The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(36)

Earl’s comforting words sent a smile stretching across Aidan’s face. “I sure as hell will.”

***

Once he got back into Atlanta, Aidan made a grocery stop and finished up a few errands before heading home. When he swung the car in the driveway, his heart shuddered to a stop. Becky’s car was gone. His mind whirled with out-of-control thoughts. What if Emma had started having contractions again, and Becky had rushed her to the hospital? Tumbling out of the car, he didn’t bother closing the door. Instead, he rushed through the garage door and skidded into the kitchen. “EMMA!” he cried.

The sound of gunfire and explosions assaulted his ears. Craning his neck, he saw John and Percy sitting on the couch each with a game console in their hands. “Where’s Emma? Where’s your mother?” he demanded without even a hello.

John glanced up and rolled his eyes before looking back down at his game. “Dude, hold your ball-sack. Mom got called to some emergency department meeting at the university, so we’re babysitting Emma until she gets back. Georgie’s back in the bedroom with her now watching Finding Nemo or some shit.”

Aidan’s relieved emotions were too jumbled to call John out for his mouth. “Oh, well, good.” He jerked his thumb towards the garage. “Can you guys come and help me get in all the groceries and stuff from Em’s Grammy’s?”

“Seriously?” John asked.

Aidan grunted. “Yeah, I’m serious. Call it payback for mooching off my pool all summer.”

“I thought you let us use your pool because we’re your favorite nephews?” Percy questioned, rising obediently off the couch.

Aidan chuckled and ruffled his hair. “I guess that’s true.” When John still hadn’t budged, Aidan reached over and took his game away.

“Hey!” John started to protest.

“Move your ass and you might live to play it again.”

Huffing, John got off the couch and stalked through the kitchen. Aidan and Percy followed behind him. Aidan popped the trunk and leaned in to start handing some of the bags to the boys.

“Uncle Aidan?” Percy began.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you think you ought to marry Emma?”

Aidan jerked his head up, slamming it against the trunk lid. “FUCK!” he shouted as he saw stars before his eyes. A few more expletives escaped his lips as pain raged through his skull.

“Nice mouth you got there,” John chided.

Gritting his teeth, Aidan rubbed his aching head. “You mention that one to your mom, and I’ll tell her about your ball-sack comment.”

John’s eyes widened. “Dude, that is so not cool!”

“Yeah, well, deal with it.” Aidan started to resume gathering up the bags when he noticed Percy staring expectantly at him for an answer. Aidan sighed. “Perce—”

His blonde brows knitted together. “Don’t you love her?”

“Oh Christ,” Aidan muttered, raking his hand through his hair. He winced as pain once again shot through his head. “Did your mom put you up to this or something?”

“No. When I asked her the same question, she just said that you were a cad.” Percy shrugged. “I don’t even know what that means.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s a dude who acts like a douchebag to women,” John said.

Aidan glared over at John. “I am not a cad!”

John held his hands up. “I didn’t say it. Mom did.”

Leave it to his sister the English professor to resort to name calling him something from the nineteenth century. He handed Percy one of the box’s from Earl and Virginia’s. “Perce, it’s complicated because—“”

“You’re a cad?” John asked.

Ignoring him, Aidan said, “I was stupid and did something that hurt Emma’s feelings pretty bad. It’s going to take her some time to forgive me and let me back into her heart.”

Percy shifted the box he was carrying to one hip. “You’re having a baby with Emma, so the responsible thing to do would be to marry her,” he said sensibly.

Aidan blinked a few times at Percy. “Did I hit my head harder than I thought, or did you actually just sound like a mature adult, rather than a kid?”

Percy shrugged. “Maybe. Dad always says I’m an old soul.”

Aidan laughed. “I think he called that one right.” He glanced over to John who wore an amused smirk. “Of course, anything you say has to sound light years above this one,” he said, jerking his thumb at John.

“Whatever,” he grumbled.

Aidan picked up a light bag and handed it to John. “What’s this?” he asked, peering inside.

Aidan quickly snatched it back. “Erm, that’s for Emma.”

“Doesn’t quite look like her size,” he mused with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“That’s because it’s for Noah, smart ass.” He motioned to the trunk. “Go on and bring those in. I’m going to go check on Emma.”

John grabbed a few more bags while Aidan and Percy started in the house. He left the boys in the kitchen and started down the hallway. The sound of Emma’s laugher warmed his heart. Then in a sing-song voice, he heard Georgie call, “Noah…Noah! Kick for me Noah!”