They run off out the door, Mack following them with a single excited bark.
“Girls, careful! If the ball goes in the water, come tell us,” Bennett calls, then he and Delaney enter. Bennett’s arm is around her.
I glance at Romy because what must it be like for her in this family where everyone is coupled up, and she’s not? And now she’s pregnant.
“Oh, it’s nice of you to join us,” Lottie says.
Bennett puts out his hand. “Hey, Zander.” Then he moves to the next person, saying all his hellos.
Darla calls, “Okay, dinner’s ready. Let’s go. It’s lasagna.”
Romy grins. “Oh, you’re gonna love it, Zander.”
We file into the dining room. Bennett goes to get the girls, but Romy asks him to wait a second.
Shit. This is it. She’s gonna do it now.
I can’t breathe under the weight of the silence.
Romy stands behind what I assume is her chair. “I’m just going to make the announcement now because I want to really enjoy—” Her voice wobbles, and she turns to me.
I step closer, as if we’re a united front even if my heart is lodged in my throat.
Her voice steadies as she stands tall. “I’m pregnant. And Zander is the father.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Zander
My back is as stiff as a damn board as I wait for their inquisition. Every set of eyes drills into Romy and me.
Her dad turns toward her mom. “You knew about this?” She nods. “Thought so.”
His chair scrapes along the floor as he stands, coming around the table without a glance in anyone’s direction. I mutter something under my breath, bracing for impact. He’s going to punch me, and I’m going to let him. I deserve it. I got his baby girl pregnant.
As he reaches Romy, my muscles tense, preparing for the impact, but he embraces her in a tight hug.
“Congratulations. Another baby. How exciting.”
His eyes lock on mine over his daughter’s shoulder. This is it—the moment I’ve seen a hundred times on TV. The whole “don’t mess with my daughter, you break her heart, I break your jaw” speech.
Instead, he sticks his hand out, gives me a once-over, and says, “Congratulations, Zander.” With our hands entwined, he pulls me forward into a one-armed hug. My body relaxes just as he whispers, “We’ll talk later.”
My neck prickles. Maybe Brad isn’t as laid-back as his daughter thinks.
When Brad is done, the rest of the family comes out of their stupor, rounding the table to congratulate us. Lottie’s up out of her chair, playing surprised even though she already knew.
“Oh, Lottie, relax,” Romy teases. “Everybody probably figures you already knew.”
“What do you mean she already knew?” Bennett asks, mid hug with Romy. He looks around the room. Darla’s sheepish grin gives away that Lottie wasn’t the only one in the know. “Everyone knew already?”
“I am her mother,” Darla says.
“I’m her father,” Brad adds and hugs his wife into his side, kissing her temple.
They really are happy about the pregnancy.
“No, not everybody knew,” Romy says. “I just blurted it out to Lottie when I was spiraling, and Mom found the test. We didn’t leave you out on purpose.”
