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from the other room. X and Frankie laughed and looked at her.
    She shrugged, rolled her eyes. “ I try. ”
    Soft snickers filled the excruciating silence. Frankie laid her head against X’s shoulder. “You did such a great job painting this room.”
    “Thanks.” He kissed the top of her head.
    “ Ya know, I’ve been thinking it’s time to paint the one next to our room.”
    All the blood drained out of X’s face. He jumped away from her, grabbing her by the upper arms. His eyes scanned her body from head to toe, coming to rest on her belly. He swayed a b it, his foot moving back to steady him.
    Frankie shot a smile at Shayne before asking her husband, “What do you think? P ink or blue?”
    “How? When? Holy shit!” He let out a whoop, clutched her to his body an d spun around. “I can’t believe…I never thought … o h , Frankie! You have made me the happiest man in the world!”
    Shayne really felt like she didn’t belong . This was the kind of a moment that should just be theirs and theirs alone. She slinked toward the door, only to be stopped by X’s booming voice.
    “Where are you going, Shayne?”
    Busted!
    Shayne turned and entwined her fingers in front of her. “I…ah… I thought you guys would like some privacy.”
    Frankie smiled. “I wouldn’t have told him with you here if I didn’t want you to be a part of it. You’re family, Shayne. We love you.” She ran her hands over her belly. “This is your niece—”
    “ Or nephew, ” X injected.
    Frankie grinned. “ Or nephew in here.”
    “What’s all the yellin’ about?” Matt came back into the room , wiping his hands on the hem of his t-shirt.
    X’s loud guffaw cracked like lightning. “Looks like I’m gonna be a dad.”
    Matt clapped his hands and whooped his own approval , jabbing a fist into the air . “That’s awesome! Is it okay for me to say I’d prefer a boy?”
    Frankie giggled softly. “You can prefer whatever you want, but the choice has already been made.”
    “ Boy. ” X’s nod expressed the non-negotiable confirmation. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I gotta feed my baby-mama.”
    Frankie elbowed him in the gut. “You call me that again and you’ll regret it.”
    He rubbed his side. “I already do.”
    While her brother and his baby-mama continued to tease and celebrate, Shayne’s thoughts drifted to the moment she found out about the tiny life growing in her belly.
    Her throat tightened. Her eyes stung.
    That scene couldn’t have been further from this one. No loving father cuddled her close, his large palms rubbing over her abdomen. Instead panic had overwhelmed her. The need to flee sent her racing to Kingman, to her grandparents.
    “Mom?”
    She blinked and forced a smile. “Yeah.” 
    Many times she’d been grateful her son resembled her brother instead of the monster who’d deposited a few sperm. This was one of those times. And as he cocked his head to the side, a smirk tipping the corner of his lip, she saw Xavier. Matt hooked an arm around her neck and guided her down the hall. “I get to man the grill. Isn’t that great?” 
    An hour later , the four of them sat around the table finishing up dinner. Matt bent over. “How was your steak, Mom?”
    “Great.”
    He leaned in close to examine the remnants. “Are you sure it was done the way you wanted it?”
    She stabbed one of the few final pieces and popped it into her mouth. He scrutinized her every expression while she chewed. She closed her eyes and moaned. “It’s perfect, Matt.”
    “Well, it was my first time.” He shot a look down the table. “Uncle X was there to make sure I didn’t screw it up, but I wanted to make sure. Ya know? ‘Cause I can barbecue for us at home now.”
    Home. It amazed her how quickly X’s penthouse had become home . Matt had friends, liked school, was happy. With the exception o f the mixed up emotional crap making her head spin, she was pretty content too. She hadn’t found a job yet, but