Sawyer appears behind me, reaching over to steal a piece of ham off his plate.
“Another baby?” Sophia calls out from the hall.
Lori’s cheeks flush with pink.
And then she nods.
Sophia’s squeal tops everyone’s as she pushes through to hug Lori.
I love how close they are, more like sisters.
Shit, if Sawyer and I got married, that’d make Sophia my sister in law.
Would she be this excited if I was pregnant?
Sawyer’s hand tightens on my hip subtly, although he doesn’t say anything.
I know he would be a good father.
Am I ready for that step?
It was never a question with Chris. We both knew neither one of us were prepared for that.
Yet here I am just a few months into being with Sawyer, and I’m already heavily weighing it as an option.
That has to mean something, right?
Or is it this full house of family that has me desperate to join?
Hazel leans over as Sawyer reaches in, patting his arm. “Grandbabies are the best thing in the world.” She tilts to look at him over his glasses. “Even when they’re grown.”
She tugs him over and plants a kiss on his temple.
“Grandma,” he protests, but smiles.
“Oh, I’m just excited there will be more to love!” Her rich laugh warms the room.
As we’re leaving with full bellies and sore cheeks from laughing most of the evening, Sawyer holds my door open so I can climb in.
“Pretty crazy, huh?” He smiles sheepishly while sliding behind the wheel. But he pulls my fingers up to kiss my knuckles. “Thanks for coming. I know my grandparents were dying to meet you.”
“Oh my gosh, they’re like Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Please tell me I’m not the only one who thinks that?”
He laughs, backing out of the parking lot. “You’re not the first, but don’t let them fool you. Grandpa knows everything that goes on at the ranch, and Grandma has some sort of spy system set up. Uncle Dixon told me once that she has a camera in every flower and a listening device in every bee.”
He pulls out onto the snowy road, then his headlights pass over a parked SUV across the road.
When we pull by, the brakelights flash and it takes off.
“Did you see that? That looked kind of like that rig Cade was driving.” His lower lip juts out as he checks his mirror. “Hmm, it’s going past the lane. Do you think that was him?”
I turn around to look behind us, but it’s taking the corner of the road and then disappears. “I don’t know.”
“Fuck,” he exhales. “I need to tell Dad.”
He digs into the pocket of his jacket and flips through his contacts.
I can hear it ringing through the tiny speaker. Then the voice mail kicks on.
