Broken Hearts (Light in the Dark 5)

They blink at us, looking like they’re waiting for us to say, “Haha gotcha!”

I put my arm around Nova and, when they don’t say anything, I add, “We’re serious.”

“Excuse me for my bluntness, but was it an accident like these two?” She points to Thea and Xander.

“Hey,” Xander defends. “Don’t call my baby an accident.”

Thea snorts. “Well, she was.”

Nova shakes her head. “No, this baby was most definitely planned and wanted.”

Our friends continue to look at us like we’re crazy. I can’t say I didn’t expect it, but it makes me angry on Nova’s behalf. She doesn’t deserve this.

When I can’t take the silence anymore, I growl, “Can’t you guys be fucking happy for us?”

Thea shakes her head. “It’s not that we’re not happy, I think we’re all shocked. No offense, but the way you two are, and then the no marriage thing, I think we all assumed that meant no babies too.”

“Well, you were wrong.”

“Does this mean you guys are going to get married now?” Rae asks.

“What does marriage have to do with raising a child? There are plenty of married people who are shit at it. I think Nova’s parents are proof. Owen’s too.” I’d say mine too, but my mom … She was fucking wonderful. It was my dad who was an asshole.

Rae swallows. “I don’t know, I thought it might be easier.”

“Easier how?”

“You know, to explain. Do you want your child growing up with parents who aren’t married?”

“What does it matter?” I snap, my anger simmering beneath my skin ready to boil over. “If we’re good parents and take care of our kid and are there for them that’s what matters.”

I don’t know why it’s such a hard fucking concept to grasp. A ring doesn’t unite you, a ring doesn’t make you a decent human being, what’s in your heart does.

Rae looks at me wide-eyed and her cheeks flush with shame.

Good.

“This is what we want,” I tell them, since Nova’s silent at my side, hurt radiating off her. “We want a family and we didn’t want to wait any longer. This child is going to be so loved by us and it won’t matter whether we’re married or not, because there will be no doubt in our child’s mind that I love his or her mother, and she loves me.”

I take a deep breath, using it to calm and center myself. I don’t like to lose my temper like this, but the fact Nova was so nervous to tell them and they act

exactly as she and even I expected pisses me the fuck off.

“I’m sorry,” Rae says, and her tone is sincere. “I’m happy for you guys. Even though we’re not related by blood, I can’t wait to be that baby’s auntie.”

Nova exhales a sigh of relief and murmurs, “Thank you.”

“If it’s a girl, you can have some of Xael’s clothes if you want. She’s a beast and outgrows everything in a day, I swear,” Thea says.

Nova laughs and I feel my body relax by a smidge.

All that matters to me is how she feels. That’ll always be the most important thing to me.

“Well, I personally think Xael will love having a playmate,” Xander says with a smile and I nod at him in thanks.

If there’s anyone you can count on to be positive it’s Xander.

Nova’s hand finds mine and she looks up at me with a small smile.