Page 165 of Faking It With My Pucking Protector

I set Noah down, ruffling both their heads. “Thanks, buddy. I heard you cheering.”

Liam’s face lights up, pride shining bright. “We were so loud! Miss Taylor said we might lose our voices.”

Miss Taylor laughs from the counter. “I did say that.”

I glance at Ava, silently asking. She nods, her eyes soft but sure.

“Hey, guys,” Ava starts, her voice warm and calm. The boys immediately quiet down, leaning closer, their eyes flicking between us.

“There’s something really important we want to tell you,” I say, resting a hand on each of their small shoulders.

Ava takes a small breath, glancing at me before looking back at them. “You know how families come in all shapes and sizes?”

They nod, though Noah’s brow furrows like he’s trying to solve a puzzle.

“Well,” she continues, her voice catching just slightly, “our family is about to get a little bit bigger.”

Liam’s mouth falls open, and Noah gasps loudly.

“A puppy?!” Noah blurts, eyes wild.

Ava laughs, her eyes tearing up. “No, sweetheart. Not a puppy.”

Liam leans forward, brows drawn. “Then… what is it?”

Ava presses her hand to her stomach gently, her fingers splaying. “There’s a baby in here,” she says softly.

Silence. For a beat, the kitchen feels like it’s holding its breath.

Then Noah’s mouth drops open. “Like… a real baby?”

Liam’s eyes grow even wider. “Like… a brother? Or a sister?”

Ava laughs, watery and bright. “Exactly like that. We don’t know yet which.”

Liam’s hands fly up to his head. “We’re gonna be big brothers?!”

I feel something pull in my chest, a sudden, overwhelming rush of love. “Yeah, buddy,” I say, my voice rougher than I mean it to be. “You guys are going to be the best big brothers ever.”

Noah lets out a shriek and flings himself at Ava, wrapping his arms around her neck so hard she nearly falls backward. Liam isn’t far behind, wrapping his arms around both of them.

Ava gathers them in, laughing and crying all at once. I wrap my arms around all three of them, pulling them in close until we’re a tangled, messy knot of warmth on the kitchen floor.

“We’re gonna teach the baby everything!” Noah shouts, pulling back just enough to wave his hands around wildly. “Like how to play dragons and hockey and how to do a really big jump!”

Miss Taylor’s eyes are glossy as she watches from the stove, one hand pressed to her heart.

Ava wipes her cheeks with one hand, her other still cradling Noah’s back. “I think this baby is going to be very lucky,” she says, her voice thick with emotion.

I lean in and kiss her temple, then press my forehead to Liam’s hair. “We’re all lucky,” I murmur.

Later that afternoon, I slip out onto the back deck with my phone in hand. The boys’ laughter floats through the open windows,and I pause for a second, staring down at the contact on my screen.

I take a breath, then hit call.

“Jackson,” Ava’s dad says when he picks up. His voice is steady, a little rough like always.

“Richard,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “Hope now’s a good time.”