Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
“Barbeque chips are gross, wedding dress fittings are monumental experiences, and I love babies!”
Grandma full-out cackles this time. “Give up the ghost, girlie. You are a shit liar.”
I deflate, knowing she’s correct. I am a shit liar.
“I’m pregnant,” I confirm lowly. “Eleven weeks.”
The room erupts in cheers and I’m immersed in a mass of bodies, hugging and squealing.
Wolf and Mack join in, barking excitedly.
When they release me, Rowan has tears in her eyes. “I’m so happy for you!”
Something in her tone is off, and I’m not the only one who notices.
Jewls turns to her. “Okay, Hollywood, now it’s your turn.”
Rowan pales, her jaw dropping. “W-w-what?”
“We’ve been talking about Willow for a week and you didn’t think we’d notice the changes in you?”
“There are no changes!” She looks around and sinks back into the sofa. “This is all Ford’s fault!”
“Ummm, I’d normally agree, but it takes two,” Harley says gingerly.
“Yes, but I tried to reason with him. His new job, completing the house, my growing business—we needed to wait. But he disagreed, and he can be very persuasive.”
We all share a sigh of understanding. These guys aren’t just persuasive, they are unwavering.
“He threw out my birth control! Literally flushed it down the toilet the week before the wedding. He wanted a honeymoon baby. I knew the statistics of getting pregnant were slim, considering how long I’d been on the pill and it would take time to get it out of my system. Turns out, the joke’s on me. Apparently, we didn’t need a honeymoon. We didn’t even need a wedding.”
“Nothing stops the super sperm,” Jewls throws in matter-of-factly.
“Jewls!” I cry, glancing at my grandma.
“What? It’s the truth. Can you deny it?”
I shake my head. “No, birth control is no defense to these men.”
“I actually planned my pregnancy.” Harley preens proudly.
“Oh, please, you misjudged your due date by weeks. Were you off the pill?” Shalya asks.
Harley turns red. “No.”
“It was only a matter of time before your birth control failed.”
“Shayla, shut up.” Harley motions to Grandma.
“You girls think I’m an old hag? I know how babies are made,” Grandma chimes in, gleefully. “How far along are you?”
“Almost eight weeks,” Rowan answers sheepishly.
A loud pop pulls our attention to the kitchen. Mom holds up a bottle of champagne, Bex a bottle of sparkling juice. “Time to celebrate!” Mom pours.
Bex brings Rowan and me our glasses while the others rush to get the good stuff.
“Congrats to you both.”
“I’m sorry to steal your special day.” Rowan’s apology is completely unnecessary.
“Are you kidding? Thank you for taking the heat off of me.”
“We wanted to wait. Actually, I wanted to wait since it’s still early. But Ford is dying to share the news.”
“I can understand that.” We toast and she gives me a squeeze before going to the others.
Bex side-bumps me gently. “That went weirder than I expected.”
“You knew they were ambushing me?”
“Of course.”
“And you didn’t warn me?”
“Consider it payback for taking the exam without me.”
I’ve been waiting for her to exact her revenge. She may have completely understood my reasoning and was ecstatic about the baby, but she’s sneaky.
“How long are you holding that over my head?”
“Forever, unless…”
“Unless what?”
“How do you feel about the name Beck for a boy?”
I stare at her a beat and burst into giggles. What’s even more amusing is Beck Simms has a nice sound to it.
“You two want to stop fawning and get over here?”
Rowan and I share a conspiratorial look and both answer, “No.”
Max’s mouth splits in a wide grin and he leans back in his lounge chair, elevating his casted ankle on the stack of towels.
Rowan rambles on, explaining the serums she’s put together to help his scarring.
Ember brings him a fresh beer and grins at us, knowing our game.
“Thanks, Little Star.” He takes a slug as Robbie groans.
“You’re pushing it.”
“What, man, I’m injured.”
Without warning, I’m hefted off the ground and moved five feet back in Talon’s hold. Ford does the same with Rowan, setting off a round of laughter around us.
“Talon, I was making sure he’s comfortable.”
“He’s fine,” he grumbles, circling my waist.
“Are you seriously jealous of Max?”
“You haven’t left his side since he arrived.”
“He’s lucky to be alive!” I protest.
“Thanks to me. It wouldn’t be nice to kick his ass for flirting with my fiancée.”
I twist in his arms to see he’s totally serious. “You are shameless.”
His eyes light up and my stomach flips at the mesmerizing shade of blue piercing into me. “Please let our baby get your eyes.”
“I did my best.” He kisses me quickly, stroking his fingers across my abdomen.
My eyes dart to the side gate as it opens and a hoard of kids fly through, all diving directly into the pool.
Raven, Declan, Charlie, Blake, Presley, and Finn all follow, dragging large Hulken bags.
“What in the world did they bring?”
“Looks like they bought out the liquor store.”