A Moment for Us

by Corinne Michaels

  I lean in, kissing her cheek. “You’re very sweet.”

  “Don’t let anyone know.”

  I pull my sister into my arms, and we sway. “Hero” by Mariah Carey plays, and she smiles up at me, singing the words. The words that are definitely not meant for me.

  “I’m not a hero.”

  “You were always mine, Joshua.”

  “You were easy to save.”

  Stella’s trust in me was infallible, but she also knows that any of her brothers would die before allowing anything to hurt her.

  “When I was weak, you all protected me. You’ll never know how much I love you guys.”

  I never thought we were doing something special, we just loved her. “It was just what you do for someone you love.”

  Her eyes move to her husband. “I know. I see that now.”

  “Jack is a lucky man.”

  She laughs. “He told me what you all said to him about needing luck being married to me.”

  “Tell me that you’re an easy woman to live with,” I challenge her.

  Stella’s smile broadens. “He really has no idea, does he?”

  I spin her slowly. “Nope, and it’s too late now.”

  “I’ll go easy on him for a few months.”

  I shake my head and grin. “And this is why I’ll never marry. It’s never what we think, and we somehow fail the other person.”

  Stella’s eyes fill with concern. “Josh . . .”

  “No. Not today. It’s your day.”

  My sister isn’t one to let things drop, especially when she has the opportunity to give her opinion on one of our life choices, but I really just want to enjoy her reception.

  “Fine, today you get a reprieve. It’s nice that my wedding day won’t have drama, unlike Grayson’s.”

  I snort. “It’s still early. Did you notice Alex being weird?”

  She nods. “I think he’s unhappy or something. I’m waiting for when he finally loses his shit. It should be funny.”

  “There’s something wrong with you,” I tell her.

  “Oh, I know. But since Jack and I made a scene at Gray’s wedding, I assume there’s a plot to do something to mine. I figured it was you and Delia, but so far, you guys haven’t given off a hint of the . . . you know.”

  The baby. Well, babies.

  “Nope. We plan to tell everyone this week since she’s out of the first trimester now.”

  Her lips part, and there’s a warmth in her eyes. “Just love her, Josh. Love her because she’s perfect for you.” So much for not meddling. I go to speak, but Stella shakes her head, stopping me. “Don’t say anything. I know what it’s like to give up something you love. Jack and I endured an unimaginable hole in our hearts because we made that choice. When I handed her over to Samuel and Misty, I knew I was doing the right thing. It was the best choice for Kinsley to be raised in a loving home. Do you feel the same when you push Delia away? That she will be better off with someone else?”

  “I’m living with her.”

  “Are you living with her or living in her house?”

  I sigh. “I didn’t realize there was a difference. Also, you really suck at this not getting involved thing.”

  Stella’s smile is bright. “I think it’s my right as your sister to step in when necessary. Now, shut up, let all of my brilliance sink into that thick skull of yours, and dance before . . .”

  “Before what?”

  A few seconds pass and the song cuts off.

  I step back, and the mischievous smile on my sister’s face says I’m in for something. Sure enough. That song—the song that she played every single freaking day—blares through the speakers.

  “Everybody” by the Backstreet Boys begins, and when I start to back away from her, Stella grabs my hands.

  “Oh no you don’t, Joshua!”

  “Stella.”

  She starts belting out the lyrics. “You know you love this song.”

  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry because I really despise this song. All of us would beg her to stop, but she would just sing louder. My sister is many things, but a good singer isn’t one.

  Then, like the nightmare that was Stella’s younger years, my brothers, Delia, Winnie, and Jessica line up beside her and start to dance as though they’re recreating the video. Because, of course, she didn’t just force us to hear the song. No, she made us watch the music video too. Over and over, blackmailing and browbeating us into learning the dance so we could entertain her.

  Jack steps forward and starts to lip-sync the words to Stella, dropping down on his knees.

  Then, because my only other option is to walk away, I line up, and pray that no one is recording this as I do the dance with my siblings while my sister laughs and smiles.

