“Ohh, that’s not saying much,” I tease, and he pinches my butt as I turn around and continue to the door.
The front door flies open and Garrett steps out just as I step up.
“Whoah! Hey, bout time you guys showed up. I have to find the missing bunny.”
“Oh no, not bunny!” My eyes go wide, knowing this is Charlie’sfavoritebunny. I mentally high-five myself, branding myself ‘best auntie’ for picking it out, then make another note to order a backup. Garrett runs off to the truck in panic-mode over a stuffed animal.
“Hey, guys!” I holler as I open the door and see Jane bouncing a teary-eyed Charlotte, who’s watching the door like daddy better deliver the goods. A sad little toothy smile busts wide when spots me, and her little fingers reach for me, graspingopen and shut. “There’s my girl! Come see me!” I reach and snag the leaning baby.
“Hey, girl. I was starting to wonder if you guys forgot…”
“Nope, between a burnt side dish and a detour, we got held up.”
Jane eyes me up and down. Her gaze settles on my lips, and she smirks.
“Detour?” She huffs sarcastically and links her arm through mine to go see the gals. We’re stopped when the guys walk in the front door, and Charlotte’s eyes look Garrett over. She squeals when bunny makes an appearance from behind his back.
“Here’s bunny, princess,” he coos, pressing a kiss against her mushy, play doh cheek.
“Mark, did you have to make my girl late?” She cocks her head his way, and he gives her the Mark special, ‘I don’t give a fuck’ smile.
“I burnt the side dish.” He attempts at civility, and an appropriate answer, just for me. Jane cocks her head further, not taking the bullshit answer. “I was frustrated, and she came into the kitchen with my favorite shirt on and those fucking red lips, Jane. What is a man supposed to do?” Jane barks out a laugh and covers Charlie’s ears as she leads me away, while Garrett shakes his head and claps him on the shoulder.
“Girl…”
“Oh, Mark…”
“He tried to keep it PG.”
“Yeah, I’ll give him that.”
“Brynleigh, Mark burnt his dish! We’re down a side!” Jane barks as she waltzes to the kitchen for more wine, raising an empty glass my way. I freeze by the staircase, but it’s too late. Jane caught it. Her grin stretches wide, and she squeals, “Nofreaking way!!!!” I put a finger to my lips to shush her and look at Mark, who’s frowning at me.
“What are you two fussing about?”
Our friends come filtering into the room, Holly’s little bump starting to make a show as Jaxon leads her in with a hand on the small of her back. Brynleigh and Trystan come in beaming. Sydney and Colin lay the twins down in the pack and play before making their way in to see what’s going on.
“You guys, we have something we’d like to talk about,” Trystan says with a soft smile, and Jane squeals again.
“Honey, what are you squealing about?” Garrett walks into the room and sees his wife holding the bottle of wine with a death grip, maniacal smile plastered on her face. To anyone else, it’d be a smidge unsettling. I look over at Brynleigh, and her eyes are shining so bright, I instantly know, and mine well with tears of joy.
“We have two friends who have some tea. Ineedto hear it now.”
“Tea, oooh, what tea?” Mark teases, grabbing a beer and popping the top as I take a deep breath. Oh, my poor, poor Mark and his obliviousness…
“Like you don’t know,” Jane shoots his way, and Mark’s face goes blank, like pieces of the puzzle are clicking and turning the what-the-fuck-is-this piece. Jane looks my way, and I give an imperceptible shake of my head.
Brynleigh jumps in to save the moment for a minute.
“I’m pregnant!”
Everyone cheers and hugs Brynleigh and Trystan, the obvious joy spreading throughout the group, but Jane’s gaze keeps finding me.
“Well, that makes sense! You were keeping her secret, weren’t you? I got a little nervous there,” Mark nudges me, taking a swig of his beer.
“We just found out a few hours ago. Brynleigh wanted it to be a surprise. Ava didn’t know,” Trystan notes, then Brynleigh tosses him a look that shuts him up right quick, and he looks over at me with big eyes. Mark lowers his beer and takes in the looks passing around the room, and my sheepish grin spreads as my shoulders inch up.
“Ava?” Mark looks back at me, a mix of emotions on his face that I can’t read. Sydney gasps, and Colin lets out a low rumble of a laugh. Jane starts bouncing on her toes in anticipation.