Page 5 of Finding You
They needed to talk, and it was sure to be one of the hardest conversations she’d ever had. She knew without a doubt that he was the father. Not just because she hadn’t been with anyone months before or since meeting him. But also becausethe moment Andrew was born, and she looked at him, she saw Zion’s face.
That was one of the reasons she’d named him Andrew. She had thought she was naming him after his father, but who knew Andrew’s first name was actually Zion? Since she thought it impossible to find the man who had rocked her world that night, she’d wanted to honor him with a junior. Since then, every time she stared into Andrew’s sweet face, she thought of Zion.
And here he was.
“Umm,” Zion said, and swallowed hard. His shocked gaze darted from the kids to Raven, and then back to the babies. “Mom… Aunt Gigi, can you guys give me a minute to talk to Raven?”
Knowing the talk was inevitable, Raven started to stand, but Zion stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
“I should take the babies,” Raven said, not wanting his mother or aunt to feel like they were being forced to keep the twins.
“If you don’t mind, let them hold your kids for a little while longer,” Zion said. “I’d like to talk to you in private.”
Anger stirred inside of Raven at the way he’d saidyour kids. Yeah, maybe she’d had a little more time to get used to having his babies, but she still didn’t like how he’d said those two words. Anyone could look at him and the kids and know he was the father.
Mrs. Priestly looked at Raven, her eyes glassy as she bit down on her bottom lip as if trying not to cry. “So… it’s true?” she asked, looking hopeful as she held Zanaya close to her chest. “These are my grandbabies?”
Before Raven could respond, Zion jumped in front of her and blocked her view of his mother.
“Mom,please. Just take the babies and give me and Raven a minute to talk.”
The only reason Raven didn’t shove him out the way and answer his mother was because she could tell he wasn’t happy. So yes, it was best they talked in private.
Zion’s reaction was totally understandable. Learning that she was pregnant had knocked her sideways, and no doubt he was feeling much of the same. He was also thinking the same—but we used protection. Yeah, they’d used protection for the most part.
When his mother and his aunt left the room, Zion whirled on her. “What the hell?” he growled, his handsome face an angry mask.
Though sitting down felt good, she stood. No way was she going to stay sitting while someone raised their voice at her.
“There’s no way,” he ground out. “There’s no way those kids are mine. We used protection. We werecareful!” he snapped.
“If you want a conversation with me, I suggest you lower your voice and calm down,” Raven said, trying to keep her tone peaceful even though she wanted to lash out too.
She kept reminding herself that this was a shock to him. That he was just learning he was a father not to one baby but two. Still, she wouldn’t let him talk to her any kind of way.
“Can you sit down, please?” she asked, pointing at the sofa.
He was still glaring at her as his chest heaved. Then, as if he were a balloon with a slow leak, his shoulders drooped, and he collapsed onto the sofa. He ran his large hands down his face, then shook his head as if he still couldn’t believe it.
Raven sat next to him. She wanted to touch him. She didn’t. Instead, she placed her hands in her lap, and before she could speak, he spoke.
“Two babies,” he said, barely above a whisper.
Raven stared down at her hands in her lap, bracing herself for what she had to tell him. When she finally looked at him, hewas watching her with a guarded expression. “Yeah, two babies, and yes, they’re yours.”
Chapter Three
Zion stared at Raven, unable to form words because his mind was blown. There had even been a moment when he thought he would pass out at the implication that the babies were his. This all seemed unreal, like a dream. Not a nightmare because he’d been reunited with the woman he’d long for, but still a dream that he wished he could wake up from.
He had only planned to stop by here and get something to eat, then head home, grab a beer, and wind down with his dog, Onyx. But this? A daddy? Two babies? It was as if he’d stepped into an alternate universe and had gotten swallowed up by it. His world had definitely been flipped onto its axis by this news, and… and…
What the actual hell? No way he could be a father. It was impossible. Well, it wasn’t impossible, but not now. Not when he’d just turned thirty and still had some living to do. Nope, this had to be a mistake or some sick joke because there was no way he had two kids.
Or at least that’s what he was telling himself. This couldn’t be true. He was always careful. Even that night with Raven, he had used protection.
He glanced at Raven, who was looking down at her hands,and shook his head again. The night he’d spent with her had been one of the best nights of his life. They’d hit it off immediately, as if knowing each other forever. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, he’d invited her to his room. They talked, laughed, and had even slow danced before he got her naked and ravished her sexy body.
Just thinking about their pleasure-filled connection had him silently groaning. Zion couldn’t remember the number of rounds they’d gone in those short seven hours of bliss. All he’d known was that he hadn’t been ready to let her go. Yet, while he’d been in the shower, getting ready to attend the third day of his conference, Raven had disappeared. At least she’d left a note. It hadn’t said much, except that she was glad they’d met, and that the night had been amazing. Then she had signed it, Raven.