  Chapter 21

  Delia

  I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.

  I’ve danced with all but one Parkerson brother, laughed, and enjoyed every moment.

  In an hour, it’ll end, and reality will creep back in, but for now, the problems in my life are on hold.

  Jessica comes over with Ember in her arms. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey. How’s she doing?”

  “She’s great. She slept through so much of it that I’m shocked. But I figure with Amelia’s noise level, this probably is just a normal day to her.”

  I laugh. “Amelia is obsessed with her sister, huh?”

  Jess’s head moves side to side. “You have no idea, but she’s wonderful with her. So loving and attentive. It’s beautiful. Grayson and I are so very lucky to have two wonderful daughters.”

  Tears fill my eyes because, while Amelia isn’t Jessica’s biological daughter, she’s never once viewed her differently. The two of them have loved each other from the minute Jess came into Melia’s life as something more than just Grayson’s friend, and I couldn’t be happier.

  I wish I could be happy.

  I wish Josh was just a bit like Grayson and loved without fear.

  “Why are you crying?” she asks with a laugh.

  “You’re such a good mom.”

  Jessica snorts. “I’m not sure why that makes you cry.”

  Suddenly, I have to tell her. I can’t hold it in anymore. I am so drowning in this secret. It’s too much.

  “I’m pregnant,” I whisper, and in the silence that follows, I wonder if she heard me.

  But the way her eyes go wide and she stops moving tells me she did.

  “You’re sure?”

  I nod. “I wanted to tell you, but . . .”

  She grabs my hand, pulling me out of the tented area where we won’t be heard. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s Josh’s, isn’t it? That’s why he moved in? That’s why he’s been so damn weird, and you guys were sneaking off all the time? Oh my God! You didn’t tell me! You didn’t tell me anything! Delia!”

  “Will you lower your voice?” I ask through my teeth. “Yes, it’s Josh’s. Yes, it’s part of why he moved in. The other part is because he says he’s worried about the break-ins around my place. I don’t really believe that though.” I start to pace, my hand flying up and down as my emotions start to fray. “All of that is why, and it was my pregnancy test at Stella’s spa day. I’m pregnant, Jess. I’m pregnant with Josh’s baby, and that’s not even the worst of it. We had our ultrasound the other day, and . . . we’re having fucking twins!” I say the entire thing in one breath much louder than I planned.

  Jess’s eyes are like saucers. She clears her throat and then jerks her head to the side. It’s quiet.

  No music. No talking. Nothing but silence.

  I turn slowly, coming face to face with the entire Parkerson clan.

  Stella, Jack, Oliver, Grayson, Josh, and Alex are all there, staring at me with identical looks of utter shock.

  Josh lifts his brows and then turns to them. “Well, I guess you all know now. Delia and I are having twins.” He makes his way over to me, placing his
hand on my back and whispers, “That was one way to do it.”

  “Twins?” Stella asks. “You’re having twins?”

  “Yeah, apparently they run in the family,” Josh says sarcastically.

  Josh’s siblings rush forward, shaking his hand and offering us both a mix of skepticism and congratulations. Alex, however, doesn’t move. He stands there, clenching and unclenching his jaw.

  I go to him. “Alex?”

  “I don’t know what to say. Are you okay?”

  I blink back the tears. Alex’s concern is clear in every syllable. There’s no censure, just worry. “I am.”

  “I just want you to be happy. You’re one of my best friends, and he doesn’t deserve you.”

  Josh does seem to have a way of constantly breaking my heart, but that’s not his fault, it’s mine for allowing myself the belief of more.

  “Maybe not, but we’re in this now.”

  His gaze turns to Josh as he walks up next to me, and while there was worry before, now there’s something else. “You hurt her, and I’ll never fucking forgive you. You’ll be just like him.”

  I flinch, knowing the him he speaks of is their father. Alex will never forgive the things his father did. For so long, he thought he wanted to be like him, and when he learned how morally bankrupt that man really is, it broke him.

