“That is a good idea,” Liam replies. “I’m happy the little twins have such a good home and parents. Has she come up with some names yet?”
“Yeah, baby one and baby two is confusing. They look exactly the same,” Mason adds in.
“They did. Baby one is called Hugh after, well, you know. Baby two will be called Alexia, after you,” I nudge Alex, and he smiles for a moment until it drops into a frown.
“Why did they name the girl after me and not the little boy?” he asks.
“Raine didn’t say why,” I smile, trying not to laugh. “Maybe because two Alexes would be confusing, and now it’s Alex and Alexia. Also Hughina is a weird name.”
“Fine,” he grumbles, and I chuckle as I snuggle into his chest. Shadow and Silver make their way in as Mason and Liam cook us all pasta and salad. We eat on the sofas, watching a cheesy comedy romance with Adam Sandler in it, and it makes us all laugh. When the film ends, a knot of fear clogs in my throat as I click the off switch on the remote and stand up in front of Silver and Shadow sleeping on the floor.
“I need to tell you three something I’ve kept a secret, only because it never felt like the right time to tell you and I’ve only known for a few weeks,” I blurt out, trying to slow my voice. I look down as I cover my stomach with my hands on purpose. I can’t look at them as I try to get the next words out. “I’m pregnant.”
The silence that follows my two words hurts my heart more than a little bit, especially with the fact no one moves closer to me. Eventually, I tell myself I need to see their faces, and I lift my head to meet Mason’s eyes first. His eyes are wet with unshed tears and shock. Next, I look to Liam, who is looking confused and also something else I can’t read. Lastly, I turn to Alex, who is shaking as he stares at my stomach, a mix of wonder and anger burning in his eyes.
“Someone say something. I know we didn’t plan this, it’s a total accident, and I’m not sure even how it happened, maybe something to do with me being a demi-god. I just, I just—”
“I’m happy. So fucking happy,” Liam announces and climbs off the sofa. He walks to me, cupping the back of my head and nudging me forward to meet his lips. Relief spreads through me as he lets me go, his hand covering mine on my stomach.
“So am I. I will admit, I’m a little shocked speechless for a moment there, but a baby. That is a gift, not a mistake. Not an accident. A gift,” Mason firmly states, walking to me and wrapping his arm around my waist, kissing the side of my head.
“I-I have to leave,” Alex’s cold words shock me silent as I watch him stumble to his feet. His eyes stay on my stomach all the way until he gets to the door, and then he turns around and just leaves. The door swings shut behind him, and even as Liam and Mason try to soothe me, try to tell me it’s going to be okay and Alex was just shocked...I can’t help but feel like I’m breaking apart.
Chapter 8
Anastasia
Guilt is a hard pain to wash away.
“Ana?” Liam softly calls to me as hot water falls from the showerhead above, washing away my tears that haven’t stopped falling since Alex ran away over two hours ago. The fact he didn’t come back right away hurt, like a knife digging deeper into the cut he made when he left. “Can I come in?”
Knowing none of this is Liam’s fault, knowing that Liam and Mason have held me, kept me close and wiped my tears away doesn’t mean I’m not scared they are going to run too. That I’m going to be alone...well, not completely alone. My hands drift to my stomach where I regularly find them resting, comforting a baby who is no bigger than a grape at the moment. I know I’d protect her or him with my life. I love my baby already, even when we haven’t met yet.
“Come in,” I shout back, turning off the shower. I climb out, grabbing a towel nearby and wrapping it around myself as Liam comes into the room, followed by the smell of brownies. Mason steps in after him, a plate of steaming hot brownies in his hands.
“We don’t know if it is a pregnancy craving or an Ana craving, but you ate all the brownies you could steal from Skye and Phoebe the last few days. We thought you might like some of your own,” he nervously explains, holding the plate out. I can’t help but smile at them both, and the goofy smiles they give me back make me laugh. They join me until we are all laughing so much that we almost forget why there was tension in the first place.
“I have been addicted to chocolate more than usual,” I admit, picking up my hairbrush. “Thank you. You are both so sweet.”
“Can I brush your hair?” Liam asks, holding his hand out for the brush.
“Sure, why don’t we sit on the bed, and I can eat the brownies at the same time,” I suggest with a grin that makes them both chuckle. Liam takes the brush as we head to the bedroom, and I don’t bother getting into pyjamas as I know I will end up with brownie
