Chapter 28

Not for the first time, I was glad to be the only woman on full time staff at the security firm. It made the ladies' room my exclusive property. So I could stand there leaning on the sink as long as I wanted while my life practically flashed before my eyes.

The stick sat there like an innocent piece of white plastic that didn't look like it should have the power to change the course of my entire life. But it did.

My period was late, but after all the tension and fear that came with Chris charging back on the scene, I figured it was stress. I blamed my anxiety and lack of sleep for skipping a period. But when I checked the calendar and realized how long it had been, I put two and two together. Or I put four Burns men and myself together and came up with the sum of baby makes six!

There was an unmistakable plus sign in the results window of the test. I stared at it without blinking and tried to get my mind around it. I didn't feel regret or shame, didn't think of it as a consequence of being reckless. The baby was a miracle created out of the most surprising and joyful time of my life, with men I loved deeply and counted as my best friends.

What worried me was how they'd react. They were all good men, and I knew they'd be good dads. The fact was, we just started this unconventional relationship. I didn't even know how to navigate that yet. I wanted to tread carefully. Everything good in my life always felt fragile to me. The happiness of being with the Burns brothers had shocked me in the best way. Now I wasn't sure they'd feel the same about me with a baby on the way.

Would they worry about which one was the real father? Or secretly judge me for getting pregnant after being with all of them? I didn't want them to think less of me, but I wouldn't stand for anyone looking down on my baby. I already laid a protective palm on my belly and whispered, "We're in this together, little one. I love you. Mommy loves you." Tears sprang to my eyes. I choked back a sob. Damn hormones.

I wrapped the test in layers of toilet paper and jammed it down in the trash. I washed my hands and went back to work. The phone seemed to ring nonstop, and all of the guys were out of the office on jobs most of the day. I saw Ty when he brought me an iced coffee and picked up a wireless charger for his phone. Other than that, I saw a couple of the part time workers but no one else.

There was a crazy series of deliveries. First I signed for toner for the evil printer and copier. Then four separate arrangements of a dozen roses each—red, pink, white and yellow. My desk overflowed and I started pointing delivery people to the conference room to deposit candy, stuffed animals and balloons. A giant three-foot balloon of a monkey holding a heart from Ty that was attached to a jokey coffee mug that read ‘from the world's best lover'. I rolled my eyes and sent him a text. Got a balloon and mug but they got the card wrong. It has your name not Jake's.

Ty immediately replied, Remind me never to tease you. You're a savage. Xoxo. He sent me a laughing emoji after that.

When I got the gourmet set of spice rubs in a fancy cellophane wrapped basket with a bow from Jake, I messaged him that I knew he was trying to improve my taste in barbecue but I'm perfect as I am. He replied that I was always open-minded, so he gave it a shot. I sent him a heart emoji because it was sweet. Even though I like my junky concession stand style barbecue wings. Despite the fact that the thought of them made bile rise in my throat currently. I whispered to the baby to please take it easy on the puking for me.

Drew sent me a big teddy bear that had on a sweatband and earbuds like a workout bear which was a silly throwback to meeting him at the gym years ago. I sent him a selfie with the bear and said we were logging miles together. He told me not to forget to stretch and cool down.

Eli had sent a sleek sliver model plane, the old-fashioned kind with a propeller on the nose, with a bunch of balloons and a card that said, ‘you take me higher.' Very sweet I love it. I messaged him.

Sweet? I should've gone with the best lover mug, damn.He answered and I laughed.

I spent way more time than I should just looking at my flowers and treats and surprises like a happy little dragon with my hoard. I really loved this and hoped that my pregnancy wouldn't make them want to rethink our arrangement. I made it through the day even though I was so sleepy that at one point I think I napped for about fifteen minutes with my feet up while the phone went to voicemail.

Drew came in and nearly caught me sleeping. I leapt up from my chair and frantically tried to look busy. And while I was clicking the mouse to wake up my computer monitor so hastily, I remembered about my little secret and felt color flood my cheeks. I had to try not to look suspicious, which is impossible because as soon as I think about looking guilty, I do. Even if I have nothing to be ashamed of, it's guilty-confession-face a hundred percent.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, boss," I said, my voice too high. "Maybe the smell from all the roses is going to my head. Sorry."

"If you want to take off early, I can cover the phones this afternoon. I'm done for the day," he offered. I shook my head, adamant. I was not going to let him step in and cover my job so I could take a nap or, more likely, obsess and panic over the unexpected pregnancy and how to tell the guys.

"No, I'm good, thanks," I lied with my brightest smile.

"Right. Okay, I'm going to reply to some emails and then head out. Close up at four?"

"Sure thing," I said.

