“I don’t attend book club,” I remind him. “So it makes no difference to me where she goes.”
Bridger nods and watches Birdie flit around, talking to everyone.
“It has to fucking suck,” he says at last.
“What?” I might pretend I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I do.
And yeah, it fucking sucks.
“Having her here again.”
“It was a long time ago.”It feels like it was fucking yesterday.“What she does isn’t any of my business.”
“We’ve had takeout from her place a few times. Birdie loves it.”
“Good. I’m a fan of anything safe for our peanut.”
“Jules told me that she thinks she might have celiac, too, but she’s not sure. She started the restaurant because of her own sensitivities.”
Is she sick?I don’t remember her having stomach issues when we were younger.
“Sounds like it was the right thing for her to do then.”
“You know?—”
“Why are we talking about this?” I ask him. “I don’t want to discuss my ex any more than you want to talk about yours.”
“Point taken,” he says, holding up his hands in surrender. Dani walks over to us, and she looks a little tired as she kisses the top of the baby’s head.
“He’s getting heavy,” she says, and I stand before my brother can.
“I’ll take him.”
Dani carefully maneuvers the sleeping infant into my arms, then kisses my cheek.
“Thanks, Uncle Brooks.” She grins, then walks back to talk to the women.
The baby doesn’t even stir as I sit back down and get him comfy against my chest.
“You look good with a baby,” Bridger says. “You should have a few.”
“Sure. I’ll just go make that happen.”
He smirks. “There are ways.”
Shaking my head, I drag my fingertip down Bryce’s round cheek. The one person I could see myself having a family with is out of the question.
I would have had a dozen babies with her. That was one more thing I mourned after I lost her.
Bryce sighs and fists my T-shirt in his little hand.
“You guys are all having babies, and I get to love on them, spoil the shit out of them, and then give them back.” Bryce makes a little sound, and I rub my hand over his back to calm him. “How many more are you going to have?”
“I think this is enough,” Bridger says with a laugh. “Two’s plenty. But Billie and Harper are adding to the clan soon.”
“Me too,” Beck says as he and Blake join us. “Skyla’s pregnant.”
“Holy shit.” Bridger stands to hug Beckett, and I shake his hand.
