“Kaden and Keegan?” Kylie said. “They’re the fathers?”
Swallowing hard, Bristol nodded. She’d known Kylie would figure it out. Considering how much time Bristol had spent with the twins over the years, talking, laughing, flirting, it wasn’t that much of a leap to figure out she had feelings for them. Certainly not for the Walkers who’d seen them together so often.
“Do you love them, Bristol?” Kylie held up a hand before Bristol could respond. “It’s a simple question. Yes or no. Do you love them?”
God. When limited to only a one-word answer, it was pretty easy to respond.
“Yes. But it’s—”
Kylie cut her off with a wave of her dainty hand. “That’s a start. Now look around and tell me who in here is starin’ at me.”
A little confused by the odd request, Bristol did as Kylie requested simply because she was curious. No one was paying them any mind. Then again, there were only a few tables that were occupied.
“They don’t care,” Kylie said, leaning forward. “Sure, you’re gonna get a few who’re curious. I mean, come on. What woman isn’t gonna wonder what it’s like to be sandwiched between two smokin’-hot men?”
Bristol felt her cheeks warm.
“And yes, take it from me, there are a few who’ll be wondering exactly that, a couple even ballsy enough to ask.” Kylie grinned. “But I can guarantee you, there are more who are wondering how much easier it must be because we can split the household chores three ways.”
She couldn’t help it, she laughed, but it was strained. “It’s the ones who’ll think I’m easy that have me worried,” she admitted.
Kylie rested her elbows on the table. “For the sake of argument, tell me whose opinion matters most to you in this town.”
“What do you mean?”
“Okay, let’s do it this way.” Kylie became animated when she spoke. “I’m going to never get out of bed again when … who … looks down their nose at me?”
“No one.” Bristol frowned. “I mean, no one has that sort of power over me.”
“Oh, come on.” Kylie huffed. “There’s got to be someone.”
Because Kylie seemed to want an answer, Bristol tried to think, came up with nothing. “There’s not.”
“But you’re worried about someone passing judgment.”
Bristol took a sip of her juice, nodded. “Fine. The parents of my kids. I doubt they’ll all be okay with me bein’ with two men.”
Kylie’s eyebrows dipped low, as though she was considering Bristol’s response. “Why’s it their business? Are any of the parents of your kids gay?”
“Of course.”
“And there’s at least one of them who’s transgender.”
Bristol nodded. “Yes.”
“And you never thought twice about letting their kids go there, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“So why’re you discriminating against yourself?”
“I’m…” Wow. She hadn’t thought of it that way.
“How many kids are on the waiting list for your daycare?”
“Um … I don’t know offhand.”
“But there are some?”
“Yes.” She’d been blessed in that regard. It also helped that she was the only licensed daycare center out this direction.
Kylie’s face changed instantly. “So what’s the problem?”
“You make it sound so simple.”
“It is.” Kylie leaned back when the waitress brought their oatmeal and fruit. “If you love them and they love you, it’ll be easier than you think. You just have to give it a chance.”
Bristol stared down at the oatmeal. “I might’ve screwed that up already.”
“Doubtful.”
She looked up at Kylie. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I’ve been around these past couple of years, Bristol. I’ve watched the three of you. I’ve seen the way you look at them when they aren’t looking and vice versa. There’s something worth pursuing there. You just have to want it.”
“I do,” she admitted.
“Then stop makin’ excuses.”
That was one thing she admired about Kylie. She didn’t beat around the bush.
After she finished her breakfast with Kylie, Bristol had a few more things to do before she could go home.
Her first stop was Bianca’s.
As she walked up the twisty path that led to the cute little house her best friend lived in, Bristol remembered when Bianca and Jake had bought the place. For whatever reason, Bristol had always thought Bianca would be the sort to want a monstrous Victorian mansion, something as big and grandiose as her personality, so it had been a complete surprise when Bianca had bought this little two-bedroom bungalow.
But oddly enough, it suited Bianca with its rustic charm and down-home sweetness. Even the white rocking chairs on the front porch.
Taking a deep breath, Bristol knocked on the door, waited. Of course she feared Bianca would ignore her, but she knew she had to do this. After her conversation with Kylie, Bristol had realized that Bianca was right. Bristol had been making herself the center of the universe. Everything she did, everything she said, how she treated the people she loved, it all revolved around how she wanted others to see her. And since that was in direct contradiction to what she really wanted, she understood how she had hurt so many people in her quest to keep a low profile and not rock the boat, so to speak.
She was going to make amends.
Bristol heard the knob rattle, the deadbolt disengage, and then the door was opening.
Bianca looked flawlessly beautiful as usual. Her silky brown hair falling over her shoulders, her teal blue eyes highlighted with minimal makeup. Yep, despite the early hour, Bianca was up and dressed, ready for church.
“Can we talk?” Bristol asked before her friend could turn her away with the excuse she had somewhere else to be.
Bianca’s gaze scanned her face and then she was stepping back, motioning Bristol inside.
When the door closed behind her, Bristol spun around and faced her friend. “I am so, so, so sorry, Bianca.”
