Jazz nodded.
Sophia wasn’t sure she was understanding her friend correctly. “You… But we… Why wasn’t I a part of this conversation?”
Jasmine’s look turned incredulous. “Because contrary to what you would like to believe, Sophia, you’re not an active participant in my sex life.”
Sophia waved that off. “That’s neither here nor there. As your sister-wife, I should have been a part of this decision.”
Jasmine held up the stick. “And what do you call this?”
“My best friend duties. Don’t change the subject. When did you and Jumper decide not to have kids?”
Jasmine handed her back the half-empty bottle of Gatorade. “Over the summer. Jumper’s worried that he won’t make a good father, and I have my career to think of. Besides,” she reached over to scratch Winnie’s ear, “I want more animals. I want to rescue senior dogs and unwanted cats. There’s an abandoned parrot at the shelter I’m trying to convince Jumper to let me take home.”
Sophia snorted. “Please, that man is one blowjob away from giving you the moon. Just go get the bird, then get on your knees, and you’ll be fine.”
Jasmine put a hand over her stomach. “I switched birth control just before the wedding. Do you think…? I mean, what if…?”
Realizing her friend was in real turmoil about this, Sophia put the drink down and then wrapped an arm around Jazz’s shoulders. “It’ll be fine. No matter what, it’ll be fine.” Plucking the plastic stick out of Jasmine’s hand, Sophia bopped her on the nose with it. “Now, pee, woman, pee!”
CHAPTER 4
PIRATE
Pirate and Jumper walked into Jumper and Jasmine’s half of the duplex—and both their mouths dropped open. The couch wascoveredin open pregnancy test boxes. There were at least twenty of them.
From where they stood in the living room, they could hear Sophia’s voice coming from the bedroom. “Woman, if you don’t piss right now, I will shove this thing up your urethra! Now, pee!”
Jazz’s voice, softer and a bit scratchy, came next. “I can’t pee! You’ve had me pee on a dozen of these things, Sophia! There’s no pee left in me!”
Jumper and Pirate shared a look that had become common place between the brothers since Jumper had gotten his head out of his ass and claimed Jasmine over a year ago. It was a look where they measured if they dared enter the room where their women were or if they slinked back out and pretended they were never there.
Unfortunately, the dogs made the decision before they could. Winnie, Kidd, and Enola came charging out of the bedroom, their tails wagging and barking loud enough to wake the dead. Aerial, released from her work harness, greeted them with vigor.They all sniffed her butt like they needed to confirm she was the same Aerial who had left them only two days ago.
Sophia’s head poked out of the bedroom next. “Uh oh. The guys are back.”
“What!?” That was a lot louder, coming from Jasmine, but she still sounded like she’d swallowed a frog. “You said you were going to clean all this up before—” A retching sound interrupted her sentence.
Jumper forced his way through the pack of dogs to the bedroom. Sophia smartly moved aside. Catching her eye, Pirate crooked a finger at her.
Smiling that sassy smile he loved so fucking much, Sophia sauntered over to him. “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. Plunder any booty while you were away?”
He snaked an arm around her back, his hand going automatically to one luscious ass cheek. “Saucy wench. You know your booty is the only one I’ll be plundering.”
Sophia’s smile widened, but whatever smartass comment she was about to make next was interrupted by Jumper’s demand of, “Sophia!”
“Uh oh.” She made a face. “Daddy sounds mad.”
Sophia had called Jumper a lot of things in the time since Jasmine and Jumper had gotten together, but ‘Daddy’ had never been one of them. His eyes went to the mass of pregnancy test boxes scattered all over the couch.
“Jazz is pregnant?” he asked. As far as he knew, Jumper and Jasmine had decided not to have kids. Which Pirate did not judge them for. Their married life was their own, and they had a right to choose if having kids was the responsible decision for them.
Sophia crinkled her nose, but once again, whatever answer she was about to give him was interrupted by: “SOPHIA!”
Reaching back, she tapped the hand he still had on her ass. “Hold that thought. I’ll be right back, matey.”
Pirate didn’t even bother to roll his eyes. The ring he’d placed on her finger meant that his future was full of never-ending pirate jokes, puns, and clichés. Like how she only allowed him to drink rum anymore or how his ringtone would forever be VeggieTale’sIt’s a Pirate’s Life for Me.
Sophia hurried into Jasmine and Jumper’s bedroom. Pirate was slower to follow, since the dogs all decided to chase after her.
