Lauren: Can we turn down the overprotective big brother thing? It's weird and creepy and not necessary.
Will: Not your call to make, Lo.
Andy: I tried to tell you that they were hanging out at Sam and Tiel's wedding, but nobody wanted to listen to me.
Tiel: I listened to you, and I agreed.
Lauren: Me too.
Patrick: I don't remember any of that.
Matt: No one told me a fucking thing!
Sam: Does Shannon know about this? Did youtalkto Shannon?
Lauren: Oh my God, she's already seen Froggie! Damn it, Erin, I was on your side.Iwas supposed to get the first baby snuggles!
Sam: Youdidtalk to Shannon. It's interesting how the building isn't on fire.
Nick: Shut the fuck up, Sam.
Matt: Does no one notice that he's still touching her? Is anyone else really fucking confused right now?
Riley: Isn't this fun?
"That's enough." Will wedged between Matt and Nick, and dropped his hands on their shoulders with a meaningful squeeze while everyone else continued discussing us. "You've gotten that out of your systems, and now you're done," he said. "No one is doing a goddamn thing to disturb my wife or baby today, especially not you two." He turned his gaze to Matt. "I believe you know that I'd seize any opportunity to drop you. Don't give me one."
"We're not talking about any of this right now," Lauren said, yanking Matt away. "A baby was born, and we're not yelling and fighting this morning." She turned to me, but kept her palm flat on Matt's chest as if he couldn't manage without the physical reminder to stay put. "You're coming to Thanksgiving, right? What am I saying? Of course you're coming, you're here."
She looked to me for confirmation, and I found myself nodding. "Yeah, okay."
Matt edged forward and pointed at me and Nick. "Both of you? Together? Both of you will be there, together? Because this is a thing that's happening, even though no one told me?"
"Look, Walsh," Nick started, holding out his hand toward Matt. "We were waiting to tell you until Erin could get back here, and we could talk to you in person. Together."
Lauren positively beamed at this while the rest of my family murmured and chattered away. They'd be talking up these five minutes for the next month, if not longer.
"This wasn't how we wanted to tell you, Matt," I said. "But—yeah. We'll be coming together."
"Soon, I hope," Nick said under his breath.
Matt stared at us for a long moment, his expression chilly. "I don't know what I think—"
"You think this is fantastic," Lauren interrupted. "You're happy for them both, and you're not going to say anything that you'll regret later because he's your best friend and she's your sister. You're happy for them, Matthew, and no one is required to justify their decisions to you." She delivered several sharp pats to his chest. "Now that we've handled this development, someone needs to bring me to that baby."
Nick shifted, pressing his lips against my temple while kneading my shoulders. "When I go home with you for the holiday," he started, "who am I, darlin'?"
"You're my husband," I said, rubbing my eyes.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Maybe," I said around a yawn. I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept. Even if it was yesterday, I felt like I'd be out for days if I closed my eyes. "You have to get your shit together and stop hating me for doing things at my own pace."
"Can I buy you breakfast and promise that I don't now, nor have I ever hated you?" he asked. "There's a place near my apartment that serves an assortment of breakfast breads. Cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, banana bread, morning glory muffins, croissants, scones. All in a basket with butter and jam. Espresso, too."
"Yes," I said resolutely. "You could be trying to sell me on France's revanchist foreign policy toward Germany following the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine as the primary driver of Europe's polarization in the years leading up to the First World War, and I would still listen if that basket was involved."
Chapter Thirty-Three
