Theo let out a laugh that sounded like pure happiness, and my own chest went tight in the best way. Because there it was.
Real. Blue. Happening.
And for a second, Charlotte just stared at the outfit in awe,like it had finally clicked that this baby wasn’t just a word we’d been saying. It was a real human. A future. A little brother.
Theo crouched down in front of her, grinning. “What do you think, bug?”
“It’s okay.” Charlotte swallowed and nodded fast. “It’s okay it’s a boy.”
Theo’s gaze flicked up to mine for half a second, and I knew he heard it, too. The tiny edge of disappointment she was trying to be brave about.
Because she’d been talking for months about having a sister.
A sister she wanted to name Juicy.
Which… yeah. Thank goodness five-year-olds didn’t get naming rights.
I kept the phone up, recording, but my heart went soft.
Charlotte stared at the blue outfit again, like she was negotiating with the universe.
Then she perked up. “Can we name him Stinky Pete?”
Theo’s laugh burst out first, loud and helpless.
I covered my mouth, but it didn’t help. I was already laughing, too, tears gathering in my eyes from the combination of hormones and how ridiculous she was.
“You really think your brother should be named Stinky Pete?” Theo put a hand over his heart.
“Yes.” Charlotte nodded seriously. “That’s his name. Myfavoritename.”
Theo looked at me, eyes crinkled, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
Absolutely not.
But also, this kid was going to keep us entertained for the rest of our lives.
I leaned closer to Charlotte and brushed a kiss into her hair. “We’ll consider it.”
MILES
July Fourth
I leanedmy hip against the bar and watched the bartender work like my drink was going to solve all my problems.
Spoiler: it was not.
The yacht pulsed with music and ocean air, the sun still high enough to turn the water into a sheet of glitter. People laughed. Glasses clinked. Couples paired off like it was the only thing to do out here.
And then there was Theo and Nora.
Standing three feet from me like a walking romance movie.
Theo had his arm around Nora’s waist, and she was tucked into his side like the future movie about them would be titled,How to Be Insufferably Happy in Public.
I took the beer the bartender slid my way and lifted it in a toast I didn’t mean.
“So,” I said, stepping closer to the happy couple, because if I had to witness this, I was at least going to heckle them a little. “You two have been quite cozy all weekend.”