When All Else Fails

Page 10

'Morning.'

'Morning. How are you today?' I text back to Rance.

'I'm feeling good. Alpha just came by. Said Jeff had requested that the second week of waiting be cut. He asked what I thought.'

'What did you tell him?'

'I said I'd leave it up to the chosen.' That made me frown. Why? He'd been just as anxious about this as me.

'Can I ask why? Without sounding bad?' He sent back a smile with his reply.

'I might be anxious to be with you but they deserve my time as well. If they want to have it for a little while longer before they have to let go I won't really fault them for that. The only one I really figure will complain is James and that's only because he's jealous of you. I'm sorry for that by the way.'

'No need to be sorry. He's having trouble letting go. It's fine. While I have you, I was thinking we'd break some rules and I'd call and let you meet my family sometime today. When would be a good time?'

'Uh, damn, I would love to but I'm on guard duty all day today and won't have the time. It'll be this evening and by them I'll be too tired to be nice. How about this, when this thing is over we'll make a trip together to see them?'

'That's great. If Alpha makes a decision will you let me know what she says?'

'Definitely. I have to get to guard duty, I'll text later when I can. Luv you.' I stare at the text. Did he mean that? I knew he wanted to be with me but I wasn't sure he'd be able to say he loved me.

'Luv you too.' I text back. I really hope no one saw our message we'd be in so much trouble. I got a huge grin emoji back.

"What are you grinning about?" Jeff asks and looks at my phone. "Do you two not know how to follow the rules?" He asks and rolls his eyes.

"Can't stop us."

"So I've noticed."

"So," My brother says as he and his girls come in from the backyard, "Jeff was explaining this. I think we understand how it all came about but I guess we're still struggling with they why? So you saw him with the others, thought ooh look he's hot lets have a baby?" I sighed at my brother.

"Can't you just take it on a little faith. We care for each other, however it started it's not ending. Can't you just be happy for me that I've met someone who wants me, who loves me. Look at this." I showed him the text where Rance said he loved me.

"It's a text. People can say anything in a text." I growl.

"You just can't let me be happy. You've always complained at every turn about who I dated how I dated them. Kept telling me I deserved better. Then you steal my boyfriend. Complain because I'm not ecstatic for you. Then I have to watch you marry him, have children. You keep complaining about the men I date. No one seems good enough. But its not that is it, it's that you just don't want me to compete with how happy you are. Fuck you Adam."

"Carson, the girls." My mother admonishes from the back door. I growl and stomp back up the stairs. I flip back on my bed. I didn't understand why they kept having to poke holes in it. I pick up my phone and pull up the pictures of Rance and I. Did they have a point? Did Rance truly love me after one fuck and a week?

"Shit." I exclaim as I realize that he'd succeeded in making me doubt. I slipped my phone back up and dialed Rance. He picked up on the second ring.

"Hi. Since your calling I'm going to assume something is wrong."

"Rance. You love me right. It's not just something to say or some way to seduce me, right?"

"Yes. Of course I do. I don't say things I don't mean. Carson, what's wrong? What's happened?" I felt tears gather in my eyes.

"My idiot brothers stupid ravings are poking holes in things. I just had to hear you say it. I love you to Rance. I know that I'm pregnant with your baby. I know that we'll claim and raise a family but they just won't believe it and let me be happy. I want to come home."

"Tell me when and I'll pick you up from the airport." My mother appears in my open bedroom doorway.

"I have to go but I'll text you if I change my plans. Thank you Rance. I love you."

"I love you too Carson, please don't doubt that. Text me so I know you're okay." I hang up and look at my mom.

"Going to poke your own holes into it?" I ask her. She sighs and comes to sit next to me. The only time I felt like a big man was when I was with her. She was so thin and light. Her hands wipe the tears from me face.

"No. It's obvious that you love him. I'm sorry. I guess we just thought it would be hard to fall in love under these circumstances but you obviously have. We've not met him. We can't say how he feels but we'll take it on a little faith till we have a chance to meet him."

"You could come home with me, meet him."

"Not yet they have to wait till after the cooling off period. Preferential treatment." I sigh heavily at Jeff's words from the doorway.

"Fine after that." Mom smiled.

"We'll come. Your birthday is coming up in a couple months how about we come to you this year. Your father and I."

"That would be great. I'll be huge and need advice on giving birth." She smiles.

"I think you'll have an easier time then I did. Come down we'll grill and you can play with the girls they've missed you." I nod and head downstairs.

"Going to wag your finger at me for calling him?" I ask Jeff. He shakes his head no.

"No. Extenuating circumstances. I understand and so will Alpha." I smiled in appreciation. Adam and Tony were in the kitchen, the girls were gone. Tony gave Adam a push toward me.

"Carson. I never meant to seem like I wanted you to be alone. You're my brother, my only brother. I complained because I wanted someone special for you. I wanted you to get that zing like I had with Tony. That instant, 'wow now this is the person for me,' moment."

"Rance gave me that. Sure not in a traditional way but it was still there. You'll like him I promise."

"He's an enforcer, you know what I think about them."

"I know, and he can be rough, to everyone but me. But how about we stop with that and have some fun." Adam agreed and we all went outside to have some fun. I text Rance about an hour later letting him know that it was much better.

'That's good, guess I'll wait til tomorrow to see you.'

God I wanted to see him too. I hoped the others weren't too upset when he became mine. My nieces were happy to play with me all afternoon and evening. Rance texted as he could during the day. At bed things were a lot better.