Mom was over the moon and kept asking when we were going to start a family.Neither Ari nor I were quite ready for another upheaval, so we’d agreed to wait a few years, unless life had other plans.I was hoping Rock would take one for the team and knock up some girl in Vail, but so far, that wasn’tthecase.
I turned down the driveway of the massive lake house that belonged to Con and Vanessa Leahy, which was lined with blue balloons.A Shelby Mustang turned down the driveway behind us, and I took pride in knowing we weren’t the last to arrive.I pulled the Fisker onto the edge of the cement, and we climbed out as Elleparked.
“If you say one word about me running that light—” Elle’s voice came through the window as she pushed openthedoor.
“I ain’t saying shit about shit, sweet thing.I’m smarterthanthat.”
“It’s only because I wanted to make sure we weren’t late.That wouldn’t be fair toValentina.”
“We’re here, and I’m damn sure she wouldn’t hold it against you even ifyouwere.”
“Crap!Thegift!”
Lord reached into the backseat of the car and retrieved a blue bag with tissue.“Like I’d forget that.”With his other hand, he grabbed what looked like a fifth of whiskey, much like the one inmyhand.
“Great minds,” I said, raising the bottle in Lord’sdirection.
“Smart man,” hereplied.
“Come on.We gotta get inside.I promised I’d help set up, and I totally lost track of time.She’s going tokillme.”
“I’m pretty sure she could stage a foreigninvasion,so...”
Elle shot Lord a look.“Don’t tell me my best friend doesn’tneedme.”
Wisely, he held back his answer, grabbed Elle’s hand, and followed Ari and me up to the house.We passed an Aston Martin, which meant the Titans were already there, and the BMW that Simon and Charlie Duchesne drove.Delilah and JP’s Vespas were parked next to Bishop’s woman’s ride, near the steps that led up to the raised lake house, which meant the entire crewwashere.
For a couples babyshower.
Elle must have been thinking along the same lines because she giggled as we climbed the stairs.“Ireallyhope Vanessa planned some ridiculous games.I would pay good money to have you guess what kind of baby food was in adiaper.”
Ariel’s eyes widened.“Oh God, is that what happens at baby showers?I googled, but everything sounded too ridiculous to be true.How could anyone think it would be a good idea to cut a piece of string to guess how big around Valentina is?I mean, what if your string is a foot too big?Howembarrassing.”
I wrapped an arm around Ari, wondering what exactly she’d gotten as a gift that fit in the envelope she carried.She’d been in charge of it, and I hadn’t asked questions.Knowing her, there was probably information to access a bitcoin account with the equivalent of college tuition or startup capitalinside.
“It’s a couples shower, so that means no dumb games.I made Con swear it on his life,” Lord said, and I hoped his answer eased Ari’sanxiety.
“It’s going to be all right, Red, Ipromise.”
We reached the top step, and the door flew open before she couldanswer.
“Good deal.Now we can get started,” Con said as he ushered us into the house.He looked like he’d stepped off the set ofVikingswith the shaggy hair and beard he wasgrowing.
Across the wide-open space, Vanessa was pouring Valentina a glass of what I assumed was non-alcoholicchampagne.
“That better be the fake shit,” Rix said as he stepped upbesideher.
She shot him a look.“You have no room to talk.This kid isn’t playing soccer with yourbladder.”
Rix’s expression softened as he lowered himself to his knees and put a hand on either side of her belly.“Come on little rock star, take it easy on your mama.She looks so damn beautiful, waiting for you to make your appearance.But when you kick her organs, she gets this little frown, and we know you don’t want to make your mama frown.”He pressed a kiss to his wife’s belly, and Valentina’s eyes turnedshiny.
I clutched Ari tighter against my side.She knew the whole story about Rix and Valentina.“Things worked out exactly the way they were meant to,” I said, my voice low as I looked overather.
“I might be biased, but I have toagree.”
There was no doubt inmymind.
Vanessa spun toward the door, looking like she might cry over the scene happening in front of her.Her expression turned into a vibrant smile, warding off thetears.