“Yes. I’m nervous.”
“Don’t worry. If anything goes wrong I’ll take care of it.”
Leah didn’t feel relieved. They were all friends, and their parents were, too.
“Are they here?” Chase asked.
“Yes. Your brother and sister are away at the moment,” Mitch’s father said.
Chase nodded.
“We’d better go and see them.”
They followed him into the sitting room. She saw her mother was sitting at the far end of the sofa. The moment her mother saw her, she ran to her.
“What is going on, honey? I’m terrified.”
Leah accepted her mother’s comfort. She felt safe in her arms.
“I think we need to all sit down,” Mitch said.
All of their parents sat down. Leah moved past all of the parents not looking at any one of them. She and her men stared at all six of the parents.
The concern on their faces made Leah feel guilty for worrying them. Mitch reached for her hand at the same time as Chase did.
“We’ve got something to tell you,” Chase said. “Leah, Mitch, and myself are going to have a baby.”
Leah knew that the way Chase said it was as subtle as he could be. Silence followed his words. She felt tears spring to her eyes. It was like being a child again waiting for punishment.
“You’re pregnant, Leah?” her dad asked.
She nodded her head. The words died in her throat. He looked so disappointed.
Both of her men tightened their grip on her.
“Who’s the father?” her dad asked.
Leah looked to her mother waiting for her to respond.
“Honey, I think Chase answered that when he said all three of them were starting a family.”
“I knew something was wrong. I fucking knew it,” Chase’s father said getting to his feet.
“Calm down, Dad,” Chase said. He didn’t leave her side.
“What is this? You couldn’t make a choice, and so you’re just going to make them wait for paternity? Is that it?”
She flinched away from the accusation in his voice.
“Back the fuck off, Dad.” Chase stood in front of her.
“I think we need to calm down.” Mitch’s father stood.
“How can you be so calm? One of those boys has knocked up my little girl.”
Closing her eyes, she leaned onto Mitch for comfort. He’d been quiet throughout it all. He held her hand tight.
The arguing continued.
“We always knew something was wrong. The three of them never should have remained friends.”
“She’s a slut.”
“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Mitch yelled the words. Everyone stopped. Leah stared at him, shocked. “I can’t believe you’re talking about Leah like that,” he said.
Chase stayed in front of her ready to pounce on anyone who came near her.
****
Chase knew he would hurt anyone who tried to harm his woman. The anger was building inside him with every curse word his father said. He stared at the man who raised him and was disappointed in what he saw. There was no acceptance in his eyes, only disgust.
“We didn’t come here today to ask for your permission,” Mitch said.
“No, we fucking didn’t.” Chase looked his father in the eye, so he knew who he was talking to.
“We love each other. Chase and I have loved Leah all of our lives. Leah loves us. She never wanted to choose between us, and we don’t want her to. We are happy sharing her. She is the woman we want to grow old with.”
Chase listened to his friend’s words and felt them deep in his heart.
“You all love each other and would do anything to stay with each other. Why can’t you see what we’re doing? We’re twenty-five years old, and we’re going to start a family. Leah is pregnant, and all of you will be grandparents within the next year.”
“That will be no grandchild of mine,” his father said. Chase kept his eyes on his father.
“Then you’re no parent of mine.”
“You’d turn your back on your family for that whore.”
Chase fisted his hands at his side. Leah reached out, touching his arm. She didn’t want him to murder the bastard. He knew she’d been trying to prepare him in the car for this kind of outburst. Chase knew he should have expected it, but he’d thought his father wouldn’t be like that. He loved his parents. Chase loved Leah more. She was his future, and if his parents refused to accept that, then they would have no place in his life.
“I’d turn my back on my family for the woman I love. Leah is the same person. She hasn’t changed, and I love her with my whole heart. Mitch is my best friend. I’m not giving them up for anyone,” Chase said.
“I think we all need to calm down before we say something we might regret,” Mitch’s father said.