Eye Candy

I look at her, at the one person I would do anything for, no questions.

It wasn’t always like this between us. But it’s strange—I can’t remember all those years I spent hating her when we were kids. It’s like she was never my sister Tessa’s annoying best friend. She was always my Mia, the way she is now.

My mind goes quiet when her thumb tenderly strokes my cheek.

She’s like a drug. Just Mia’s touch alone can still me. She calms me down and eases my mind, even when I don’t necessarily want her to. Like now. I want her to know how I feel about her being alone in this the past four months, but I don’t. I can’t. I stare deep into her eyes and ask in a hoarse voice, “Yeah?” When I’m really saying, “Anything. I’ll give you anything.”

“Hey,” she whispers, her thumbs sweeping over my cheeks. “Talk to me. Are you happy?”

I blink. “Yeah. Fuck yeah, I’m happy. Are you kidding?” I grip her waist and pull her closer, feeling her body relax. “Sorry. I’m just thinking about you being in here by yourself taking these. I don’t like it.”

“Babe . . .”

“Were you sad? Disappointed?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I was a little disappointed when the tests would come out negative.” She links her hands behind my neck. “But I knew we’d get pregnant again eventually. I wasn’t worried.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Her brow furrows. “What doesn’t matter?”

“You were disappointed, Mia. You were in here alone feeling that. I should’ve known about it. You don’t go through anything without me. Nothing. Not even this.”

“But I wanted to surprise you.”

I dip my head and get closer to her, explaining, “I would’ve been surprised standing here staring at that test with you every time you took it. And when it was negative, I would’ve held you the second you felt anything. I didn’t get to do that.”

Mia stares up at me, eyes soft and tear-filled. “Fuck. Sorry.” She shakes her head, blinking fast. “I’m sorry.”

“Fuck?” I chuckle, running my nose along hers. “Yeah? You wanna?”

She bumps her fist against my chest, sniffling, her tears falling past her cheeks. “I messed it up.”

“No, you didn’t. Hey.” I get her eyes again. “We’re having a baby. How could you mess that up?”

“We’re having a baby,” she echoes, smiling up at me as her worry leaves her. “I’m so happy, Ben.”

“Me too, angel.”

“Do you want to tell the boys with me? I know it’s like, really early. I’m probably only a month along, but I really want to tell them. I think Nolan will be excited.”

I smile, picturing his face.

“Yeah, we can tell them. In a minute though.” I drop down to one knee and lift her shirt to expose her stomach.

She gasps watching me. Mia loved when I did this when she was pregnant with Chase.

I press my lips to her skin, whispering, “Hey” and “We can’t wait to meet you.” I close my eyes. I can’t stop kissing her.

Mia pushes her fingers through my hair. She doesn’t rush me. She gives me this, knowing I need it, knowing me, and only suggests we get downstairs before Nolan gets tired of waiting after I stand and pull her into my arms.

“I love you,” I say into her hair.

“I love you more.”

“Not possible.”

She tilts her head back, gives me a long, adoring look, and softly kisses me. “Let me love you more today,” she requests against my lips. “Just today, Ben. Let me have that. Please?”

I look down at her and brush my thumb along her cheek. “Just today,” I tell her, knowing she needs this. Knowing Mia.

I can give her a day.

She smiles and kisses me once more. “I know you’re excited and probably want to tell everyone the second we get to McGill’s tonight, but let me talk to your sister first, okay? I want her to find out before the group does.”

Tonight is the Halloween party Beth, Reed’s wife, is throwing together. She works at McGill’s Pub, a bar we all frequent, which is owned by her aunt and uncle. We’re all meeting up there later after trick-or-treating. It should be a good time. I know Nolan’s excited about it.

“You can’t call my sister now?” I ask, thinking we can handle this ahead of time so I don’t have to keep my mouth shut when we get there.

Mia’s right. I want to tell everyone, and I don’t want to wait.

“No. I want to tell her face-to-face. It’s important,” Mia explains. “I know she’ll be happy for us, but with her and Luke having difficulties getting pregnant . . . I don’t know. I just feel like she should find out before anyone else, you know? I’m just thinking about her, that’s all.”

I know how hard things have been on Tessa. And I get Mia’s reasoning. That’s her girl. She’d do anything for my sister.

I would too.

So, I agree to this while thinking of a way I can help ease her mind. “Yeah. All right.”

“Promise me you won’t announce it the second we walk in the door.”

I smile. I can’t help it.

She narrows her eyes. “Ben . . .”

“I’m excited, Mia. I might not be able to control myself.”

“Well, I suggest you do, or no funny business later with me in my costume.”

I cock an eyebrow. “Funny business?” I chuckle. “You mean fucking?”

“Yes.”

“Are you gonna put on that hot-as-fuck angel getup you bought and deny me, baby? That’s just cruel.”

Her cheeks warm instantly.

Yeah fucking right. We both know I’m getting some later.

“I can try,” she says, sounding determined. She smiles and gives me another kiss before stepping out of my arms and moving around me. “Let me go put on some pants, then we’ll go downstairs and tell the boys.”

“I’d prefer you didn’t.”

She gives me a cheeky look over her shoulder on her way out of the bathroom.

And . . . cue erection.

Yep. Like fucking clockwork with her.

Jesus.

We find the boys in the kitchen after Mia pulls on a pair of sweats.

They’re sitting at the table—Chase on his knees as he pushes his toy truck back and forth and Nolan across from him, his drawing pad opened and colored pencils nearby.

I watch him flip to a blank page, and I know he’s getting ready to draw another picture for that girl he’s absolutely fucking crazy for. I know it before he even taps out the pink colored pencil to use.

He’s in love. Full-blown, out-of-his-mind in love already at six years old. And if this was any other kid, I’d laugh, knowing they didn’t mean it.

Six-year-olds don’t feel love like this. Little kids don’t meet one time and feel what adults feel. It isn’t possible.

But this is my son. And I know he loves that little girl as much as I love Mia. Crazy, but it’s true. He hasn’t been this obsessed with something since the first time he saw a knight on TV.

Mia kisses the top of Chase’s head and looks across the table at Nolan. “What are you drawing, baby?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m still deciding.” Nolan lifts his head and looks at me. “Daddy?”

“Yeah, buddy?”

“I’m gonna marry Ryan.”