Second Chance at Love: A Secret Baby Romance by Lydia Hall

Author:Lydia Hall [Hall, Lydia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

13

SEBASTIAN

I leave the gallery with Ryan and Alicia, all three of us buzzing over Lana’s work.

“You were right, her art is amazing,” Alicia says with a smile, as we get into Ryan’s car. “And she’s so pretty, too. I can see why you’re so hung up on her.”

I catch Ryan glancing at me in the rear-view mirror, but my brother doesn’t say anything.

We drive across town to Ryan’s new house where he lives with Alicia and her siblings, where I’ll be having dinner with my brother and his new family.

When we enter the house, the smell of food cooking fills the hallway, and Alicia’s younger sister, Jackie, pops her head out the door.

“Hey, how was it?”

Jackie is my age and has been working as a receptionist at the resort for a few months now. She seems like a nice woman, and between her and Alicia they take good care of their four younger siblings.

“Amazing,” Alicia replies, following her sister into the kitchen.

Ryan leads the way to the lounge, and I follow along. The house is unusually quiet, making me ask, “Where is everyone else?”

“Dave is at the computing club, and I think Billy is out playing soccer. Tommy and Evie are upstairs, in their rooms. They’re both unwell with a sickness virus.”

“Yeah, Lana said her cousin Monica was sick too. I hope they’re okay.”

“They seem well enough now they’re not throwing up,” Ryan says, and I notice the frown on his forehead.

“What’s up? Is playing house now not as fun as you thought it would be?” I ask, worried my brother is having second thoughts about living with Alicia and her siblings.

“No, it isn’t that. I’m just worried about anyone else getting sick, especially Alicia. I don’t know what effect it would have on the baby.”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” I assure my brother.

“Yeah, I just … God, I never used to be like this. Before I met Alicia, I only cared about you guys, and work. My world has gotten so much bigger. I’m going to be a father. I have other children in my care, and I’ll be an uncle again soon, too.”

“Yeah, it’s crazy how things have changed so much over the last few months. And now Lana is back in town. I keep thinking about our future.”

“Oh yeah?” Ryan asks with a raised brow.

“I want to take her away on a trip soon. She deserves a break after working her ass off to get the gallery in shape.”

Ryan steeples his fingers in front of him in that way he does when he’s thinking. “You’re still serious about the two of you then?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I start fiddling with the hem of my shirt.

“Oh, nothing, it’s just Tucker mentioned you had some concerns.”

I try not to roll my eyes. “Tucker doesn’t know what he’s talking about. His idea of a long-term relationship is sleeping with the same woman two nights in a row.”

Ryan shrugs. “Maybe, but we are all worried about you. I don’t think you ever got over you and Lana not working out the first time around.

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