess?”
“Whatever, I’m too badass for something as silly as hormones to take me down,” I scoff.
Kade kisses my forehead. “Thank you for making me an uncle,” he says sincerely.
I smile. “Thank you for being happy about it.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I love kids, I can’t wait to have my own one day.” He looks over at Nikki as he says it. “And I will especially love my niece or nephew,” he says softly.
I look around him at Nikki who is looking at Kade with a soft look in her eyes. When she sees me looking at her, she comes over and hugs me tightly. “I’m so happy for you, Layla. I get to be Auntie Nikki right?” she says with her hand on her hip.
I laugh. “Of course Nik.”
“Can I also be there when you tell your parents?” Nikki asks with an evil grin, grabbing my head and taking a look at my ring.
Yeah, that was not going to be a pretty conversation.
I shake my head at her, my eyes wide as saucers. She bursts out laughing. “It will be okay, don’t worry, Layla. Holy fuck this diamond is massive!” she blurts out, eyes wide.
We all head out to celebrate. Chase is telling anyone that will listen that he is going to be a father. The majority of them could care less, but it is super adorable.
Nikki tells us she’s moving out of her parents, and currently looking for places.
“Why don’t you take Layla’s old room at the house, Nikki?” Chase says beside me.
“Yeah, no, I don’t think that will work,” She says glancing over at Kade with a raised eyebrow.
“Why not? I think it’s a good idea,” Kade says, smirking. Something’s up.
“You should Nikki,” I tell her, “I will see you all the time, because I’m always over there, and Kade and James are fun to live with. Never a dull moment that’s for sure.”
She pauses and thinks it over, staring at Kade from under her lashes. “I guess I could give it a try. It’s sort of close to my new job,” she agrees eventually.
I look over at Kade, who looks relaxed, a faint smile tracing his lips.
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I announce to the entire table.
“Good for you,” Kade says cheekily.
“Nikki, would you join me please,” I say, more a demand than a request.
We walk into the bathroom and I glare at her. “You and Kade. Explain now. The truth.”
Nikki groans. “We slept together. Before you met them, it was a couple of weeks before actually.”
I blink. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, hurt.
“You just moved in with them, dating this brother. The whole thing was awkward,” she explains.
“So what’s going on with you now?” I ask nosily.
“Nothing. It’s complicated. But for now, nothing,” she says earnestly.
“Fine,” I mumble. “Everything is okay though right Nikki?” I ask her softly.
“Everything is fine, Layla. Come on, let’s go eat.”
I nod, and we walk out, arms linked.
******
James is throwing a party, which is very unusual, since it’s usually Kade who organizes them. Nikki walks into the house, hands full of bags. I told her to pick up some food on her way here from work. Nikki moved in last week and so far so good. Well that’s what she is telling me.
“You are the best, Nik,” I tell her, rummaging through one of the bags. Kade’s friend, Ashley, walks over and I frown.
“Hello, I’m Ashley. Who are you?” Ashley asks Nikki.
“This is my best friend, Nikki, she lives here now.” I tell Ashley. This girl doesn’t play nice, so I’m wondering what she is up to.
Nikki and Ashley eye each other.
“Oh yeah, you’re that bitch who told Layla to stay away from Kade!” Nikki says, chuckling evilly.
“Oh, I’ll get Kade,” Ashley purrs. “I did enjoy the other two, especially Chase,” She gives me a smug look as she says Chase’s name.
Well, shit.
I turn around looking for Chase. I’d love nothing more than to get involved in this, but there’s no way in hell I can. I put a hand on my stomach and sigh. I spot Chase seated, eating chocolate. Twix bars I suppose. You would think he was the pregnant one. I get his attention and signal him to come over. I turn back to the girls to see Nikki sitting on top of Ashley and repeatedly punching her, Ashley must have said something I didn’t hear, because I don’t think Nikki would just lay her out like that over that one comment. I almost laugh, because right at this moment “Girl Fight” by Brooke Valentine is playing. Instead of stopping the fight, Chase carries me in his arms and takes me far away from the fighting. From my new position, I can see Kade rushing over, pulling Nikki off Ashley.
“What the fuck is going on here!?” Kade growls.
“No one talks to my fucking best friend like that!” Nikki sneers.
All heads turn in my direction.
“Layla?” Chases asks. I tell him what she said and his body tenses.
“Kade, get her the fuck out of here,” Chase booms.
Kade says nothing as he escorts Ashley outside, and from the window, I see him load her up in his car and back out of the driveway.
“Why the hell is Kade friends with her? She will be back,” James mutters.
“Why the hell did everyone fuck her?” Nikki spits out.
“Nikki, I understand you gotta stick up for Layla, but she is fucking pregnant. She can’t be your partner in crime anymore, anytime you lose your shit!” Chase explodes.
I cringe. Nikki looks over at me and her eyes soften. “Sorry,” she mouths to me. I give her a smile. I wasn’t in any danger; I wasn’t standing right next to them. Chase needs to realize I will always look after my baby first. If I was in danger of getting hurt, I would have got the hell out of dodge.
“Come on, Nikki, let’s get you cleaned up, you got blood everywhere. Who would have thought you could lay a bitch out like that.” James chuckles as he takes her arm and heads towards the bathroom.
“Actually, she does this often.” I yell down the hallway.
“Just fucking great,” Chase mutters quietly. Chase turns to me, “I don’t want you around her when she gets like that.”
“When she gets like what? Loses her temper and resorts to violence? You don’t ever do that do you, honey?”
Chase narrows his eyes at me. “You’re pregnant, angel, I don’t want you hurt. I will fucking die before you get hurt!” he hisses.
“Chase, I will be fine. I promise,” I soothe. He kisses me deeply.
“I know you will baby, because I will make it so.”