36. Devin

36

DEVIN

T he room feels heavier now, the air thick with unspoken hopes and fears. Tessa's words hang between us, a tentative offer that stirs something deep within me. She's scared, vulnerable, and despite everything, she's offering us a way out, a lifeline.

But determination rises inside me, to prove her fears wrong, to stay by her side, to show her that we're committed—not just to being there for her now, but to facing whatever comes next together. I step forward, my voice steady but earnest.

"Tessa, you don't have to worry about that," I say, trying to convey the sincerity behind my words. "We're all in this with you. This has been a wake-up call for us. We realize now how much we want to be here for you, for the baby, and for everything that's coming."

Alec and Jace nod in agreement, their expressions reflecting the same resolve. Alec adds, "We know we've messed up, and we want to make things right. We want to be a part of your life, all of it—past, present, and future."

Jace steps in, his charm softened by genuine concern. "Tessa, we've been thinking a lot about what we want, and it's clear to us now. We're ready to put the past aside and be here for you. So, if you're willing, we'd like to be a part of your life, and the baby's, too."

The three of us wait, our hearts in our throats, as we look at her, hoping she'll see that we're ready to step up and support her in every way.

Tessa's gaze flickers between us, her expression a mix of exhaustion and contemplation. She takes a deep breath, clearly weighing her options. "I appreciate what you're saying, and I'm grateful for your support," she begins, her voice steady but soft. "But I need some time to think about it. This is a lot to process, and I don't want to rush into anything."

We nod, understanding her need for space, though the weight of her uncertainty hangs heavy in the room. Just as the silence starts to settle in, the door opens, and Dr. Shepard walks in with a clipboard in hand.

"Sorry to interrupt," he says with a reassuring smile. "I just wanted to update you on the results from the recheck."

We all exchange curious glances as the doctor continues. "We did another ultrasound to ensure everything was okay. It turns out you're not just expecting one baby, but triplets."

The doctor's announcement hangs heavy in the air—triplets. My heart sinks as I watch the color drain from Tessa's face. She's visibly struggling to process the news, her hands gripping the edge of the hospital bed for support.

Her gaze flickers between us, her eyes wide with fear. "Three? Are you sure?" Her voice is barely audible, tinged with desperation. I can see the panic setting in.

"Here are the scans," Dr. Shepard says, handing them over with a smile. "See there we are. Baby A is right there, and there's Baby B, and Baby C."

As he points out each of the three blobs, I struggle to comprehend what is happening. Triplets?

The universe does love a good joke. Dr. Shepard leaves to give us some time to process.

Tessa's breathing starts to become uneven, and I can see the distress written all over her face. "I—" She starts, but the words catch in her throat. "This is going to be so hard. How am I supposed to handle three babies? I can barely manage on my own right now."

Alec and Jace exchange glances, both of them looking equally concerned. Jace steps closer, placing a hand gently on Tessa's shoulder. "We're here for you, Tessa. We know it's a lot, but we want to be involved, to help. You don't have to do this by yourself."

I watch her shake her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's not just about the help. It's…it's everything. The responsibility, the financial burden, the changes to my life. How do I even begin to prepare for this?"

My heart aches as I see her struggle. I step forward, trying to offer some reassurance. "One step at a time. We can figure this out together. We'll be there for you, and we'll make sure you're supported."

Even as I speak, I can see the enormity of the situation sinking in. Tessa is overwhelmed, and her tears start to flow freely. I can't imagine how daunting this must feel for her. The gravity of the news is clear in her expression, and it's hard not to feel helpless.

I reach out, placing a hand on her arm, trying to ground her in this moment. "We'll get through this," I say softly. "You're not alone in this. We'll face it together, no matter what."

Tessa closes her eyes, her shoulders trembling as she fights to control her emotions. The fear and uncertainty are palpable, and I wish there was more I could do to ease her burden. All I can offer right now is my presence, my support, and a promise to stand by her side as we navigate this new reality.

"And even if you decide you don't want a romantic relationship with us, we'll still stay by your side," I reassure her. "You don't have to go through all this shit alone anymore. You've got us and we'll be the three coolest dads on the playground."

That seems to break some of the tension and earns a weak chuckle from Tessa. "More like dorkiest," she teases. "You're going to be the kind of dad who wears embarrassing Hawaiian print shirts, aren't you?"

I pretend to grab at my heart. "Oh! You wound me. But yes, guilty as charged," I add.

"I bet you're going to forbid the triplets from dating until they're 30," Tessa says, turning to Alec. He looks like he's still a little in shock, especially with the way Tessa so casually refers to the babies as "the triplets" but he recovers quickly and gives her a smug smile.

"Of course I am," he says, puffing up his chest. "They have plenty of other things to focus on, like school and studying and making a good life for themselves. I'll make sure they get the best education I can."

Somehow, the idea of raising our kids together, as a big family, makes everything feel much less overwhelming. We'd been quick to reassure Tessa that everything was fine, that we were here to help her handle the situation and we weren't going anywhere, but I have to admit that at least for me, I was still panicking internally until that moment.

If Jace and Alec are going to be there with me, it doesn't seem so hard anymore. There are four of us and only three babies. We outnumber them, so there will always be enough parents to go around.

An image flashes in my head, of three little toddlers running around outside while they play in the snow, Tessa sitting on the porch, a blanket covering her lap as she watches Alec, Jace, and me run after them, and show them how to make snowmen, and snow angels.

I feel a lump in my throat as I realize that I'm going to be someone's dad. Not just one, but three tiny someones.

My gaze shifts back to Tessa and I notice she's been quiet for a moment. She meets my eyes, a mix of vulnerability and resolve reflected there.

"You know, I thought I needed more time to think, but I see how well you guys are handling this, so much better than I feel like I am, and it makes me realize something, about everything you've said and what it means for us."

I feel a pang of hope and anxiety, bracing myself for her response. Alec and Jace glance at each other, equally attentive, waiting for her to continue.

"I think I've been afraid to let myself get close to you because of what happened, but even more than that, because for a lot of my life, I was alone and I had no one I could rely on. But you guys have been there for me in one of my darkest moments and I realize I want to be able to rely on you."

Her words hang in the air and I hold my breath, waiting for her to continue.

"I want to be with you," she declares. "All three of you. I know it's unconventional, and I know it's a lot to handle, but I think that if anyone can do it, the four of us can."

My heart races as her words sink in. Alec's face lights up with a mixture of relief and excitement, while Jace looks at Tessa with a warm, approving smile.

"I've only been hesitant because of how complex things are and how much we've been through. But I don't want to ignore these feelings anymore. I want us to try—together."

Alec steps closer, cradling her face in his hands gently, like she's breakable. "We're going to prove that you can rely on us, sweetheart." He leans down and kisses her softly.

Jace steps up as well and kisses her on the forehead. "I can't wait to spend more time together and get to know each other even better."

Tessa laughs. "This all seems so backward. I'm having babies with you guys and we're about to try dating."

The three of us chuckle at the oddity of the situation as well.

"We'll take things slow," Jace promises. "I think the first and most important thing though, is to work with you to figure out who's behind your stalking. We're not going to let you out of our sights anymore, especially with the amount of danger you've been in."

Tessa nods, expression turning grim as her mouth presses into a thin line. "Yeah, we have babies to protect now."

"Let's get started then," Alec says, pulling his phone out of his pocket. "We'll go through a list again…"