No sooner were those few words out of her mouth than Bianca was lunging forward, arms coming around her. Bristol was returning the gesture, hugging her best friend tightly, both of them suddenly spilling over in both words and tears.
“I’m so sorry, Bristol.”
“No, I’m sorry.”
“I shouldn’t have been so mean.”
“I shouldn’t have kept it from you.”
“I’m sorry I was a jealous bitch.”
“I’m sorry I told Rex before you.”
“I didn’t mean what I said.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
They talked over one another, blubbering uncontrollably until they began laughing.
When they pulled back, Bristol was swiping the tears away with her hands while Bianca made a mad dash for tissues.
“I wish I could blame it on the hormones,” Bristol said with a watery laugh, accepting the tissues Bianca passed over.
“Me, too.”
Bristol’s brain came to an abrupt stop at those two words and she stared at her friend. “What?”
Bianca was nodding, staring at the tissue in her hand, a smile pulling at her lips.
“Are you sayin’ what I think you’re sayin’?”
More nodding, more staring, but now Bianca was strangling those poor tissues.
“Bianca?”
When her friend looked up, there were more tears, followed by a wide smile. “I’m pregnant, too.”
Bristol was pretty sure her heart stopped then kick started once more, a giddy excitement filling her chest. “Seriously?”
Bianca nodded again and another sob escaped.
And once more, they were hugging it out, laughing and crying. But now they were happy tears.
Bristol finally pulled back, stared at her friend.
“You didn’t tell me,” she said softly,
though it wasn’t an accusation.
“I just found out.”
“How far along?”
“Seven weeks.”
“Oh, my God!”
Bianca’s face lit up. “I know!”
Once more, they threw themselves into each other’s arms, giggling and laughing, the world finally right again.
At least for the two of them.
Bristol still had a few more apologies to hand out, but with this bond once again strengthened, she knew she could do just about anything.
*
Fucking hangover.
Kaden knew better than to drink whiskey. It never ended well for him.
“Mornin’, brother,” Keegan greeted a little too loudly when he joined Kaden in the kitchen.
Kaden could do little more than grunt.
There was clacking and clanging as Keegan rummaged through cabinets looking for God only knew what. Kaden figured he wasn’t really looking for anything, just doing his damnedest to make as much noise as possible. After all, it was nothing less than what Kaden always did to him.
“You take anything for it?” Keegan asked.
He grunted again, knowing his brother would understand it for the yes that it was.
“Good. Now you’re gonna have to get over it because we’ve got a lunch date.”
Kaden frowned. “With who?”
“Bristol.”
He sat up straight, staring at Keegan as his brain processed the words. “What? When?”
Keegan lifted his arm, stared at his make-believe watch, and said, “Half an hour.”
“When did this happen?”
“She sent the text last night.” Keegan frowned. “You didn’t get it.”
Kaden grunted again. “Phone died. Left it in the truck.”
“Well, then I’m Santa Claus this mornin’, huh? ’Cause we have a lunch date with a very sexy, very apologetic little daycare owner.” Keegan strolled by, plunked a bottle of water down on the table in front of him. “But you might wanna take a shower, man. You stink.”
“Fuck off.”
“Oh, and brush your damn teeth,” Keegan called out as he left the room.
Despite the throbbing in his skull, Kaden smiled. Not because Bristol had invited them to lunch—well, not only because of that—but because he must be stuck in some alternate reality because seriously. Keegan telling him what to do. When’s the last time that happened?
Half an hour later and right on time, Kaden was walking up the path to Bristol’s door, a few steps behind Keegan, who was whistling while he walked. Fucking whistling.
If he didn’t know better, Kaden would think Keegan was having fun with the fact that Kaden was suffering. Granted, he might’ve been laying it on a little thick at the moment because his headache had subsided somewhat. He wasn’t sure if it was the hot shower, the strong coffee, or the magical ibuprofen, but something was doing the trick.
And not a minute too soon, because Kaden had been forced to ride with Keegan so they could pick up Kaden’s truck from Moonshiners, where he’d left it last night when he called for an Uber to get him home. Keegan insisted that Bristol needed one of their vehicles and he damn sure wasn’t going to leave her hanging.
That reminded Kaden that they hadn’t gotten Bristol’s car fixed yet. Maybe they could get to that later today.
Keegan knocked on the door, waited. A few seconds later, it opened and there stood the absolutely most stunning woman Kaden had ever laid eyes on. She was dressed in a short, lightweight sweater and a floor-length flowing skirt that he’d never seen before. Her hair was shiny and straight, and she had makeup on. Not a lot, but enough to highlight her beautiful features. She looked so good, it took a minute for him to get with the program.
“Hey,” she greeted softly when he walked past her into the house.
“Somethin’ smells good,” Keegan said, glancing around the living room.
“Before you get too excited, I didn’t cook,” Bristol said quickly. “Trust me when I tell you, that’s not somethin’ you want me to do. But I did DoorDash it. Found a great barbecue place and ordered a few things.”
