Beth had to wonder where her sister’s head was. “Did you really think that through? Of course Nick and I can just go home after dinner, but you and Gray will be stuck with them until they decide to leave.”
With a grimace, Suzy said, “Shit, I didn’t think of that. If I get desperate, I’ll have to turn on the television and find one of the comedies. You know how much they hate meaningless shows. I blocked the science channel long ago, so we should be safe.”
Beth laughed as Suzy stood to leave. Just as she opened the door, Suzy said, “Hey, I loved the picture of you and Nick passed out on the couch after your night of babysitting. It looked brutal. You guys are in so much trouble—you know that, right?”
Beth flipped one of her sister’s favorite hand gestures back at her. Were there no secrets anymore? She didn’t think they had done too badly watching Chrissy. No one had to go to the emergency room and they had managed not to panic . . . much. Suzy is right; we are in trouble.
* * *
Nick sat in his office chair staring out the window. He was proud of how well he had held it together through the doctor’s appointment and the drive to work. Now that the shock was wearing off, panic was setting in. Twins? Dear Lord, what were they going to do? He could think of only one answer to the question. Mom, help! His mother always had an answer for everything and he sincerely hoped she would have some advice on fatherhood.
With that thought, he remembered the conversation he and his father had had when Gray thought he had fathered a child with Reva. His father had lectured him about safe sex and promised to revisit the conversation if he did something stupid. Now his father would have to break out that lecture again. How about not one grandchild but two? Oh, yeah, I have been a busy boy.
He had talked nonstop on the way to the office to fill the silence. He wasn’t ready to have an intense conversation with Beth over their future, and he always talked a lot when he was nervous. But now that he was gathering his wits about him, he realized that not much had changed. Sure, there was another baby now, but he was still in it for the long haul. Seeing the heartbeats on the ultrasound had made it feel so real. Beth was carrying his babies inside her. Babies they had created together. He was both scared to death and strangely excited. He was going to be a father, something he had never imagined.
He was jerked from his thoughts when Gray walked in unannounced and raised an eyebrow at his expression. He imagined he looked like he was in shock. “Everything okay?”
Clearing his throat, Nick said, “Yeah, it’s fine. Beth had her first doctor’s appointment this morning and, would you believe, we’re having twins?”
Gray rocked back on his heels, visibly taken aback by the news. “Damn. I mean congratulations. Wow, that is some news. How are you two handling all of this?”
Nick laughed at his brother’s attempt to sound excited. “We haven’t had time to talk about it. We came straight to work. I thought I would piss my pants at first, but now I’m down to just the slight urge to pass out. I think Beth is still reeling, too.” Then, looking his brother in the eye, he added, “I’m with her, though. She won’t do this alone. Those are my babies and I’ll never leave them. She might try to force me away, but it’s not happening.”
“Do you love her?” Gray asked quietly.
“Love? Hell, I don’t even know what that is. I care about her. I can’t keep my hands off her and I want to be with her. I don’t need to label it. It is what it is and I’m happy with that.”
“What if that’s not enough for Beth? Don’t you think she deserves the whole package? Plenty of people raise children that aren’t together.”
Jumping up from his chair, Nick walked over to his brother, snapping, “What do you know about us? Your romance hasn’t been too smooth, either, so I don’t think we need any advice from you.”
Instead of being mad at his harsh statement, Gray clapped him on the back and smiled. “Good answer. I think you two will be just fine.”
Without another word, Gray walked out the door and left him baffled.
It’s official, the Merimon brothers have lost their minds.
Chapter Fifteen
Later that day, back at home, Beth shifted around uncomfortably and wondered if she was going to have to resort to “barbecuing alone” as Nick called it. Why am I so horny? Even though they had slept together less than twenty-four hours ago, she felt like it had been years. If she had hit one more pothole in the road on the way home, she would have probably had an orgasm from the bump.