Kyle grabbed the edges of his gown and curtsied. “What? This old thing? You’re crazy if you think the ladies don’t love it. They do.”
She tried to hold back her laughter, but it spilled out anyway. “I think I just figured out why you’re still single. You’re certifiable.”
“But I do have those looks you mentioned.” He wagged his brows at her. The two bantered back and forth, and I actually found myself liking her brother.
It was abundantly clear how much he adored her, doted on her even. I could also see how ferociously protective he was of her, though. There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that he’d rip the balls clear off any guy who messed with her.
He kept sending me questioning glances, like he wasn’t sure what I was still doing here. I waited for him to just ask, curious what Addy’s answer would be.
I assumed the only reason he didn’t want to ask in my presence was because I was the guy who had just flown his sister halfway across the damn world. Oh, and I’d also caught her when she’d fainted.
In his mind, those would be two excellent reasons to be polite to me. At the very least.
Little did he know that I’d done both of those things more for myself than for him, but I would keep that tidbit close to the vest for now. I owed it to Addy to break the news to him her way, especially after what had happened when Aldo interfered with our own plans to tell the family.
Kyle sent another quizzical glance my way, but his eyes shifted when the door opened, and his jaw hardened. A female doctor had walked in, and she was already opening her mouth and pointing toward the door.
He cut her off before she could get a word out. “I’m not leaving, if that was what you were about to say.”
“Neither am I,” I said firmly.
“My name is Mary Winter.” The doctor frowned at us both before zeroing in on Addy. “I’m a doctor, and she’s my patient. As such, she’s the one who has to consent to you hearing sensitive personal medical information about her. I’m going to have to ask you both to step out of the room.”
Addy smiled at the doctor. “It’s fine. They can stay. I promise I’m not under duress. You don’t need to confer with me without them. It’ll just waste time, and I really want to get out of here. Hit me, Doc. It was stress, right?”
The doctor held her gaze for another beat, sighing when both Kyle and I planted our feet. She gave her head a sharp shake but lifted and opened the paper chart she’d brought in with her.
“If it isn’t stress, do I still have your consent to discuss your medical results in their presence?”
Addy’s smile faltered. “Yes, but what is it then? It had to have been stress. I feel fine now. Perfect.”
“You’re not sick, Adaline,” the doctor said. “I’m an OB/GYN. Are you sure you want me to proceed without them leaving the room?”
“I’m not leaving the fucking room,” I growled, my heartrate skyrocketing.
Kyle frowned at me, but Addy shook her head at him. “It’s fine. Just tell me what’s going on.”
The doctor glanced at all three of us with more questions in her eyes than even Kyle’s had, but instead of asking, she paused. Then she said three words that I sure as fuck wasn’t expecting to hear.
“You’re pregnant, Adaline.”
My entire world flipped upside down. Questions suddenly raced through my mind, but I knew how the birds and the bees worked. Which meant the previously thought to have been impossible had happened. I was going to be a father.
What the fuck was I supposed to do now?
Chapter 32
Addy
None of us said a word.
Kyle looked like he was about to pass out. Doctor Winters noticed his hospital gown and called out for a nurse to escort him back to his room.
He left with no argument. Not even a stare or a glower in my direction. In fact, he hadn’t looked at me at all since the doctor had made the announcement.
I was pregnant. Holy fucking fuck.
Marco and I had been having a lot of sex, like a ton of it, for months. But I thought we’d been safe about it.
We’d slipped up once or twice… It hit me then. That night in the hot tub.
Running through the time that had passed, I realized that night had been nearly two months ago. And I hadn’t gotten a visit from the red fairy since. I clamped my hand over my mouth as my stomach rolled, but nothing came up.
Doctor Winter’s expression softened. “We need to check on a few things and talk more, but I’ll give you some time. This is a lot to take in.”
Hell yeah, it was, but there was something I needed to know before she left. “What was that pain?”
She gave me a smile. “Extreme stress, dear. The medical history on your chart notes that you’ve made a lengthy flight under less than ideal circumstances.”
“The flight was fine,” I said dully. “A private jet even. It was more than ideal.”
“I meant the circumstances surrounding the reason for your flight. Your brother had had a heart attack, I believe?” She looked up from my chart, and I saw realization dawning. “Ah, so that was the other gentleman in here earlier. The rude protective streak makes sense now.”
“Yeah,” I mumbled, trying to wrap my head around what she had said. “So it’s okay then? The baby?”
“Your blood tests came back completely normal. We’ll do an ultrasound when you’ve had a minute to yourself to make sure, but I’m confident everything is fine.”
“What if it’s
