Chapter 24

Cole spent the first few seconds admiring the room. It was everything boys their age would want. It had beautiful furniture, was spacious, and very lovely. Cole didn't doubt Hailey had done well to make the twins happy and comfortable. She had been their sole provider since birth, and he suddenly felt jealous of not having played a part.

“Come to my bed, Enzo. So Daddy can read to us together,” Ollie said, as they had separate beds.

Cole picked a bedtime story and went to the double bed. He covered the twins with the duvet.

“Dad, what happened to your arm?” Enzo asked with concern, noticing it.

Staring at his arm, Cole shrugged, pulling down his cardigan sleeves. “It’s nothing.”

Enzo sat up, tears welling in his eyes. “Are you sick?”

“No, no, please don’t cry, buddy.”

Ollie also sat up. “Enzo falls sick sometimes, and when he does, Mommy and Aunt Debbie have to take him to the hospital. Enzo hates hospitals because of needles and drugs. He also hates it when someone close to him is sick. He knows about pain and doesn’t want anyone to feel it.”

Cole smiled, caressing Enzo’s cheek. “I’m fine, buddy. It’s just a bruise, and it’s healing.”

“Does it hurt?” Enzo asked, unconvinced.

Cole shook his head. “The doctor gave me medication, so I’m fine. I’m just waiting for the bruise to heal.”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about, okay?”

The little boys nodded.

“Will you live with us?” Ollie asked unexpectedly.

“Yes, Daddy. Audrey’s parents live together. We should, too,” Ollie continued.

Cole smiled. “I want that, too.”

“I’m going to talk to your mommy about it, okay?”

The boys nodded, smiling. They placed their heads on their pillows, and Cole began reading to them. They interrupted with many questions, which Cole happily answered. The little boys finally fell asleep after thirty minutes, when Cole started the third book.

He spent more than five minutes watching them sleep. He couldn’t believe he and Hailey had made such beautiful babies.

After what felt like forever, Cole stood, returned the books to the shelf, tucked the boys in, and kissed their foreheads. He watched them sleep for another minute before quietly leaving the room.

He found Hailey in the living room’s bar area, sipping from a glass. Cole approached her, hands in his pockets.

“Hi.”

“Take your leave!” she said, without looking at him.

Cole frowned. “What do you mean?”

Hailey placed her cup on the counter. “Take your leave!” she repeated, pointing towards the exit.

“Are you kidding me? Isn’t this the part where you tell me why you have two boys who look like me in this house, and I never knew about it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what the hell is going on!”

“Nothing is going on. Ollie and Enzo aren’t yours. Just leave and never come back into our lives.”

“I’ve had enough of your pranks, Hailey. God knows I’ve been patient. What the hell did you mean they aren’t mine?”

“And why do you care?” Hailey glared at him, standing.

“I just found out today I have two children, twin boys, four years old, and you dare ask why? I know I’ve been a jackass, but do you really have to treat me this way without any sympathy?”

“For fuck’s sake, kids look like random people when they’re little! Stop assuming they’re yours.”

Cole chuckled in disbelief. “I don’t know you to be a liar. Please don’t start now!”

“My head hurts. Just leave.”

“Why did they call me Daddy?”

“Oh, trust me, they’re pulling your leg. They won’t remember you when they wake up. That’s kids for you.”

“Then who is their father?” Cole asked, trying to hide his hurt.

“Why do you care?”

“Because I have a right to know.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Is it Tyler?” he asked, though almost certain Tyler wasn’t the father, as the twins didn’t resemble him.

“Why do you care?”

“I wanted children, so I opted for insemination. I carried them and birthed them. I cared for them as mother and father. Enzo and Ollie are mine alone. That’s the information you want. Can you please leave? It’s my bedtime.”

“I’m sorry you had to do everything alone, but I’m not leaving. You can’t keep fooling me, Hailey.”

“Oh, really?” she said, folding her arms.

“I did the calculations, and it makes sense.”

“What silly calculations?” She glared at him.

“The night we made love.”

“We made love?”

“Stop giving me that innocent look, Hailey, you know I’m telling the truth.”

“What truth?”

“We made love that night. I’m sure our babies were conceived that night.”

Hailey chuckled in disbelief. “I can’t tell what amuses me most—that I just told you the twins are MINE ALONE, or that you’re mentioning that night for the first time in our lives.”