Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Relief shines in her big, glistening eyes. “I think you’re right.”
“Let’s stop torturing them and bring them in here, okay?”
She nods and then continues to nibble on her bottom lip. With her blessing, I walk over to the library door and open it. Hugo takes a step forward, anxiety rippling from him. Spencer lurks behind him, cuddling Rex to his chest, wearing a vicious scowl.
They’re both worried.
Whatever she’s afraid of, they’ll make it better. I feel this deep in my soul.
“She needs you both,” I say, inviting them into the library. “Close the door behind you.”
The two men walk into the room and crowd the pretty blonde.
“Take a seat,” I urge them all, gesturing for the sofa. “Get comfortable.”
“Everything spoken in here is confidential,” Hugo reminds me. “Right?”
Spencer snorts out a laugh. “I sure as hell hope so because I’ve been airing all the dirty laundry of this family.”
Hugo winces at his son’s confession but doesn’t appear to be angry, only resigned.
“It never leaves the room,” I assure them. “Go on, Aubrey. Tell them why we’re here.”
Spencer places a possessive hand on her thigh, sitting on one side of her, while Hugo softly tucks her hair behind her ear from her other side. They love her. That’s obvious. And she loves them. Whatever her fears are, they’ll all get through it together.
“I’m pregnant,” she whispers. “I’m sorry.”
The silence is brief and then Spencer barks out a laugh. It’s almost cruel sounding. I tense up, wondering how she’ll react, but then relax when she smacks his hand holding her thigh.
“Don’t be a dick.”
“What? I think it’s funny,” Spencer says, unable to keep his chuckles at bay.
“Why?” she demands, glowering at him.
Hugo is eerily silent.
“Because we legit fuck all the damn time—bareback might I add—and you’re shocked you got knocked-up. It was only a matter of when, not if.”
She shoots him the bird, which only causes more laughter.
Hugo speaks next. “You’re sure, Love?”
Ignoring Spencer, she turns to Hugo. “I am. I’m sorry.”
He growls, clutching her chin and drawing her close to his face. “For what? What the hell do you have to be sorry for?”
She shrugs. “For being careless like usual. For ruining everyone’s lives like usual.”
I can tell there’s a whole slew of past traumas Aubrey is dealing with and I hope one day she’ll trust me enough to confide in. Luckily, Hugo already seems to know about them and is quick to reassure her.
“I’m so happy we’re having a baby,” Hugo tells her, voice fierce and passionate. “You understand? So. Fucking. Happy.”
“Yeah,” Spencer chimes in, leaning in to kiss her softly on the neck. “In case you didn’t notice, this family makes really beautiful kids. Look at Rex, here. Cute as fuck.”
This earns a smile from Aubrey. She tears her stare from Hugo to kiss Rex’s fuzzy head as he sleeps in Spencer’s arms.
“But what about your dad? Your brothers?” Aubrey asks. “They’ll want to know who got me pregnant. They don’t know about us—our unconventional relationship. Everything could blow up.”
Spencer shrugs at that. “Tell them it’s mine. I’m already wearing a scarlet letter for fucking my stepmom and having her baby. Trust me, the family won’t be surprised.”
Hugo grimaces. “It could be mine. I should accept responsibility—”
“It’s ours,” Aubrey interjects fiercely as Spencer huffs out, “Dad, don’t be a martyr.”
“A martyr?” Hugo clips out. “I can’t allow you and Aubrey to bear all the weight here. It’s not fair. The three of us have tangled ourselves in this beautiful mess. The least I can do is own up to my part in it.”
“Do you trust your father and your brothers? The whole Park family?” I ask, darting my gaze to each one of them. “Is it possible you could get support rather than shame?”
Hugo gives me a firm nod. “We Parks stick together. We always have each other’s backs.”
“It sounds like, to me, this baby is a cause for celebration then,” I say with a grin. “Why don’t I step away and allow you three a moment of privacy.”
As the three of them hug, laugh, and for Aubrey, cry, I feel lighter as I exit the library. This family—the whole lot of them—is a loving family. Sure, they have their fair share of secrets and shame, but they’re not without hope.
They may not be my family, but I feel a certain sense of pride at being at the center of helping bring them closer together. I will do my best to get each and every one of them to open up.
Jude may be my biggest challenge yet, but I have growing faith I’ll help him too.
Jude
I’m antsy and eager to talk to Tate again. After our interruption, he’s been busy all day. Dempsey’s been in the library with him for hours and it’s driving me insane.
I just want to drag Tate back upstairs to my special place, listen to records, and pet his cat together. I want to hear him talk and squirm uncomfortably at the way he makes me talk too.