Chapter Ninety Five
Raleigh
When Lincoln and I finally make it downstairs, all three of my brothers are sitting at the table, their breakfast untouched as they cast daggers at the man behind me.
“Sorry,” I murmur, my cheeks heating as I take one of the two empty seats with a plate and silverware in front of it. Lincoln takes the other one, putting him at the head of the table and unable to avoid my brother’s scrutiny.
Lincoln and I both begin filling our plates with the prepared pancakes, bacon and eggs. Just as Lincoln shoves a forkful into his mouth, Rowen decides to break the awkward silence by saying, “I’m glad you finally managed to pull your head out of your ass and do right by my sister and your babies that she’s carrying.”
I choke on the bite I’d just taken, not at all having expected him to say that and to my mortification, I realize he’s not finished when he opens his mouth and growls, “And just because I know that the two of you have had sex doesn’t mean that I want to hear it.”
“Or my sisters’ screams as your fucking her,” Ryker adds in, adding to my mortification.
Gasping, I sink down in my seat and bury my face in my hands.
But of course, not one to be put off or easily embarrassed, Lincoln quickly snaps back with, “At least you know I can make her scream and that your sister will always be satisfied!” Then he shoves another mouthful of pancake in his mouth, casting glances at each of my brothers as if daring then to say something more.
A glance at Ryker has dread filling me as I take in his red face and his hand clenching his fork so thigh that his knuckles have turned white.
Ryler seems to be trying to decide whether to be irritated or impressed at Lincoln’s comeback. While next to me, I fell the tension leaving Rowen as he releases a sigh and says, “Yeah, well…” then he stops, as if not sure of what exactly to say before settling on, “we’re her brothers and don’t want to *hear* that shit.”
With a smirk, Lincoln nods his head in acknowledgement, the word “noted,” falling from his lips before he shoots a mischievous wink at me.
*Oh, God, I think they just unknowingly gave him a challenge he’s not going to back down from.* I think as I reach for my cup of orange juice as excitement and dread both fill me in equal measure.
As breakfast is winding down, all of our plates mostly empty, Rowen announces, “We’re looking for places of our own.”
“You’re what?” I ask, taken aback by the unexpected news.
“Looking for places of our own,” Ryler says, repeating Rowen’s statement.
“I heard you…but why? I don’t understand.” I take in each of my brothers, confusion and anger hitting me hard. “Is this because you heard my boyfriend and me having sex? *Seriously?* I’ve heard all three of you going at it with girls over the years…did I threaten to move out?”
“Hey there spitfire,” Rowen says as he turns his full attention on me. “That’s not why. We’ve been discussing this off and on ever since we found out that you were pregnant.”
“We were just waiting for dumbass here to get his shit together before making the final decision,” Ryker says, still glaring at Lincoln from across the table.
“And now that y’all are good again, well, we think that it’s time.” Ryler finishes, giving me an easy grin.
“Because, “ Rowen says as he reaches for my hand, then giving it a gentle squeeze he continues, “you two are starting a family.”
Ryler cuts in, continuing Rowen’s thought as he says, “We figured you would want to raise your little ones surrounded by all the happy memories that we built here with mom and dad.”
“As well as the ones that the four of us made together after they were gone.” Ryker adds in, finally seeming to have calmed down.
“You guys,” I whisper, choked up with emotion as tears fill my eyes. “But what will I do without you?”
“You will always have us,” Rowen says, giving my hand another squeeze. “But it’s time for you to begin this new chapter of your life…without us.”
“You will be so busy with Lincoln and the babies, that you won’t even miss us.” Ryler says, sounding sad yet hopeful. “You two have your own story to write and we don’t belong in it.”
“Of course you do,” I say with a sniffle. “You’re my brothers, my family.”
“And we always will be but you’re starting a family of your own now,” Rowan says, then adds, “You got this. Besides, we won’t be far.”
“Just a phone call away.” Ryler adds.
“Yeah, just a phone call away.” Ryker echoes as he stands from his seat and rounds the table before stopping behind me and wrapping his arms around me and murmuring, “We will always be here for you. No matter what.”
I glance at Lincoln through teary eyes, taking in his infectious smile. He shrugs and tosses me a wink before mouthing, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I reply aloud, the words meant for more than just the man who makes my pulse race and butterflies to take flight in my stomach.
Realizing not for the first time, that I’m one lucky girl.
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