  “Delia and I will handle this,” Josh says, not rising to the bait. “You can offer your feelings later, which I’m sure you will.”

  “I’m sure too.”

  I reach out, taking Alex’s hand. “I’m okay.”

  He gives me a sad smile. “If you say so.”

  Gray is the next one to offer his congratulations.

  Then Oliver comes forward. “I don’t know what the hell is going on in this town, but we’ve been back a few months, and it’s like the water is tainted. People getting married, having babies, kids no one knew about. What the hell is next?”

  “Maybe it’s just all the Parkersons being around because, before this, we were all fine.”

  Oliver looks to Josh. “So . . . twins.”

  “Twins.”

  He laughs. “You’re so fucked if they’re anything like Stella and me.”

  “No shit,” Josh agrees.

  I’d been worried about the baby phase, but now I remember all the trouble Oliver and Stella caused when we were kids. If it wasn’t one doing something, it was the other. They were hellions, egging each other on to do stupid things.

  I look at Josh with fear. “They won’t be like them, right?”

  “I fucking hope not.”

  “I won’t survive it.”

  He laughs. “We’ll send them to visit their aunts and uncles as much as possible.”

  We sigh, and everyone starts to head off in different directions. Josh stands with me, his hand in mine. I feel bad, I should’ve been more careful about blurting it out. “I’m sorry I told everyone.”

  “Don’t be.”

  “We had a plan,” I remind him.

  “Yes, but plans change. It’s fine, Deals. No one cares, least of all Stella. I think she was ready to burst at the seams from having to keep this secret for so long.”

  I smile. “Maybe, but I still would’ve rather it happened another day.”

  Josh pulls me to his side, kissing the top of my head. My eyes close of their own accord, and I sink into his embrace.

  God, it feels so nice to be held by him. Even after today, and the way I’ve felt each night when I’m not in his arms, but wishing I would be. I like this. I like him.

  He lets out a low sigh. “Will you dance with me?” he asks.

  He’s the only one I haven’t danced with. The only one I wished to dance with.

  I gaze into those blue eyes, knowing I’ll never tell him no, and smile. “I’d love to.”

  He pulls me to the dance floor. In his arms, I feel safe, which makes no sense because, of all the people I should be wary of, it’s him. He’s the dream. The wish. The never ever after. The man who will always be on the outside, not allowing himself in. I’ll live in the memories of the times he allowed a moment of connection.

  So tonight, during this dance, I commit every step, lyric, smell, and touch to my memory, knowing I’ll be carrying it forever.

  Chapter 22

  Delia

  We are officially out of the danger zone. I’m thirteen weeks pregnant, and I feel no better. Seriously, I thought I’d wake up this morning, feel like P-Diddy, and be raring to go. Instead, I’m lying on the couch—dying.

  Well, not dying, but I want to do nothing.

  Josh walks out, freshly showered, water still hanging from the tips of his hair, and I groan. Stupid, sexy, man.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” I grumble.

  “I see you’re in a good mood.”

  I shrug, my head lolling to the side as I push the air from my lungs. “I need sleep. Sleep brings good moods.”

  He comes over, lifts my feet, and then sits, pulling them on his lap. His touch sends tingles up my legs, and they settle where I really don’t need tingles. One day, a casual touch by him won’t be so bad. One day.

  “What’s the plan for today?” he asks.

  “Not a thing. I’m going to just bake slowly today.”

  His brows crinkle. “Bake?”

  I point to my stomach. “Buns are in the oven.”

  He smiles. “Good thing you’re already preheated.”

  He has no idea just how hot I am—for him.

  I brush that thought aside. “What are you doing for the day? House hunting, perhaps?” I hint. He was supposed to move in here to keep me safe. Since there hasn’t been any other attempted break-ins for over a month, I think he should consider finding his place.

  Josh smirks. “I’m good here for now.”

  “You know, this isn’t forever.”

  “I know.”

  “Then you should probably start looking,” I suggest.