Then I counted down till four o'clock when I could switch the phones to voicemail, close out the scheduling program and decide which lavish floral arrangements and stuff to take home with me. I sighed and settled on leaving them all at the office so I didn't hurt their feelings by only bringing what I could carry. I stopped at the drugstore and bought a huge box of chocolates for the guys and hurried home.

When I walked in—after passing like six layers of security thanks to Jake, they were assembled at the table and waiting for me. There were more roses in a big arrangement on the table and a lot of takeout containers. Chinese food and fries and hot wings, bags of the candy I like, a bottle of my favorite wine. It was so thoughtful and romantic. But one look at the wine reminded me I had a secret and no excuse not to drink tonight.

"You guys! You're the best valentines I could ever have imagined. Thank you!" I said, hugging and kissing them.

I decided to avoid the wine, eat what I could stand the smell of and not ruin this for them. They obviously made tons of preparation to make this perfect for me, and I wasn't going to wreck all their effort by bursting into tears and sobbing that I was pregnant and afraid they wouldn't want to be with me now.

"I may have only gotten you a box of chocolates but I have good news to share," I said brightly.

"What's up?" Ty asked.

"I heard from the deputy in New York this morning. Chris is locked up until his trial. He was denied bail because he's a flight risk. So we can rest easy for a few weeks."

"I'll drink to that," Drew said, raising his bottle of beer. We toasted and drank—just water for me. Then they brought out a present for me.

"I didn't know we were doing gifts. I'm sorry—" I began, startled and not wanting to appear that I didn't care.

"We're not. We just cooked up a little something because it's our first Valentine's Day together," Eli said.

"The first of many," Jake added.

I pulled the tissue paper out of the enormous gift bag and found a wooden box, lovely and carved with a heart design and vines on the lid. I looked at the guys and back to the box. Drew lifted it out for me and set it on the table where I could open it. Inside were the sweetest sentimental tokens of love from each guy—I looked first at Drew as I looked at the business card where I'd written my number down on that fateful day. He leaned in and kissed me. I hugged him fiercely. "I'm so glad you didn't lose my number,' I said.

"I'd never," he told me seriously.

Then Ty's reference card in case he needed to insult someone and he wasn't with an English-speaking crowd. "I'll cherish this, thanks," I said wryly.

"Hey, that's been with me some of the best times in my life. I almost got arrested in Athens using one of those insults. Good times," he laughed.

I held Eli's Naval pilot's wings in my palm and blinked at him.

"You love these. You told me once they're your lucky charm," I protested.

"Not as much as I love you," he said, so open and shameless about his feelings that I teared up as we kissed.

Then last came Jake with the smartwatches and the private VPN and location sharing. I couldn't help but laugh because it was so classically Jake to get us all watches to communicate with each other.

"Now I think we need superhero names since you got us wrist communicators," I teased. Jake hugged me.

"No, I think we have everything we need," he said.

"You already know my superhero name," Ty said. "World's greatest lover. Right, Jas?" he winked. I rolled my eyes on cue.

"Come to think of it," I said with a shy smile, "I do have a surprise for you but it doesn't come in a box."

"Really? Let's see it!" Jake said. I could tell by his heated gaze that he thought I meant something sexy.

"I can't show it to you, at least not more than a picture, for about eight months," I said, touching my tummy. "You can check my math, but I think the baby will be here in early October."

"Baby?" Eli managed, looking mystified and more speechless than I'd ever seen him.

Their faces were all a frozen image of shock for an instant. When I nodded, the joy broke through, and they grinned all at once. Ty let out a whoop of excitement.

"You're having our baby?" Drew said once he'd recovered. I nodded again, grinning so hard my cheeks hurt.

"Best present ever. She won Valentine's Day," Ty announced.

"That's why you weren't drinking!" Jake said.

"Well that and the fact that everything makes me want to puke right now," I confessed.

"Okay, big greasy meal, not my best idea ever," Eli said. "Can I get you ginger ale? Crackers?"

"Ginger ale would be great," I admitted with relief. "I am so glad you're all okay with this."

"Okay? With the best news of my entire life?" Drew said incredulously. "There was no question of us being thrilled, Jas. You're everything we've ever wanted, and a baby is just even more happiness. Thank you."

"I wrote the letter. Did you read the letter?"

"The letter isn't going to take this over the top, Ty," Jake said. "It doesn't matter if it's the best letter ever written. Jasmine is pregnant with our child. That's God tier-level gifting right there."

I threw my arms around all four of them, just group hugging out of pure, bouncing up and down happiness.

"Thank you all," I said, getting a little misty, "For giving me a home and a family of my own. I love you."

I kissed them each in turn and let them touch my still-flat belly in wonder as we talked about our future, our baby to be, and everything we had to look forward to as a family of six.

The End