Page 122 of Between Desire and Denial

I nodded. “I think everyone needs a bit of therapy in their lives, and what better way to get through the hard stuff than with someone who loves you? I’ve got some stuff I’m going to need your help with too.” I took a deep breath and closed my eyesbefore I told him, “I’m pregnant and kind of freaking out about it.”

“Pregnant?” My little brother whispered like he couldn’t believe it and his eyes dropped to my belly. “Freaking out why?”

I frowned, not sure I should be overwhelming him right then. “We don’t need to talk about this right now.”

“Of course we do. You’re here for me, and I’m here for you.” He nudged his shoulder into mine. “Tell me what’s freaking you out.”

I chewed my cheek and looked out at the neighborhood. “At first, I was scared to have a family. Now, I’m scared I might do something wrong and lose him or her. I’ve known now for a week and I don’t know if I’m doing everything right. Like what if I’m not eating right? And then what if I don’t get enough therapy and mess him or her up in some way later on?”

It was his turn to squeeze my hand and soothe my nerves. “You’re going to do everything right. And when you don’t, Dimitri and I will be there to help.”

“You mean that? Because I’m going to stay here in Paradise Grove, Knox,” I told him. “I’m going to stay, and maybe you will too?”

He nodded. “You probably got to figure out what the hell you’re doing with Dimitri first.”

“He can either stay with us or he can go.”

Knox laughed. “His ass isn’t going anywhere, Olive Bee. He’d burn in hell with you if that’s where you were.”

“Well, we might have to go through it first to get this over with.”

He pulled me in for a hug and then said, “Let me know when you’re starting the fire, and I’ll help.”

I nodded and hugged him back. “You need to help yourself first. You can’t stay with Dad and Georgette. They’re too—”

“I know. I’m going to look into some other places, and I talked with D.”

“About what?” I frowned. “When?”

Dimitri appeared in the doorway and opened the screen door. “You two are going to kill yourselves out here with the jagged edges of this porch. Get inside.”

“What did you talk to my brother about?”

“About how he’s going to rehab and then staying here. With us.”

“But wait?” I shook my head. “When?”

“He left the hospital and they updated me. So I called him and let him know.”

“But we didn’t discuss—”

“Nothing to discuss when it comes to family, Honeybee.” He was so damn sure of himself that I almost melted at the way he spoke about my brother, because technically that wasn’t his family, yet.

“Anyway, I’m going to stay for a while, and we’ve found a rehab place.” Knox nodded at Dimitri like they’d become friends.

“You did this for me?” I whispered to him.

“No.” Dimitri shook his head. “This one I did for your brother, who I’m pretty damn certain is going to be my brother.”

“Dimitri,” I sighed. “Don’t start. Do you want more water or something to eat?”

“Erm… You two are planning to get married already?” Knox looked surprised, and I practically stumbled as I walked toward the kitchen.

“No,” I said as Dimitri said, “Yes.”

He chuckled. “That’s going to be interesting.”

“He gets ahead of himself,” I told Knox.