“Dudley.” She shoots her icy blue eyes to the left where I spot Marshall speaking with Cooper and Brody.
“We’ll talk later.” As much as I’m dying to know what she’s gleaned, I feel another one of those Braxton Hicks contractions coming on and it feels like my entire stomach is turning into concrete. A hard groan comes from me.
Emerson groans right back, “You’re really getting into the undead spirit. I’d better go. Your mother put Giselle and me in charge of finishing up the decorations across the street.”
“Since when do you take orders from my mother?” This new, far more affable version of the cranky Kragger makes me suspicious.
“Since it gives me the keys to that Sector’s kingdom. What?” She gives a mean look to the entire lot of us. “I like to snoop.”
She and Giselle take off with Emerson strutting her stuff while Giselle skips alongside her.
“I’m pretty sure my mother has Emerson living and breathing on Paragon for a reason, but spying on Marshall isn’t it. I’d better give him the heads-up.” Chloe killed Emerson ages ago.
“Not so fast, Messenger.” Bree snatches me by the elbow. “We have to talk about your bachelorette party. You’re wedding day is like a month and a half away. We need to shore up details.”
“I vote for a movie at Whitehorse,” I say. “I’ll be nursing the baby, so I can’t go far.”
Laken perks up. “I’ll bring Wesley Cooper and nurse right alongside you.”
Em grunts, “I’ll nurse Ella.”
Bree scoffs. “Is that where this is headed? I’m pretty sure when Logan and Ellis tossed around the idea of opening up a titty bar, that is not what they envisioned.” She scowls at Laken as if it were all her fault. “If you hadn’t gotten knocked up, Skyla would never have even thought about having another baby. Everyone knows it’s contagious.”
Laken’s mouth falls open. “What about her?” She looks to Em. “Why isn’t it her fault? They live together. She could have just as easily caught the baby bug from her.”
Bree squints and the dark glittery eye shadow she’s wearing glimmers in the light. “Because Emily doesn’t care to steal my best friend.” She looks my way. “Pick another venue, Skyla, or I’ll be left to my own devices. No houses, no movies. This is a serious girl party we’re going to have. This is you and Logan we’re talking about. That’s pretty special.” She looks to Emily and ticks her head toward the midway. “Come on, Em. Let’s see who can eat the most churros in a five-minute window.”
Em looks my way. “I’ve got a vision, Skyla. And I have to give it to you or I’m going to explode.”
Laken rolls her eyes. “There’s paper and crayons set out at the picnic tables. If you can get Charlie to share, have at it.”
Em shakes her head. “This can’t be contained on a single sheet of paper. This is bigger than that.”
Bree hops over her back and spanks Em’s bottom until she trots them over to the churro stand.
I shudder. “I would have accepted that churro challenge.”
“I guess I know what you and Logan will be doing later.” Her eyes cloud over. “I’m doing something later, too.”
“Spare me the dirty details of what Wes makes you do to him nightly. Hey? We should develop a code word if you should ever need to get out of this relationship—likepumpkin.”
“Or how aboutpaternity test?” Her brows lift an inch and my mouth falls open.
“Are you saying you’re open to doing one?”
“I’m saying I’ve done one,” she whispers as she does a quick sweep of the vicinity. “I didn’t want you mucking up the results. No offense, but you are full of hormones. And this way I figure I can get you off my back.”
My jaw unhinges. “So? What are the results?” Although judging by her demeanor, I guess I already know.
She shakes her head as if refuting the idea. “I find out tonight.”
“Tonight,” I say it breathless.
She nods just as the shrill cry of a baby lights up the air and we turn to find my mother desperately trying to coax little Wes Cooper back into submission.
We head on over, Laken slinking sexily and me waddling painfully, only to have Emma, Dr. Oliver, and Demetri offer their meager hellos.
Laken takes the baby and promptly pulls up her sweater covertly over his head.
