Page 130 of Secret Baby for My Brother's Best Friends

“I want you to know that I love you, and I love this baby that you’re carrying." His thumb traces circles on my cheek, his gaze strong but soft. "No matter whose DNA it has, I will consider them my son or daughter. They'll be mine, just like you are.”

My throat got tight, emotion rising thickly and swiftly.

I nearly started sobbing on the spot, a combination of pregnancy hormones and the sheer depth of the words sweeping me away.

“You don’t have to, you know?" I tell him. "I know you didn’t want kids at the beginning of this.”

“I didn’t think I was ready for a kid,” he said. “Especially a kid with someone I didn't know all that well. That was never the plan, and I don't necessarily respond well when things don't go according to plan." He gives me a wry smile. "But I want to let you know that that baby has never felt like a burden to me. Once I worked through my fear of inadequacy and of being unprepared, I realized what I truly want. Every single day I dream about a little girl or boy with your eyes, or your hair. One that I can pamper, and love...just like I do to their mommy."

His smile was dreamy, making me even more emotional as he dropped the first of many kisses on my neck. “I can’t lie, darling. The thought makes me all warm inside."

“Yeah, but the fantasy and reality are completely different.”

“Yes. And the reality is that I love you. I love our child. And I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure that I’m the type of father they deserve.”

I couldn’t say anything else about that. Just the honesty shining from him, the sheer passion. I couldn't do anything else but kiss him.

“Ugh, I can tell I’ve lost you, and you’re thinking about them right now," Jenna's voice drags me back to reality. "You are such a goner for them, aren't you. And on girls' night? For shame, Chelsea.”

I shake my head. “No, sorry. I’m back. No thinking about men on girls' night.”

Jenna shakes her head, but then her face softens. “No, but really, dude. I’m so happy for you. And I’m happy that you’ve found your people. I see how much they care about you and how much you care about them.”

“You’ve barely talked to them.” They have met here and there, for example, when Sam dropped me off earlier today, they had a short conversation. But they've never fully sat down and talked to each other, although I have told my men so many things about her and told her so many things about them.

“I don’t have to," Jenna said. "Everything I’ve seen about just the way they look at you and the way they treat you tells me how much they love you. You're glowing, babe."

"It's the hormones," I say.

"It's more than just the hormones. Trust me. They have the reverse Eric effect on you. Speaking, and which, I heard through the grapevine that he andthegirlare having...problems."

"Of course." I snort. “I don’t know what I was thinking dating that guy; I really don’t.”

“Well, I’m just glad you got out of it,” she says with a wink. "We'll chuck it up to temporary insanity."

I laugh, and she pours herself another glass of wine.

We try to focus on the movie for the next few minutes, but eventually, Jenna starts dozing off.

I let the film continue to play out, wanting to get to the end before I leave.

However, we're interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Coming," I call out lightly, careful not to wake Jenna as I rise and head to the door.

My biggest mistake is that I don't look through the peephole before I open it. I assume it's my landlord whom I'm expecting to hear from because I just informed him I won't be renewing my lease at the end of the year.

But instead, it's Eric.

He looks terrible. His eyes are bloodshot, his hair a tangled mess, and eye bags sit heavy in his face. Eric is the type of guy who's very sensitive about his appearance, so to see him like this is a shock.

“Hey," he whispers. "Can we talk?"

"Jenna's asleep."

"Oh." He looks so forlorn that some stray pity pricks at my chest.

"We can talk outside."