  “I will when I’m sure you’re safe and after the babies come. You’re going to want help with the twins, right?”

  “I guess,” I mutter and then huff. “You’re currently sleeping in their room. This house isn’t big enough for you to take up permanent residence. Where exactly will you sleep once they’re born?”

  Josh doesn’t say anything at first. His eyes just study mine, and I swear he’s reading my soul.

  “We’ll figure it out.”

  I raise one brow. “Right.”

  Instead of replying, he starts to run his thumb along the inside of my foot. And I moan. Oh, God how I moan. That feels heavenly. I can’t remember the last time someone rubbed my feet, but this, this is amazing.

  “Oh, sweet Lord,” I say as he pushes along the muscle.

  “Feel good?” His voice is low.

  “So damn good.”

  I don’t care that I’m completely embarrassing myself by moaning and arching my back. This is close-to-orgasm type good.

  He moves his hand to the other foot, doing the same. My eyes close and sink into his touch.

  “Josh?” I say as he massages in deep circles.

  “Yes?”

  “If you stop, I’ll kick you in the nuts,” I warn.

  He chuckles. “Noted.”

  His fingers alternate pressure from light to harder. After a few minutes, he slows, and his voice breaks through the fog of pleasure.

  “Let’s do something together today.”

  I pry my eyelids open. “Like?”

  “I don’t know, isn’t there fun baby shit we can do?”

  I’ll agree to whatever so long as he doesn’t stop rubbing my foot. “I guess we could register.”

  “Register for what?”

  I explain the entire process of registering for a baby shower. Jess claimed it was a lot of fun and gave her a really clear idea of the amount of shit she needed. Since we’ll need two of everything, it couldn’t hurt to get a small glimpse of things.

  Josh’s massage stops, and h
e rests his hands on my ankles. “We’ll do that then.”

  “Go pick out baby things?”

  “Yeah, it’ll be fun.”

  “Fun?”

  “Well, it’ll be better than staring at the walls. Plus, Mrs. Garner said something about stopping by—”

  I sit up. “Let’s go. Right now.” I grab my coat and boots, and we head out the door a few minutes later. I love the winters in Willow Creek Valley, and there is always something magical about the first snowfall, but the part right before winter rears its head—sucks.

  It’s freezing, all the leaves on the trees are gone, and it’s just gloomy.

  What’s not gloomy is Josh stopping at the coffee shop and getting me my favorite latte.

  “You really know the way to my heart,” I say as I sip the caffeinated goodness.

  “You’re not difficult.”

  I grin. “Coffee and new floors.”

  “And sex, let’s not forget how much you like that.”

  I glare at him because we have not had sex since that day in my shower. In fact, I’m on a sex diet, which means cutting it out cold turkey.

  I don’t recommend it.

  It sucks, and it does nothing but leave you irritated.

  “I take it back,” I say with a huff.

  “Take what back?”

  “That you know anything about my heart.”

  Josh laughs. “Do you suddenly hate sex?”

  I put the coffee in the holder. “No. I don’t hate sex. I hate pregnancy. And do you know why?”

  “No, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.”

  Oh, I so am. “First, it leads to unplanned pregnancy. Second, apparently, pregnancy makes you hornier than you usually are, which I’m not having. Third—”

  “This list is long.”

  I continue as though he didn’t speak. “Third, your body is invaded by other humans who make you hungry all the time while also making you incapable of eating most foods. Fourth, your friends who have had kids tell you every freaking awful story they can think of. I’m not sure what the goal of that is other than to terrify me.”

  “What stories?” Josh asks.

  I shudder because, really, I don’t think he wants to know. However, I shouldn’t be the only one with these things haunting me, so I will edify him on the upcoming joys. “Things like, peeing your pants all the time. That you’ll have extra skin, like a fucking kangaroo pouch because you’re stretched like Gumby and it is wrinkly after. You get hemorrhoids that don’t always go away after the baby is born. Oh, but the best is how you might shit during birth from pushing.”