Page 9 of Happily Evan After (Dog Tags #5)

chapter

nine

Evan

“She could say no,” I say. “Oh fuck, what if she’s married?”

Romeo opens his mouth to say something, but I continue with my thoughts. “No, she wouldn’t do that. I know her. Even just from that one night, I know she’s not the type of person to do that.”

Romeo nods.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” a voice roars from behind me. I turn in time to see Dane charging towards me.

I don’t even have time to ask him what he’s talking about before he literally knocks me to the ground. The air whooshes out of my lungs.

“Dane! What the fuck?” Romeo yells.

“This moron doesn’t know how to wrap his dick up,” Dane says. Then he punches me.

I see stars as the pain radiates through my skull. “I don’t know what’s happening, but that fucking hurt!”

He’s gripping my shirt in both of his hands.

“Didn’t anyone ever teach you to wear condoms, you little shit?”

“Dane. What the hell are you talking about? I always use condoms.”

“Then tell me how you managed to knock up Marley?” Dane yells.

“Who the hell is Marley?” I ask.

Dane rears his fist back like he’s gonna hit me again, but thankfully, Romeo pulls him off.

“Brother, you need to calm down,” Romeo says. He’s got Dane’s arms pulled behind. Romeo stares at Dane until their gazes meet. “You good?”

Dane’s chest is rising rapidly with his labored breathing. He cracks his neck and shoots me another glare. “Yeah, I’m good.”

I almost ask Romeo to keep holding the big guy away from me, but I don’t want to seem like a total pussy.

It’s not that I can’t fight, I can. And I’m good at it.

But there’s a reason I became a medic. My body might be honed and trained to deliver a beating, but it makes me physically ill to hurt someone.

It’s what my mama always called my tender heart.

“Can you explain what’s going on?” Romeo asks. “What has you so fired up?”

“The kid here,” Dane nods towards me. “Got Shelby’s friend, Marley, pregnant.”

“I don’t know anyone named Marley. And I sure as hell didn’t get anyone pregnant!”

“I beg to fucking differ. She’s over at my house right now in tears because you got her pregnant and then disappeared.”

When I don’t respond, Dane rolls his eyes.

“Marley Olsen. Are you telling me you got her pregnant and you don’t even know her name?”

His words seem to echo through my head, bouncing off things and not settling. I take a deep breath, then go through the details as I know them. “Marley Olsen. Dr. Olsen. The veterinarian is pregnant. Marley is the veterinarian. Marley is my girl. Marley is pregnant with my child.”

“Sit down, Evan,” Romeo says from somewhere behind me. “You look like you’re gonna pass out.”

He steers me over to the covered picnic table that works as our office on days with nice weather. I sit and drop my head into my hands.

“A baby,” I say. “I used a condom. Every single time. I’ve never not used a condom.”

“Well, you fucked something up,” Dane says. “You know you have to do right by her. You can’t just walk away.”

Those words, among any of the others he’s slung at me, hit me straight in the chest. I stand and take a step towards one of my closest friends and the man who is currently my boss.

“Do you honestly think I wouldn’t step up and do what’s right? Obviously, I’m gonna do whatever I need to do to take care of her and this baby. I’ll be damned if I walk out on my kid like my dad did to me.”

“Both of you, calm down,” Romeo says. “Dane, I’m sure Evan is going to do the right thing.”

“Yes, of course. I’ll marry her. I’ll do the right thing. There’s no way I’m going to let a kid of mine grow up a bastard.”

“Not if I have a say in matters,” her voice says from behind me.