My muscles ached and creaked as I stretched in the bed. Surprisingly, my leg didn't hurt as much as it usually did. I felt in the bed next to me for the most gorgeous brunette I've ever known. When I didn't feel Karma next to me, I sat up in the bed. I lifted my blanket. Yep, naked. I looked around the room. Her dress was still on the floor. Her purse was on my desk. Okay...last night definitely happened and I wasn't dreaming. She must be in the kitchen. 

Fuck. If she was in the kitchen, then she was probably talking to Lanie. If she was talking to Lanie...

"Goddammit." 

Lanie had to know that me and Karma slept together last night. She didn't even need to see Karma sneak in my room to know that. My little sister just had...ways. She was too fucking psychic for her own good. 

I had to admit, finding Karma in my room was definitely unexpected. I had never had birthday sex before with anyone. It was the best sex I've ever had. Mind-blowing. The most important part was the fact that it was amazing because it was Karma. She really was amazing. Ayden was right. I needed to figure out a way to be with her. I missed her every day since I made the mistake of leaving her. This was the first time since that happened that I wish I didn't listen to her mother. 

We would have been together this whole time—I knew that for a fact. We would have probably been married by now. But I fucked all that up. I needed to fix it. I needed to talk to Karma and try to see if there was a way we could be together. But what about her parents? I couldn't hide the truth from her. But I couldn't tell her that. Especially with her father's health being the way it is. 

Ugh, this was so confusing. I got up from the bed and did my usual morning routine. Once I slipped on some running pants, I opened my door and made my way to the kitchen. I grew even more confused when I walked into the empty space. Where the hell was Karma? Maybe she was in Lanie's room and they were talking. I debated whether or not I should go check. If they were talking, I would get yelled at from interrupting. From Lanie. 

Just as I made up my mind and started walking to her room, Lanie rounded the corner into the kitchen. She was holding little Nate and smiled when she saw me. 

"Hey!" She glanced around the kitchen. "Where did Karma go?"

"I was going to ask you that." 

Lanie shrugged. "She was just here. Someone knocked at the front door and she went to answer it for me because I had to get the baby." 

I took two steps in the direction of the front door when I nearly ran into...fucking motherfucker!

"Jules." 

She walked into the kitchen with a smile. Like nothing ever happened. She was also very pregnant. "Hey, Nate." She glared at Lanie, but didn't say anything to her before looking back at me. "I've missed you so much." 

I stepped back as she came forward and held my hands up. "What the hell are you doing here? And where is Karma?" 

Jules did not like me mentioning Karma's name. "The brunette who answered the door in your boxers and t-shirt? You latest conquest? She didn't like it when I told her I was carrying your baby, so she left." 

Holy fuck. What the hell is going on right now? Karma left? And she thought this was...

"That's not my kid, Jules. I haven't slept with you in almost a year." 

"Actually," she corrected me, "the last time we slept together was almost nine months ago. The last time you were here on leave. For Lanie's birthday." She rubbed her hand over her belly. "This is your baby." 

"She's lying," Lanie said with a sneer. "That's what she does. She's a fucking liar!" 

Jules took a step towards Lanie and I got between them. Jules peered around me, attempting to continue yelling at my sister. "You need to mind your own fucking business! Why don't you take care of your kid, and let me worry about mine. And Nate's." 

Lanie's expression and tone of voice mirrored my own. "She is lying, Nate. It's not yours. It's not fucking possible." 

"What the hell is going on out here?" Ayden asked as he came in. His hair was tousled, clearly he had been woken up by the commotion. He pointed at Jules. "What the fuck is she doing here?" 

I never took my eyes off of Jules. "She's trying to say that she's carrying my kid." 

"No fucking way," Ayden shot back. 

I glanced at Ayden briefly. "She said Karma left. I need to get to her. I need to talk to her." 

"Why are you chasing after that slut when you need to be helping me with our kid?" Jules' voice was laced with bitter resentment. "You need to step up and help me." 

I reached for my cell phone. "Fine," I said calmly. "Right now, I need to take to talk to Karma. You need to leave. You aren't welcome here, Jules. You know what the restraining order said. I'll meet you later and we can discuss this whole pregnancy thing." 

Jules eyed me skeptically. "How do I know that your telling the truth?"

"I'm telling the truth. But if you don't leave now," I held up my phone, "I'm calling the cops." 

"Fine. But you better meet me, Nate. Or things are going to get really ugly." Jules left and I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. 

"What. The. Fuck!" Lanie yelled. Little Nate started crying and she handed him to his father. "Sorry, baby." She came to stand next to me. "It can't be yours, Nate. There's no way. Besides, why would she wait so long to tell you? She's trying to pull a fast one on you. You can't let her get away with this." 

I placed my hands on her shoulders gently. I understood why Lanie was so worked up. Jules made numerous threats that she was going to ruin my life and Lanie's. They never got along when I used to date Jules, but it got worse when I was in the coma. Jules also caused Lanie to have a panic attack in the hospital, risking my nephew's life. There was no more Jules and I after that.

I started heading to my room and Lanie followed after me. "Where are you going? Nate, she just showed up here—clearly she's ignoring the restraining order. Now she's saying she's having your kid?" 

When I didn't answer her, I heard the sound of her stomping her foot to get my attention. "Nate, what the hell are you doing?" 

I opened my dresser drawers and tried to find something to wear. "I need to find Karma. If Jules told her she was carrying my kid, Karma is probably freaking out. She left without any of her stuff." 

"What is she comes back?" Lanie asked. 

I knew that Lanie wasn't talking about Karma. "She wont show up here again. She's not that stupid." 

"What if she does? I mean, she already ignored the restraining order once and dropped by."

"If she does, call the cops. Ayden is here, just in case. Once I talk to Karma, I'll deal with Jules." 

I grabbed some clothes and walked into my bathroom to change. When I came out, Lanie was still waiting by my bed. I hated to leave when she was this rattled. We never exprected to see Jules again. Ever. Now she just strolled into our home with this outrageous claim. A claim that I was pretty sure wasn't true. 

"Hey," I said as I cupped Lanie's cheek. "It's going to be okay. Like you said, she's trying to trick me. But I'm too smart for her. I'm going to get this taken care of, okay?" 

She nodded and let out a heavy breath. "Okay. Please call me with any updates, Nate." 

"I will," I promised. 

I grabbed my keys, wallet, and cell phone before I hurried out of the house and climbed into my car. As soon as I was on the way, I tried to call Karma. 

Straight to voicemail. Of course. "Hey, this is Karma. Leave a message and I'll call you back. Promise." 

I waited for the beep. "Karma, if you get this, please call me back. I'm on my way to your place right now. Look, baby, I know what you must be thinking right now, but it's not true. I haven't been with anyone but you in almost a year. Please. We need to talk about this. I—fuck. Look, we have a lot to talk about. Call me. Or I'll see you in a few minutes." 

I threw the phone in the passenger seat and merged onto the interstate. Everything was perfect this morning when I woke up. I got to spend my birthday with Karma. Then we had an amazing night together. She gave me my necklace back. I was actually planning on telling her I wanted to try to be together again. I wanted to be with her. I wanted to tell her...

Who am I kidding? I fucking loved her. I've been in love with her ever since the beginning. I made the mistake of losing her once. There was no way in hell I was doing it again. I may not be able to tell her the truth about what happened all those years ago, but we could figure out a way to move past it. 

We had to.