Evans chuckles. "The world doesn't revolve around modeling, brother."
"You're right, it revolves around me," Evans says, winking at him.
I laugh and then feel my face turn red when they both turn to look at me. "Sorry," I murmur sheepishly.
"So, are you with my brother now?" Henrik asks me with an amused look on his pretty face.
“Henrik" Evans warns.
I smile at Henrik. "Yes."
"I think I like you," Henrik says after a moment.
"Thank you?" I say, making him laugh.
Henrik and Evans continue to chat as Evans drives us to the restaurant. I’m relieved when we get there and don't see any cameras. Evans parks and Henrik gets out to open the door for me.
"Thank you," I say as I get out.
Evans walks around the car and smiles at Henrik, who opens his arms. "Come to papa."
I smile as I watch them give each other a bear hug, laughing when Henrik tries picking Evans up. "Enough," Evans says as he pushes him away, but he is smiling.
Evans reaches for my hand. "Come on," he says and then begins to walk.
The restaurant is very elegant and the server nods when he sees Evans, We follow him behind a curtain, separating us from the other tables. I realize they had reserved a whole space just for us. There is a long table in the middle, which is where the rest are sitting, the tables around us empty.
“Henrik!" Caroline screams, standing up and running to Henrik Evans and I make our way to the table where Grace Murphy and Mark are. They all stand up when they see us. I notice they didn't bring their kids. I only see Caroline's newborn sleeping in the baby carrier next to Mark.
Murphy hugs Evans and then smiles at me. “Ciara," he says with a nod.
I smile. "Hi."
"I knew this would happen!" Caroline says as she put her arms around me, taking me by surprise.
“Caroline," Evans says with a frown.
"What? I was gentle." Caroline says rolling her eyes. "He thinks you're made of glass or something," she tells me, shaking her head with a smile. I laugh, taking a seat when Evans pulls out the chair for me. We all sit down around the table. Murphy, Grace, Caroline and Mark are all on the same side of the table, facing Evans, Henrik and I. Henrik reaches for baby Kyle.
"You're going to wake him up." Caroline frowns as Henrik reaches for the baby and puts him in his arms.
"He loves me," Henrik says with a satisfied smile when the baby doesn't wake up. Caroline rolls her eyes at him.
The server approaches us, and we order our drinks. Mark and Henrik are in deep conversation and Mark is whispering something in Caroline's ear that makes her giggle.
After he's gone, Grace looks at me. "So, how are you Ciara? What are you? Seven months?"
I nodded. "Six and a half and good, thanks," I say as I take a sip of the cold water. I was starting to feel a little intimidated by Evan's family. For the first time since I met them, all of his siblings were in one room.
"Do you know the gender?" she asks.
"It's a boy," I say with a smile.
"Please don't name him Evans," Caroline says as she joins the conversation.
“Caroline."Mark shakes his head in teasing disapproval.
"Not because it's an ugly name." She shrugs. "I just don't like it when people name their kids after them."
"What's your problem?" Grace says as she laughs.
"Sorry?" Caroline asks.
Evans smiles as he reaches for his drink and takes a sip. "Thank you all for coming to meet us." Murphy and Henrik stop their conversation and everyone's eyes are suddenly on Evans. He seems a little tense, but I can tell he really is happy to see everyone. I imagine they don't get together very often.
"I just wanted to tell you all that I wasn't very honest the day you all met Ciara.". He looks down at me with his mesmerizing blue eyes. "Yes, I originally hired her as my surrogate." He glances around the table. "But the baby wasn't conceived through artificial insemination. It was conceived naturally."
I lower my eyes, feeling super embarrassed even though I knew Evans was going to say this. Sure, they aren’t strangers, but that doesn’t make it any less embarrassing. Now they all know Evans and I had sex.
"And I love her," Evans continues. That makes me look up and smile at him. "I would love it if you all accepted that," he finishes.
"Yeah, I already knew this was going to happen." Caroline breaks the silence, making us laugh. "And I think that everyone will agree when I say that anyone that makes Evans happy is welcome to the family."
Everyone nods in agreement.
I smile. "Thank you, everyone." I say, looking at them. "For not judging me, at least not out loud." I laugh nervously.
Murphy chuckles. "Our family is not perfect, none of us are, Ciara, You fit right in."
"Thanks."
"Are you all ready to order?"
We all look up at the server, laughing. I can feel the tension evaporate as we all begin to order. I'm relieved when the server leaves and they change the subject. That was it. It is over. They all know the truth now and Evans and I can be happy.
"Are you okay?"
I look up from my food and meet Evan's gaze. "Yes." I whisper back.
"Okay." He puts his arm behind me, resting it on the top of the chair as he goes back to his conversation with Mark and Henrik.
I look around the table. Everyone is chatting and laughing and joking around.
Murphy was right. None of us are perfect, but I knew this family was special...and now I’m part of it.