Adjusting her positioning on the couch and plucking at the front of her shirt, she nods. “You do, too.”
For the first time in my life, not only do I agree with her about the sentiment, it feels like I’ve found it. Though only a month has passed since Blair and Denny’s wedding night, I can confidently say I’ve never felt this way about someone.
“Colt’s been the best thing to happen to me…and to Jonas. I wish I’d met him years sooner. He treats Jonas like his own son, which makes me incredibly happy…but also, kind of sad, ya know? Like why couldn’t Alex put in half as much effort?”
“Have you talked to Alex recently?”
“Unfortunately.” I roll my eyes. “I mean…he’s putting in more effort than ever before. I’d probably be pretty damn impressed if it weren’t for Colt doing so much more for a kid who isn’t biologically his. But, yeah, Alex has been picking Jonas up from therapy every Thursday.”
She half-laughs. “You’re right. Six months ago you’d besucking that man’s dick just because he drove his kid home from therapy once a week.”
Ew. She’s right and I fucking hate that.
I make a gagging face. “Please don’t remind me of how low my standards were.”
“But now you have Colt, so it wasn’t all for nothing. If Alex was involved, then Jonas wouldn’t have gone to the ranch, and you might never have met.” She fidgets with her shirt again. “Maybe some things happen for a reason.”
Something about being in love has melted my sister’s logic-based brain.
“I imagine we still would’ve met…we were both going to be at your wedding regardless.”
“Okay, valid. But you probably wouldn’t have even talked.”
She’s not wrong. Upon first glance, I was convinced he wasn’t my type, and it wasn’t until he wormed his way into my life that I realized how incredible he is. So I nod in agreement, reaching for the bowl of chips to find she’s devoured almost the entire thing.
“Speaking of everything happening for a reason, I have something I want to talk to you about. And I don’t really know how…”
“You don’t know how? Just say it. I’m your sister so whatever—”
“I’m pregnant.” She winces like she’s expecting me to hit her or scream or react in some negative way.
Tears well in my eyes, but they aren’t out of anger. Sure, a tinge of momentary jealousy floods my nervous system, but it’s quickly replaced with so much fucking love, my bones ache. “Blair, oh my God. You are? Since when?”
“I only took the test yesterday, so I’m like…barelypregnant. I haven’t even told Cass yet. I wanted—needed—to talk to you first.”
“Are we excited about this?” I search her face for a hint about how to react.
“So excited.” She pats her fingertips at the wetness pooling under her eyes. “So fucking excited, Whit.”
“Now I’m extra thankful you and Denny moved in down the street. Whenever I have to deal with Jonas’s attitude, I’m coming over for baby snuggles.”
“So you’ll be over every day.” She laughs through her tears. “Noted.”
I crawl across the couch, wrapping my arms around her as tears stream down both of our faces. For a long time—through at least four movie trailers—we stay that way without either uttering a word. When I finally sit back up, she blinks away the last of her tears. Her cheeks are flushed, eyelashes soaked, and despite all the happiness bubbling right under the surface, there’s a tinge of trepidation in her smile.
“You can be happy about this. I’m happy for you.I’m okay.” I sniff. “I might’ve had a negative reaction to finding out about Alex having another kid, but I’m so fucking excited to snuggle my future niece or nephew. And more than that, you and Denny deserve this.
“Being a mom is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Sure, sometimes it’s also absolute dogshit, and you can vent to me when you have a preteen who loves to point out all the things you’re doing wrong. But it’s all worth it, B. The amount of love you’re about to feel for this tiny human is unlike anything else.”
“I was a little nervous to tell you, but—”
My heart sinks. “I’m sorry. You should’ve been able to barge in the door waving a pregnancy test in my face and jumping for joy. Let’s try again.”
I stand, ushering her toward the front door, even as she’s laughing and arguing that it’s too cold to go outside with no shoes or sweater on. I push her through and shut it in her face.
And when she steps back inside less than thirty secondslater, waving an invisible pregnancy test in the air, we laugh and we scream and we cry a whole lot more.
• • •
