Page 98 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends

I want all of them in my life, but after how things went yesterday, I don’t even know if that’s possible.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“For what?” she asks, tilting her head at me.

I swallow hard, fighting back the tears that want to come pouring out. “For hiding so much from all of you. I was scared for you guys to find out.”

Mom’s face softens. “You shouldn’t ever feel scared to tell us anything. I know it seems like we expect a lot from you, but we just want you to be happy and comfortable where you’re at. We don’t want you to struggle like we did when we were your age.”

I know that I complain about the things that they say about my career. I know that I get defensive and cold. I just forget to look at things from their perspective.

Aparent’sperspective.

I guess I’ll learn that personally soon.

“I’m happy with Josh, Max, and Ryan,” I whisper, my voice refusing to come out any stronger.

Mom lets out a soft sigh as she nods. “One of them is the father?”

“Yes,” I say, feeling my face warm up. “We didn’t plan any of this to happen, but I’m glad it did. You know them. They’re good guys.”

“They are,” she agrees. “I just never expected anything to happen between you and them.”

“We didn’t expect it either, but it happened,” I tell her, my tears welling up in the bottom of my eyes. “I fell in love with them.”

Mom’s eyes widen. “Really?”

My tears finally spill, tumbling down my cheeks as my breath catches in my chest. “I know it’s not what you and Dad and Andrew and Ethan pictured for me, but I want this. I want them. I want the family that we could be together.”

Mom takes my hand. “I’m worried that you’ll get your heart broken, honey.”

“Any relationship is risky,” I remind her. “But I trust them. They want nothing but the best for me and the baby, and I don’t want anything else but them.”

A small smile crosses Mom’s face. “Well, I know that when you want something, you’re relentless when it comes to getting it.”

Warmth fills me as I nod. “I know Andrew and Ethan aren’t happy, but this is my life. Even if it’s jarring and unexpected, Iwant you all to at least respect my feelings for them and know that they have been nothing but wonderful to me.”

Mom squeezes my hand. “They were really worried about you at the hospital. They really cared.”

“I don’t know for sure, but I think they love me too,” I tell her as more tears flee from my watery eyes. I want to believe that they feel the same way or that they could grow to love me over time.

But I’m already there.

I love them.Allof them.

“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Mom replies with a soft smile.

“You’re not upset with me? Or disappointed with me?” I ask her, my voice threatening to crack.

Mom shakes her head. “I could never be disappointed with you, Emma. Maybe I would do some things differently, but I’m still proud of you. You love what you do. You have found people who care about you. You’re about to have your own little family. How could I not be happy for you? As long as you take care of yourself.”

My bottom lip trembles as another wave of emotion crashes down on me.

Mom pulls me into a tight hug, rubbing my back as my tears soak into her shirt. “Don’t be upset, honey. I promise I’m not mad. I’ll support you no matter what.

I grasp at her like I did when I was a child, desperate for her comfort and love. She always gave them to me when I needed them. “And Dad?”

“He just wants you to be happy and safe,” Mom replies. “We know the guys are good people. They grew up with your brothers.”