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“Jesus Christ, you pair are suited.” Tyson strolls into the living room shirtless. “So what if he has a few fucking allergies and doesn’t like dogs, get over it. The kid will come out sneezing, at worst.”

“You don’t like dogs?” Bryce asks, his face falling, and he stares at Reed as if he just told him the worst news possible.

Reed’s spine stiffens, and he turns to face Tyson, pinning him with a thunderous glare. “I’ll have you know, in actual fact, I happen to like dogs, and they like me.” Reed puffs his chest out.

Tyson raises an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? Name one fucking breed you like.”

Reed’s commanding jawline tics as I watch on at the two men facing off with one another over a dog. “A bulldog is my favorite breed because I own one.” Reed’s handsome face turns smug, and he lifts his chin.

“You do?” Bryce asks, and he springs up from the couch.

“You do?” I really can’t imagine Reed as a dog owner. Not when he’s so… particular.

“I do.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Hence the fucking vaccinations to stop the itching.”

Tyson huffs, then throws himself down in the chair. “Well, you can’t get vaccinations to help you like kids, Reed,” he taunts, and I narrow my eyes on him. He did not just say that, with Bryce in the room, no less.

“You don’t like kids?” Bryce’s eyes ping-pong between the two of them.

“Well, good thing I love them too, then, huh?” Reed counters.

Tyson scoffs and throws his arm out. “Please, we’ve seen how you act around kids. You’ve no clue how to deal with them.”

I rub my temple as their petty argument goes on. “I take my best friends’ kids out all the time, actually.” Reed glares back at Tyson.

“They must be desperate.” Tyson grunts. “Surprised you get them home okay.”

Reed narrows his eyes, and I swear I see the muscles on his back contract through his shirt. “Why are you here again? Because I’m here for Gia andmybaby, and I’m just trying to understand what your place is here.”

“That’s something you won’t ever understand,” Tyson spits out, then stands, and they look like they’re about to go to war. “I’d love to stay and argue, but I’m going on a date.” He grins in my direction.

Reed’s shoulders drop, and all the tension leaves his body in an instant.

“Is he staying tonight?” Tyson heaves a thumb in Reed’s direction but looks at me.

“Yes,” Reed answers before I have a chance to.

I shake my head. “That’s not necessary.”

“If our baby has allergies, I might be needed here. I’m staying.”

I want to tell him that’s a ludicrous argument, but I bite my tongue to stifle a giggle at Tyson’s bugged-out eyes.

“Okay, on that dumb note, I’m out!” he declares.

“Don’t forget to put a fucking shirt on. Nobody wants to see that shit,” Reed bites out, and Tyson heads out the door, giving Reed the finger as he does. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him every hot-blooded woman wants to see someone with Tyson’s physique bare, but I think better of it.

Reed’s phone pings. “The doctor says we don’t need to worry, but he’s made us an appointment for a scan.” He smiles down at me with excitement glistening in his eyes that has hope stirring in my chest.

Please don’t let us down. I can’t lose another family again.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

REED

She putme on the fucking couch. I stab my fist into the pillow again. The couch!

These sheets are not the Egyptian silk cotton I’m used to; it’s a good thing her scent is covered in them, otherwise I’d insist on burning the useless fuckers.