BlakeWild laughter erupted from Dustin’s mouth as he shook his head. “You’re not half the man your brother is. Soon enough, he’ll get what’s rightfully his and so will I. There’s nothing you can do about it, you motherfucking piece of shit. Mark my words, I’ll be back.”“You’re causing a scene, Dustin.” I cast an apologetic look to the people around us, but Dustin didn’t seem to care. He was drunk and deranged, obviously completely out of it.When he got closer to our table, I noticed that his pupils were nothing more than pinpricks and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. “Don’t take another step closer, I’m warning you.”The hostess and the waiters were all frozen in place, hushed like the rest of the patrons watching the scene unfold in front of them. I only hoped their security wasn’t as useless, but there was no one in sight yet.“Or what?” Dustin shouted, spit flying as he jabbed his finger at me and then toward Aston. “You or your little whore over there going to make me?”The

AstonAfter a couple of minutes, Blake whispered. “Get some sleep, Aston. I’ll be right here. I’ll wake you the minute the doctor comes in. Wild horses and ten packs of rabid wolves couldn’t drag me away.”I trusted him to stay, but I shook my head anyway. “I can’t sleep. Not until the tests come back.”Blake glanced at the ultrasound machine still beside the bed. “Have they used that already?”“They did,” I told him, trying to remember if the doctor had said anything. But she hadn’t. If she did, I couldn’t remember it. “The doctor took all the film with her, and the flash drive that was in it. At least I think so. I can’t remember properly, Blake.”“That’s okay,” he said, soothingly. “Don’t worry, Aston. They didn’t know you were pregnant when we got here, I’m sure they’re just getting someone to take a look.”“I told them I was pregnant,” another tear rolled down my cheek.“So did I,” Blake replied, his tone quiet and even. “I gave them all the details for the doctor in Florida, too

BlakeBreathing the humid air deep into my lungs, I heard horns honking and the sound of construction nearby. It was never truly quiet in New York, no matter how high up you were. Letting the energy flow into me from the city far below, I waited another minute before making the call.Dad answered fast, just like he always did. “Blake. How are you?”“I’m good, Dad. You?” I dragged my hand through my hair and wished I had better news for him.“Recovering,” Dad grunted. “The doctor says I’m doing well, but he won’t keep his damn nurses at the hospital. Says they’ll keep checking up on me for another couple of days at least. It’s driving me nuts.”“They’re only trying to help.” Only Dad would be going stir crazy in a house the size of his with people clamoring to take care of him. “It’ll all be over soon enough.”“Yeah, well that day can’t come soon enough.” His voice was a low grumble, impatient sounding. “Where are you?”“I’m still in New York,” I told him. “I found Danny. Fired Dustin

AstonAs long I got out for a little while, I would be fine. Blake had spent the last few days not only telling me how much he loved and cared about me, but showing me. His reluctance to go on this walk was yet another example of how much he wanted to take care of me, but he needed to trust that I could take care of myself, too.I knew what I needed, wanted and I wouldn’t push myself too far. A short, relaxed stroll was what I needed right now.Out on the curb, Blake looked up and down the street. “Which way do you wanna go?”Narrowing my eyes, I thought about which way we’d gone that night when we ran into Dustin at the restaurant and pointed in the opposite direction. “Let’s go that way.”We started walking hand in hand at a comfortable pace, heading down the sidewalk. Blake didn’t let go of me for a second, as though nothing could happen to us while he was holding my hand. I never took him to be a guy for public displays of affection, but I was enjoying this one.We hadn’t had many

BlakeWe pulled up outside Dad’s house before we could take the conversation any further. Aston looked a little dumbstruck as she got out of the car, but quickly recovered when Mom and Dad came outside to meet us. Both of them gave her quick hugs, Mom lingering and talking to her in hushed tones, as Dad came over to greet me.When Mom finally stepped away from Aston, she came over and pulled me into the kind of loving hug I hadn’t had from her in years. For the first time since she came back into our lives, I allowed her to hug me. Strangely, I found myself liking it and hugged her back before leaving her to grab our bags from the car.The hug from my mother was only the first surprise, though. When we got inside, I found the second surprise waiting for me in Dad’s study. “Danny? What are you doing here?”Swirling amber liquid around in a tumbler, he sighed and rose to his feet. I didn’t know whose idea it was for him to be here, but to say he didn’t look overjoyed to see me was an un