Her eyes widen for a split second before she reins in her reaction. “Ha!” She laughs nervously and then drops her gaze to her lap. “It’s not like the dorms will be all that different.” She shrugs one shoulder. “I won’t know anyone there either.”
“Yeah, but dorms have records. And rules. At least you can’t get murdered by someone after curfew without it being caught on video surveillance.” Brae grins, his smile not as predatory as Blake’s. He’s more . . . pretty, less edgy, which somehow makes him seem more dangerous.
“I agree with them, Axelle.” I absently rub my baby-ball belly. “How about we compromise? One year on campus, make some good friends, and then you can get an apartment.”
“Sounds fair.” Blake grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze, peering down at me with pride.
I love him.
“Fine, whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “At this point, I’m just hoping I get accepted.”
After Axelle’s guidance counselor called back, she assured me there’s a good chance my daughter will get accepted with her latest test scores, but there’s no guarantee. I think she said more, but I had a hard time paying attention with my pulse raging in my ears. Stupid phone rang and I’d shot three inches in the air with a yelp. Blake threw me a curious glare from across the kitchen, clearly noticing my nerviness.
I can’t stop thinking about Trip. How in the world did he end up with Stewart and his crew that night? Not that it matters now. Even if he does come forward, there’s little I can do legally. The statute of limitations would keep me from trying to prosecute him, so other than a painful admission of guilt, he’d owe no penalty to the state. Chances are he’s just a selfish prick looking to free up his conscience.
The sad thing is if he’d given me the time of day back then I would’ve slept with him willingly. God, this is all so fucking disturbing.
My stomach churns and hunger pangs claw away at my insides, waking the baby. I put my hand on a little hard spot as it rolls across the left side of my belly below my ribcage. “Ah, yeah.” I blow out a long breath. “It’s getting tight in there, little buddy, I know.”
“Is she moving?” Blake leans over and puts both hands on my abdomen. “Hey, baby . . .” He presses his lips to the rolling part of a human that’s jackhammering my lungs. I run my hand through his hair, holding him to me and absorbing the love he’s pouring over our baby in whispers.
“I thought you said you didn’t know what you were having?” Brae leans forward in his chair, his elbows on his knees, and his eyes fixed on Blake’s attention to my tummy.
“We don’t. Blake’s just convinced it’s a girl.” I massage my fingers into the back of his neck in soothing circles. “Of course he’s wrong. It’s totally a boy.”
A timid smile pulls at Brae’s lips. “Man, that’s such a trip. My big brother’s gonna be a dad.”
Blake peeks up at Axelle. “Already am, bro.” A moment of silence descends on us, and my daughter’s face goes soft at being claimed by a father.
The past pushes to get in, to remind me of what I have to face sooner or later with regard to Trip and his phone calls, but I refuse to focus on that now.
“Whoa!” Blake pulls his hand back for a split second before placing both hands back on my belly. “Dude, you gotta feel this!”
His eyes are wide, and he motions for Braeden to come over.
Brae kneels at my feet and moves to place both hands on my belly but darts his gaze to mine first. “Layla? May I?”
He’s asking permission to touch me? “Of course.” I nod and bite my lip against the emotions billowing just below the surface.
The heat of his big hands warms me as he palms my belly like a basketball. His eyes narrow for a second and then close in concentration.
Oh! Huge kick-stretch to the ribs. Ow.
“Holy fuck!” His eyes slide to mine. “Damn, little sister, that had to hurt.”
I grunt and grit my teeth. “Ah, it’s not so bad. Things are getting cramped in there though, so I think he’s anxious to get out.”
“What was that? A foot?” He moves his hands around to feel again.
“Crazy ass shit, huh?” The light excitement in Blake’s voice calls my eyes, and I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have this.
I’m not alone this time.
And if I weren’t so lost in my own relief and thoughts of myself, I’d notice the pain radiating from my daughter’s eyes.
Ten
Blake
Axelle went out with some friends after dinner, and after Layla went to bed, Braeden and I decided to sit on the patio and pop the caps on a couple more beers.
It’s been a long time since my brother and I just hung out like this. I missed his adolescent years, only getting to see him on holidays while I was in military school. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about what my brother had to deal with after I left. Without The General having me around as a punching bag, I have to believe Braeden took the majority of his wrath.