“Please stop,” he says, while I watch Mum throw back the rest of her wine.
Everyone grabs a plate and starts serving their dinner. If it weren’t for these stupid crutches, I’d be able to do Isabelle’s, but I’ve got another three weeks with them, at least. So I follow behind Isabelle as she asks me what I want, and she carries both of our plates to the dining room.
I sit in my normal spot at the end, with Grams at the head of the table beside me and Isabelle on my other side.
“How do I have two new sisters, and I’m still stuck sitting next to Mason?” Beth grumbles.
“What’s wrong with me?” There’s a kebab stick halfway to his mouth.
“You chew with your mouth open. Who wants to eat next to that?” Beth fires back.
Mason keeps his eyes narrowed at her as he tears a piece of chicken off his stick with gusto. He looks over at me, waving his stick around.
“Gage looks like the steak personally offended him, and he got a girlfriend. Besides, the right person won’t have a problem with how I eat.” The last part makes him smirk.
“Actually, he looks kind of nervous,” Beth adds, looking at me.
“Are you worried Isabelle might find me the more charming brother?”
Isabelle squeezes my thigh. “I think he’s just nervous to tell you all that I’m pregnant.”
Cutlery clatters against china as the table falls silent.
“What?” Mum’s eyes are shining as she whispers the word.
I put down my fork, placing my hand over Isabelle’s. Beth was right when she said Isabelle has bigger balls than me. I adore how brave and daring my girl is. “Izzy and I are going to be parents.”
A sob catches in Mum’s throat as she reaches over, pulling both me and Isabelle in for a hug. Her head sits between us, chin resting on my shoulder. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mum.” I rub her arm a few times before she pulls back with a beaming smile.
The rest of the family abandons their dinner, each taking their time to congratulate us. I can see Isabelle taking her time with Beth, but my sister is a blubbering mess. Every time Isabelle tries to meet her eyes, Beth just pulls her back in for a suffocating hug. I’m on the verge of telling my sister to be fucking careful of my babies, but Isabelle looks so happy, I try to let go of the gnawing feeling to protect her.
“So is Heart Assets running a dating service now or something?” Mason asks Caleb, pointing a finger between Lex and Isabelle. “I’d say your success rate is quite high.”
Beth laughs. “Perhaps we need some new recruits at Two Hearts.”
“Oh no,” Mason balks, “I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
Caleb wraps a hand around Lex’s stomach, pulling her into his chest and nuzzling her neck. “Maybe you should try it.”
We slowly make our way back to our seats, resuming dinner.
“Beth, dearest, put your phone away and eat,” Grams says.
“I would, but look how cute these Burberry booties are.” My sister is a puddle as she flips her phone around to Grams, showing a pair of tan checkered shoes.
Mason leans over her shoulder, chewing with his mouth open, and she turns the phone to him. “Man, those are tiny.”
“Babiesaretiny, Mason.”
He looks at me, his eyebrows spiked. “Gage’s arms are gonna crush that baby like a nut.”
Beth gasps, holding the phone to her chest. “Don’t talk about our baby like that!”
“Our?” I question.
She puts her phone down on the table, picking up her cutlery again. “Who do you think orchestrated all this? I kept inviting her to The Wayside.” She points at Isabelle with her fork. “I forced you to go to Thistle Theory when I knew Iz was volunteering there. And, I convinced her to be my plus one for the charity ball.”
