“Apparently, baby hormones are a thing.”
“Oh, they are,” Skyla agrees. “Beck and I just found out that I’m expecting as well.”
“Oh my God, that’s so wonderful.” I take her hand and give it a squeeze. “Beckett is thebest, Skyla. I’m so happy for you.”
“Heisthe best,” she agrees. “And thank you.”
I loved all of the Blackwell siblings. Each one of them was like a brother or sister to me, and I still miss them. It helps that I get to see Billie here at the bookstore, but I rarely see the guys. That would be weird.
Beckett was always a little quiet and stoic. But he was a good listener.
And all of them are so dang handsome.
“So many new Blackwells and Gallaghers on the way,” Dani says with a smile.
A lot of the girls have left. Jackie couldn’t make it, but she dropped some goodies off beforehand. I’ll have to check in with her later to see if she’s feeling okay.
Just as I’m about to get up and head home, the door opens, and fourveryhandsome men walk in.
Three of them I recognize as Blackwell brothers.
And the fourth is Billie’s husband, Connor.
“I swear, you’re a very tall gang.” Ava shakes her head. “Why do you always crash book club?”
“Because we’re here to get our girls,” Blake tells her, then smiles at me. “Hey, Jules.”
“Hi, Blake.”
I clear my throat and breathe through my nose.
Do not cry.
I’m in a room with four out of the five Blackwell siblings, and that hasn’t happened in areallylong time.
Of course, there’s no sign of Brooks. There wouldn’t be. But I love every glimpse of him I get, even if it only makes me feel like shit and bruises my heart every single time.
Soon, with Harper gone with Blake, Ava loops her arm through mine as we walk outside.
“Is it weird that I want one of your salads right now?” She raises an eyebrow at me, practicallydaringme to say yes.
“Doesn’t seem weird to me,” I reply. “I have some in the grab-and-go cooler. Want to come in and have one?”
“Hell yes, I do,” she declares with a nod. We walk across the street, where I unlock the door for us. Locking back up once we’re inside, we move to the cooler and each of us grabs a salad, a fork, and we sit at a table by the front windows. “Mmm, this is so good.”
“I’m glad everyone likes them.” I take a bite and study Ava. “Are you from Silver Springs?”
“Born and raised,” she says with a nod. “I have a big family, like Billie. And, like her, I’m the only biological girl. Except I just have three brothers. And Harper. We adopted her when we were in grade school.”
“Officially adopted, or she just spent a lot of time at your house adopted?”
“Sort of in the middle?” She tips her head to the side. “Harper’s parents died, and my dad took her in. Raised her with us from then on, so she’s our sister.”
“I love that.”
“Me too,” Ava says. “Okay, enough small talk. Tell me why everyone walks on eggshells around you. And why this is your first book club.”
I blink at her in surprise. “You don’t know the story?”
