Sin City Baby

“What if I talked to them?” Evan said softly.

“I can't choose, Evan. I'm sorry, I can't – ”

“What if you didn't have to?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

He sighed, and I could tell this was difficult for him. “What if you could have all of us. I know we all care for you deeply, Hadley. We'd never want to make your life hard, and we only want the best for you. But, what if you could have all of us, just the way you want.”

“Gabe would never go for that,” I scoffed.

Then it hit me. Evan had just been with a woman who had cheated on him. I turned my head to look at him, stroking his cheek as I spoke.

“And after what Rebecca did to you, I could never – ”

“What Rebecca did and what we're discussing are different,” he said. “She lied to me. She wasn't honest from the start. While I won't lie and say it'll be easy, these are my brohters we're talking about, not random strangers in the bar. There's also a baby we all share. I want to think we can all be grown up about this, Hadley.”

His hand went to my stomach. Yes, we did all share a child. Since we had no idea who the father was, they could all be the dad.

“I don't know if it'll work.”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Evan said. “But I want to try. For you, Hadley, and for the baby inside of you.”

I couldn't believe we were having that conversation. Yes, it would have been a dream come true to be with all of them, that was true. Was it possible? Was it fair? All those things would have to be sorted out sooner, rather than later. But, could we at least talk about it?

“Sure,” I said softly. “Why not try.”

Evan kissed my forehead and whispered, “Good. I'm happy to hear that. I don't want you to be torn apart, and I doubt any of the others would too.”

Now if only Gabe would agree.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

JARED

“Gabe will never go for it,” I said.

Evan had called me over to the guest house for a drink. Little had I known though, he had more in mind than just a casual chat. I leaned back on the couch with my gin and tonic in hand, nursing the drink since I had to be into work later that evening. Couldn't show up shitfaced, could I?

Hearing Evan's ideas, however, made me want to chug the drink in my hand. The mere idea of approaching Gabe and asking what he thought about us sharing Hadley with him caused my shoulders to tense up and my head to start aching.

“We'll deal with Gabe later,” Evan said, sitting opposite me and sipping a beer.

He was barely drinking his drink either. Alcohol had just been an excuse to get us together, in the same room, to discuss something that could forever change our lives.

“I just want to know if you'd be okay with such an arrangement?” he pressed.

“I see. Get my blessing first since you know I'll be easy,” I said.

Yeah, I cared about Hadley very much. I always had. I wanted to be with her, and I could imagine myself settling down with a woman like her. Not that she'd ever approached me the way she had Evan, which made me think perhaps this was really about Gabe. Getting the two of us together to talk to him? That might seem smart, but I knew it wouldn't work.

“There's something Hadley needs to tell you,” Evan said with a sigh. “Which might sway not only you, but also Gabe.”

“Oh yeah? What's that?” I scoffed. “Because I don't see Gabe being okay with this, no matter what.”

“Let's hope he surprises us,” Evan said. “I'm going to let Hadley tell you herself though.”

Evan stood up and walked over to the bedroom door. He opened it up, and there stood Hadley. I sat up straight, unable to think clearly as she walked into the room. Her pale green sundress hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating her hips and bust. A white bow cinched her in below the waist, giving her a more innocent look. Her smile, on the other hand, was less than innocent as she gave me the once over.