Page 24 of Inked Temptation
“Anyway, I have news and wanted to be the one to tell you.”
I froze at the cautious look on her face and as her teeth worried her lip.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick? Fuck. I can fly down there. You know I don’t want to go down there, but I will.”
Her eyes brightened for a moment, even as they filled with tears.
“Shit. What’s wrong, Ann?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Not really.”
“What the fuck do you mean by not really?”
“The fact that you would come down here, Killian, means the world to me. I love you so much.”
“Talk to me.”
“I’m pregnant, Killian.”
I froze as memories assailed me, and I tried not to panic. Tried not to throw up.
“Ann. Congratulations.” I smiled softly, even as my world broke apart and everything ached.
“I almost flew up there just to tell you in person.”
“I’m going to be an uncle again. It’s pretty amazing, baby sis.”
“I just kind of…I love you, Killian. You’re my favorite big brother.”
“And you’re my favorite little sister.” I echoed the familiar refrain.
We talked for a few minutes more before Ann hung up and went back to work.
I just stared at my blank phone, wondering why I hated myself so much. Because my sister had been afraid to tell me she was pregnant with her third child. She hadn’t wanted to hurt my feelings over something that should be joyous, momentous. Something that was going to bring her hope and happiness.
And I was the asshole that was holding her back.
I needed to stop. I needed to be better.
Yet, the nightmares wouldn’t go away.
I slid my phone into my pocket and went down the path a little bit further, Cora leading me, and it wasn’t until I was upon them that I realized where my meddling dog had led us.
Penny stood near my neighbor’s house, Archer next to her, as the two laughed over something.
I frowned, wondering when the two had gotten so close and why any jealousy would even come at me.
It wasn’t like Penny was my friend. Or at least my only friend. I didn’t need to be her only friend.
Why did I feel weird?
At the sound of Cora’s bark, she smiled wide and bent down to brush Cora’s flank. My dog, the traitorous puppy, left Penny and went straight to Archer. She went on her hind legs and patted her paw against Archer’s chest, and I scowled.
“Down, Cora. No jumping.”
Cora gave me a look, and I could have sworn she rolled her eyes before she went down to her belly, nd Archer knelt in front of her. He petted her, rubbing his hands up and down her body as he asked her if she was a good girl.
I rolled my eyes as Penny narrowed hers.