Kaden turned to face her, knowing he needed to apologize for his behavior yesterday. He had no right to be such an ass to her.
“Bristol, I am—”
She was in front of him, her hand over his mouth before he could finish the sentence. “Not yet.”
Kaden frowned as she lowered her hand, her blue eyes glittering. In fact, she looked like she was glowing. Not literally, of course, but there was definitely something different about her. She actually looked … happy.
“I get to apologize first,” she said softly. “But I need for the two of you to go into the kitchen.”
Kaden cast a quick look at Keegan, who offered a shrug.
Then they were in the kitchen, he and Keegan sitting in the small breakfast area while Bristol stood at the end of the table
“What’s different in here?” Keegan asked, looking around the space.
Bristol motioned behind her. “I’ve cleaned off the countertops.”
Sure enough, they were empty. Her toaster oven was no longer there, as well as whatever knickknacks he’d seen. He couldn’t remember what they were, but he did know there had been some.
“We’re using paper plates today,” she announced. “Because I’ve packed up all the dishes.”
That got their attention. At the same time, they said, “Packed?”
That glow dimmed momentarily as Bristol stared back at them. Kaden could see the uncertainty on her face even as she squared her shoulders.
“Perhaps I’ve jumped the gun,” she said quickly, her gaze swinging back and forth between them. “But I’ve donated the majority of my stuff to the church. I mean, the furniture and whatnot. I didn’t think we’d need it.”
We?
“I know I’ve been impossible this past month and definitely this past week and I am so sorry,” she continued. “Neither of you deserved that. I’d like to blame it on hormones, but we all know better than that. I was a coward.”
Kaden could only stare at her, her words, spoken in that raspy twang that he loved, bounced around in his head as he attempted to make sense of them.
“It took me screwin’ everything up to realize how much of a chicken I was being. And I don’t wanna be that girl.” She stood taller, straighter. “I’m strong, independent, and I don’t back down. At least not when it comes to the important things.”
Kaden realized he was holding his breath in anticipation.
“Considering the two of you are the most important things in my life, you deserve so much better.”
“Bristol, you—”
She held up her hand, cutting Keegan off before he could finish. Kaden held his tongue, too.
“And I want to be what you deserve,” she said softly. “I love you. Both of you. I probably have for a really long time now. First as friends, now as more. And I refuse to be the one to screw that up. If, you know, I haven’t done that already.”
“What are you sayin’?” Keegan asked, getting to his feet and stepping toward her.
Kaden feared he would crumple to the floor if he tried to stand, so he remained where he was.
“That I’m sorry. That I love you. That I want the three of us—” She paused to put her hand on her belly. “Four of us … to share a life together. I’ve been stuck in the past for too long, scared to make a ripple in the pond. I’ve gotten so used to routine, to the mundane, I didn’t dare think there could be more for me out there. And then I met the two of you and I was”—Bristol smiled—“smitten.”
Kaden swallowed hard, stood, then took a tentative step toward her to see if he’d remain upright.
He did. That was good.
He took another. And another.
Bristol tipped her head back to maintain eye contact as they both approached her. “If the offer still stands, I’d like for us to move on with our lives. Together.”
“Every
thing?” Kaden asked.
Bristol nodded. “Everything. Movin’ in together, marriage if you want it.” She smiled shyly. “The whole nine yards.”
“Christ Almighty, woman,” Keegan groaned, pulling her into him as he hugged her tightly.
Kaden waited patiently while Keegan kissed her, a passionate endeavor that took far longer than Kaden wanted it to. But then his brother was stepping back and Kaden was stepping up to her. He pulled her into his arms, hugged her tightly, and let the emotion roll through him. He was shaking, he knew he was, and figured Bristol realized it too. But if she did, she didn’t say anything.
“I love you,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve always loved you.”
She made a sound, something like a half sob, half laugh, and he held her tighter, grateful when her arms banded around him.
*
“Do you mind if I make a call real quick?” Keegan said, watching the pair as they continued to embrace.
“Who’re you callin’?” Kaden asked, keeping one arm around Bristol as they turned toward him.
“Mom and Dad.” He watched to see Bristol’s reaction.
She simply smiled and Keegan would almost say she radiated. It was surreal. He had never seen her look quite so happy.
Kaden glanced down at Bristol.
She nodded.
Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Keegan pulled up their parents’ phone number. He dialed, putting it on speaker. It rang endlessly before finally going to voicemail.
He hung up, tried their father’s cell number.
Same thing.
For fuck’s sake. They were ruining his moment.
Last but not least, he called their mother’s cell number.
“Well, it’s good to hear from you,” Sue Ellen said by way of greeting.
“I’ve got you on speaker, Mom.”
“Do you?” She sounded pleased. “And?”
“Could you do the same? That way Dad can hear?”
“How do you know he’s here?” she teased.
“Because you’re in the car, Mom. We can hear it. And we all know you don’t drive and talk on the phone.”
She made a pfft sound.
Kaden & Keegan (The Walkers of Coyote Ridge Book 9) Page 33
