Stellan

Mom was gone for lunch at the Club with her friends as she had said. I was tired, so I decided to go back to Shay's room and take a nap. Then I'd do my homework and wait until Renn got home to tell Mom and Dad. At that moment, I knew I couldn't have a better brother... er... Shay couldn't have a better brother.

I yawned as I opened the door to my room and Stellan was laying on the bed with his arm behind his head, propping his head up.

"Well, it's about time you got here," he teased sitting up. "I was getting bored waiting for you."

I quickly closed the door. "Man! You just scared me to death!" I looked down the hallway and Vivi was walking by, her eyes wide as she hurried past. I quickly closed the door. "Great! Thanks a lot!" I stage-whispered. "Now everyone's going to think I'm nuts for sure!"

He raised an eyebrow. "And they were in doubt before?"

I huffed and threw a pillow at him, but it went straight through him, landing on the bed. It was a reminder that he was a specter of some sort. But it really didn't matter. Instead of asking about it, I sat in the chair at the desk. "So, I think that Jack is meant for her."

He nodded, tilting his head to the side. "Good observation. What makes you think that?"

I shrugged. "Because I can sense that Shay is attracted to him, and that he's attracted to her, too. Since this is his first teaching job, I have a feeling that he likes Shay, but doesn't want to blow his reference."

Stellan stood and moved closer to me, standing beside the desk. "So, what do you think he'll say when he finds out that Shay is pregnant with another man's child?"

I shrugged, leaning back on the chair. "I'm not sure, but I know that I owe it to her to at least try."

He nodded, giving me a kind smile. "You know, love comes around so seldom in one's lifetime. And if you don't act when the opportunity arises, then the moment passes, and it's gone. You never have another chance."

I nodded. "I'm beginning to see that."

Stellan bit his lower lip, considering. "Do you think that they can make a go of it?"

"Like... get married?"

"Yes... eventually. Either that or date and see where it goes." He scoffed. "I'm not talking about them getting married tomorrow."

"I know," I replied. "But she wouldn't want to play on his sympathies either. The last thing Shay would want is for him to marry her just because she's pregnant."

He sighed. "Well, I know Jack and if it was his, he wouldn't hesitate. But since the baby's not his—"

"You have no idea what he'll do," I finished. "Well, I think we just need to take it a step at a time. And first thing's first. I'm going to take a nap and then I'm going to tell her parents tonight."

Stellan's head snapped up. "Tonight?"

I nodded. "Yes. Her mother noticed that there was something off about her... that she was sick... and she made a doctor's appointment for her."

"For when?" Stellan asked, clearly intrigued.

"For tomorrow," I replied. "So, I want to tell them tonight. I don't want them to find out at the doctor's office tomorrow. Shay owes them that much."

Stellan nodded. "And Renn? When I saw him interacting with you last night, it appeared that he was being supportive."

"He is." I smiled, thinking of him. "In fact, he's the best big brother that I could ever have... er... that Shay could ever have."

One corner of Stellan's lips curled into a smile. "So, you like him, huh?"

I scoffed. "Not like that. I like him as a brother."

"Ooohhhhh!!!" he teased, a smile spreading across his face. "I thought that you were already falling in love on your first assignment."

I laughed. "Not hardly." I rose from my seat and headed toward the bed. "But Renn insisted that he be there when I told our parents tonight. In fact, Mom said I could talk to her when she came back from lunch, but Renn wanted me to wait until he got home from college so he could be there, too."

"Well, that was nice," Stellan said, climbing across the bed, headed toward the pillow.

I stood there with my hands on my hips, looking at him in disbelief. "And what, pray tell, are you doing?"

He shrugged, giving me a sexy grin as he settled in. "I'm here to protect you. Besides. I thought you may like some company."

I nodded as I lay down with my back to him and he wrapped his arm around me from behind, sharing his warmth. "May I ask you a question?"

He shrugged. "Sure." It sounded like he was starting to fall asleep.

"Why did the pillow go through you, but I can feel your arm around me?" I asked.

"Because I'm here and I'm not," he breathed. "I'm here for you and tuned in to you. So, you can feel me, and I can feel you. But when other things—like pillows, cars, rocks, books—pass right through me because I'm not turned in to them. Understand?"

"I think so." I smirked. "So, you're here for me and me alone?"

He raised up and opened one eye to look. "Yes and no. Yes, I'm here for you. But I'm also here for the people that you're helping."

I nodded, understanding.

He snuggled up next to me, spooning me. I could feel the contours of his body against mine and his warmth. It was as if he was right here with me, but strange that others couldn't see him.

"Stellan?"

"Umm?"

"Thanks."

He nodded, his head brushing against the back of mine. "Don't mention it. Now... get some sleep. You have a big evening planned."

"Stellan?"

"What?"

I let out a deep breath. "Will you be there, too?"

He snuggled closer from behind, tightening his hold around me. "Always."

I had a hundred more questions for him, but they would have to wait. For sleep found me a moment later, safe in Stellan's arms.