Ethan (Alluring Indulgence #5)(7)
Author: Nicole Edwards

Yes, Ethan was gay. Blake hadn’t been telling him anything he didn’t already know when he felt the need to rant at Ethan first thing in the morning. He accepted who he was. Had accepted it since he was young and confused, knowing full well he was different from his brothers, but not able to control his feelings.

Had it not been for the small town that he lived in, and the hell he’d already lived through, Ethan might’ve actually been able to live his life openly as a proud gay man. But in the rural town of Coyote Ridge, he didn’t have that luxury. Hell, he had never even come out and told his parents, although he knew they weren’t oblivious to what was going on around them. Ethan didn’t doubt for a second that they would support him whole-heartedly if he ever had the desire to open up to them, but he wasn’t willing to put them through it.

Living in a small town, his parents were a vital part of the community, and he had already experienced hell on Earth, the least of which were the hateful, bigoted comments he endured on nearly a weekly basis. As long as he had a say in the matter, he was not putting his family through it too.

People weren’t as open minded as they claimed to be. Fortunately, – or unfortunately, depending on how you looked at it – he’d learned his lesson early on. Knew exactly the sort of mistakes he wouldn’t make again. And, dumbass that he was, he had thought Blake understood that. Had actually believed they were on the same page.

Wrong.

Shit, they weren’t even in the same book.

“Walker family?” A sweet, yet authoritative voice called from behind him and there was a rustle of activity as most of the occupants in the waiting area all shuffled toward the nurse standing in the doorway with a huge smile on her face.

“The doctor is still in with baby and mom, but dad asked me to come out and tell you that everything is fine.”

His mother’s sob of joy had everyone turning to look at her. Instinct kicked in, and Ethan immediately moved to her side, putting his arm around her at the same time his dad did.

“When can we go in and see them?” Curtis asked gruffly, his booming voice the equivalent of yelling in a canyon, which meant everyone probably heard him for miles.

“Just as soon as we get them all settled. But, I suggest you go down to the nursery first. In a few minutes, we’ll take the baby in and get him all cleaned up.”

Him.

They had been told the baby was a boy, but hearing the nurse confirm sent a rush of excitement through Ethan. He had a nephew.

Another delighted sob-slash-chuckle from his mother and the group laughed, turning to congratulate each other as though they actually had something to do with the blessed event. Ethan grinned like a fool. He couldn’t help himself. Hearing that the baby was doing well, and they wouldn’t have to wait much longer to finally meet him, he felt something loosen inside of him. Don’t ask him why he’d been anxious lately, but he had.

He joined the chaotic excitement, returning the brotherly embrace from Zane, then Travis and Gage. But when Ethan came face to face with Beau, he froze. Turning, Ethan hugged Kylie and then moved out of the group as fast as his legs would carry him.

“What’d I miss?” Sawyer’s voice thundered from behind them as the group dispersed.

“Where are the twins?” Ethan asked. They should’ve been there for this.

“On the way. Brendon had to stop and get something,” Sawyer explained, a suspicious smirk on his face.

As though that was the cue, Ethan’s attention was snagged by a bushel of color coming in through the door to the waiting room. What the hell was that?

A round of laughter erupted as they all realized Braydon was coming through the door, hidden behind a wall of balloons as he tried to squeeze in through the doorway. More balloons than Ethan had ever seen in one place. Bright jewel tones – red and green and blue and yellow – hovered above Braydon’s head like a cloud.

“What the fu–” Travis muttered, the curse word cut off when Kylie placed her hand over his mouth.

“There is no way you’re gonna get all of those balloons in that little room,” Kylie informed them with a beaming smile as the twins made their way toward the middle of the waiting area where everyone was now milling about.

Braydon looked up at his collection, then back to Kylie, a grin forming. “No problem.”

Pulling off one of the strings, he handed a single green balloon to Kylie. When he went to hand one to Travis, the oldest of them all simply frowned at Braydon.

“No? None for you? Fine.” From there, Braydon started going from one person to another – even complete strangers – handing out balloons. There obviously weren’t enough people in the waiting room, but that didn’t seem to stop Braydon, he just made his way out into the hall. Ethan knew he’d have all of the balloons handed out in no time. The guy was crazy.