“After Mandy died, I thought life was over. Then blow after blow came and I figured it really couldn’t get much worse.” He finished his drink in one long gulp and placed the glass on the nearest coffee table. “And then this young woman blows into my life and gives me a weekend to remember. Next thing I know, I’m seeing her again in Miami and I can’t stay away.”

He saw his brother’s grin and ignored it, not wanting to deal with sibling teasing and shit right now. Being smart, Sebastian seemed to sense Ethan’s need to be serious and talk this through.

“I want her but I feel protective of her at the same time. She’s strong despite being dealt a shitty hand in life and I don’t mean just her asshole father.”

Sebastian, remaining silent, raised an eyebrow.

“Childhood leukemia. She didn’t even think she could get pregnant. And then she passed out on me and my heart just about fell to my feet. After I got over the fact that this wasn’t an overdose like Mandy, all I wanted to do was bundle her up and keep her safe, but she was barely talking to me at this point. Next thing I know, Ian’s taking a swing at me for knocking up his sister.”

Wincing, Sebastian asked, “Did you hit him back?”

Ethan chuckled. “Hell no. If he’d gotten Sierra pregnant, I’d have belted him, too. I gave him one shot. Then he threw me out.”

“And you just left her?” Sebastian’s mouth opened wide, his jaw hanging in shock.

“Not exactly.” Ethan shrugged. “We talked but I didn’t tell her I was leaving. One of her sisters saw me go and asked what my plans were, so I’m sure Sienna knows.”

With a groan, Sebastian sat back down on the sofa and kicked his feet up on the table. “Man, you know how to get in deep. So what’s next? I know you’re not blowing this deal, so once you lay out the situation for Ian, what are you doing about the baby? Is there a wedding in the future?”

For all the times Ethan had been the parent to his siblings, he’d never been on the receiving end quite like this.

He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the disappointment in Sebastian’s gaze when he told him the rest. “Sienna said she didn’t expect anything from me.” And that had hurt badly.

“Okay then. Child support only it is.”

“Fuck no!” Ethan said, offended his brother would think that little of him. “I’m not abandoning the baby or the mother of my child.”

“Well, is that all she is to you? You said she makes you feel, but what do you want from her?”

Ethan pulled at his hair before turning on his brother. “Fuck you, Dr. Freud. Are you finished pounding me with questions?”

“Just trying to get you to see all the angles,” his brother said too helpfully.

If Ethan wasn’t mistaken, Sebastian was enjoying Ethan’s unraveling. He forced himself to look deep inside himself and think about the fair question.