Avenger

one.

“We’re having a baby,” Caeden repeated softly under his breath. He looked up at me and his eyes shimmered with tears. “I’m going to be a dad.” Caeden put his hand to my stomach, “There’s really a baby in there?”

I giggled at his words. “Yes, there’s really a baby in there.”

“My baby,” he whispered as his fingers caressed me through the thin fabric of my shirt.

“I’m going to be a grandma!” Both our moms exclaimed at the same time.

I looked at Caeden and laughed.

“Sweeeeet!” Bryce said, “I’m going to be the coolest Uncle in the history of Uncles!”

“You’re not going anywhere near my kid,” Caeden warned Bryce.

“Oh, come on!” Bryce threw his hands in the air. “Do you have to suck the fun out of everything?”

“When it involves my son or daughter, yeah.”

Bryce rolled his eyes and looked at me. “I guess you’ll have to play good cop with the kid. The poor baby isn’t even here yet and Mr. Controlling is already dictating who the kid plays with.”

I laughed. “That’s probably because you’d drop the baby on its head,” I joked.

“I would never!” Bryce feigned shock.

Amy chuckled and looked at her youngest son. “Well, there was that one time when you dropped Jake.”

Charlotte smacked Bryce’s arm. “You dropped my brother?”

“It was one time! One time! Why does everybody hold dumb stuff over my head!? I can be responsible…if I want to be.”

The couch dipped down beside me and I looked over to see Gram. I gulped.

“A baby?” She looked at me, tears shimmering in her brown eyes.

I nodded, tearing up as well.

“I told y’all no babies for at least five years,” her lower lip trembled. I don’t think I had ever seen Gram so worked up before.

Caeden squeezed my hand. “I know, Gram, it just happened,” I explained.

I expected a lengthy lecture on condoms and birth control, but she surprised me by wrapping her arms around me and rocking me back and forth.

“This is a blessing, Sophie. I know I said y’all should wait, and I meant that, but this will be the most loved baby on the planet. I’m going to shower it with gifts and love and kisses—I think I should move in!” She exclaimed, pulling away.

“I don’t think so, Gram. Moving in won’t be necessary. Caeden and I can handle this,” I put my hand against my flat stomach.

It still hadn’t sunk in yet that I was actually having a baby.

When I had missed my period I had chalked it up to everything going on with the pack, Travis getting away—yet again, and Logan dying. I had been under so much stress. But when it still didn’t come, I knew. I don’t know how, a mother’s intuition maybe? Whatever it was, I was suddenly very aware that Caeden’s child was growing inside me.

“You’re so young,” she said sadly, patting my cheek, “you haven’t even lived yet.”

“This is living, Gram,” I smiled.

She patted my cheek and studied me. She shook her head and said, “It doesn’t seem like you should be married with a baby on the way, Sophie. Just yesterday you were a little girl coming to visit me for the summer, begging for my cupcakes.”

“I know,” my voice cracked.

Suddenly, a sound like a honking horn filled the room. I turned in the direction of my dad, knowing that was the sound of him blowing his nose. “Dad?” I questioned.

“I’m fine,” he said and his voice shook. “You’re pregnant?”

Was I going to keep getting asked that question? I mean, come on people, I didn’t know how much more blunt I could be.

“Yeah, dad, I’m really pregnant,” I said quietly.

“My baby’s having a baby,” he cried and blew his nose again.

I had never, ever, in my eighteen years of life, seen my dad this emotional. My mom walked towards him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “He’ll be fine,” she mouthed at me before leading him from the family room.

I took a shaky breath and looked at the rest of the room. They all appeared to still be in shock.

Chris shook her head and seemed to come out of her stupor, letting out a high-pitched squeal that left my ears ringing. “You bitch! That’s what you wouldn’t tell me!”

“Guilty,” I shrugged. Did she really think I’d tell her something like this before Caeden knew? She might have been my best friend, but Caeden deserved to know before everyone else.

“A baby! Do you know what this means?!” She cried.

“Uh—no?” I asked, a bit afraid of what her reply would be.