The barn on our property, which we’ve used in the past for events and gatherings my parents hosted, most recently my parent’s anniversary dinner earlier this year, is glowing. Fairy lights are draped across the rafters while sunlight streams through the open doors and windows, illuminating the space in a brilliant glow. Circular tables are covered in cream-colored linens and bouquets of yellow and white wildflowers with light blue ribbons, concurrent with the ‘We Can Bearly Wait’theme they’ve chosen.
Monroe and I decided we’ll wait until the baby’s arrival to find out the gender, but I know in her mind she’s leaning towards our Little Bear being a boy. She calls it a mother’s intuition, and although I like to give her shit about our baby being a little spitfire like her mama, I think deep down I’m also envisioning a little boy wrapped around his mama’s finger.
Nash, Monty and Theo hauled in a dozen hay bales for extra seating, while Camden and Beau finished setting up the bar of drinks and table of catered food from Dolly’s. Of course, the girls outdid themselves with the dessert table. Tiers of Bailey's famous cupcakes, sugar cookies shaped like baby bears, and a teddy bear cake so perfect it looks almost painful to have to eat it.
However, that’s not the most enchanting aspect of it all. There in the center of the room, standing beside the dessert table, laughing as Billie ties a ‘Mom-to-Be’ sash across her chest, and looking like the fucking breathtakingly beautiful goddess she is, is my woman. Monroe’s flushed cheeks are a beautiful contrast to her lightly tanned skin, dark hair spilling down her back in effortless waves, and one hand resting on the swell of her belly, cradling the light of her life.
My chest aches just looking at her, something heavy and warm settling inside me as I watch her with admiration. It’s unlike anything I've ever experienced. Being with Monroe, starting a family alongside her—it’s all perfect, and I can’t wait for the special surprise I have planned for tonight. Here, in front of our friends and family, this is going to be a perfect day.
“Yeah, well luckily you’re not my favorite brother either,” Brynn mocks, bringing me out of my thoughts and where those thoughts were about to lead.
I throw an arm around Brynn and kiss her forehead. I’ve never been close to my youngest sister. Primarily because there is a six-year age gap between us, but also because, unlike Bailey and me, who are pretty similar in personalities, Brynn is the complete opposite.
Brynn loves everyone, and everyone loves her. “You’ll always be my favorite girl, Brynn.” My words surprise her, shock clear in the way her body goes rigid, but it’s quickly erased as she wraps her arms around my middle.
“Love you too, Jasey Casey,” she jokes, just as Bailey appears with a wide grin.
“Okay!” Billie calls from the center of the room, clapping her hands, making the three of us look her way. “Game time, people. Everyone grab a seat for Baby Bingo!”
The women cheer, while the men groan and try to escape to the bar, but each one is pulled back in and sat at a table. Chairs scrape across the wooden floor as everyone shuffles to the tables, Monroe sliding into the seat between Bailey and Billie, while I wind up directly across from her between Nash and Cam.
Her eyes meet mine for half a second, a smile curving her lips just for me, and I almost forget there are at least twenty other people in the room with us. We spent little time together this morning since the girls whisked her away to get ready at Billie’s apartment. Our mornings together have become something I look forward to. Making her iced coffee, breakfast, and eating at the kitchen island together while we go over plans for the day. She’s been working hard to bring Raven on board and leave her in charge while she goes on leave, while I’ve asked Nash to take over my responsibilities at Stingers.
Billie hands out the cards and grins excitedly as she gives out directions for the game. “Each square is a question about our parents-to-be from when they were tiny little babes. When you think you know the answer, shout ‘Baby’. First to five in a row wins.”
“I already hate this,” Nash groans, which makes Bailey smack him on the arm.
“So you’re telling me you’re going to be this big of a grump at our baby shower?” His eyes go wide in surprise, a slight smirk creeping on his face as he leans into her. “Something you’re trying to tell me, Angel?”
Bailey’s face breaks into a grin, but she shakes her head, her cheeks flushing pink. “Not yet, but I wouldn't mind to keep trying.” She winks, and now it’s my turn to groan.
Nash’s glare cuts to me as he says, “Shut it, King. I have to sit here and celebrate you knocking up my sister, then you have to sit and listen to me talk about how much I want to do it to yours.”
“All right, boys, enough with the sex talk, and impregnating women…” Billie pauses, “said no one ever.” She laughs, brushing off her shoulder like she’s so funny. “First one,” she continues, bringing us back to the game. “Who walked first, Monroe or Jase?”
“Baby!” Monty bellows immediately, grinning like a fool. “Jase. Has to be. Guy’s been sprinting away from commitment since birth.”
The table erupts in laughter, and even Monroe can’t help but bite her lip, trying not to. “If anyone’s running from commitment, it’s you, Bishop,” I jab back at the eldest, still single, Bishop brother, who hasn’t had a woman on his arm since college. The few he has conquered over the last decade have all understood his one and done rule.
“Wrong,” Billie says, with an eye roll when she realizes we're not paying attention to her game. “It was Monroe. Ten months old and running before she could talk.”
“You should have known that, Monty,” Theo jokes lightheartedly. “You’re probably the only one who remembers, old man.”
Billie flips the next card. “Who was the pickier eater?”
“Baby!” Billie shouts. “Monroe, without a doubt. She still only survives off Caesar salad, fries and diet coke, and still makes these weird faces at broccoli.”
I grin across the table. “Really? Broccoli?”
“It smells horrible,” she mutters in disgust, and everyone roars again.
The game continues with laughter and teasing until a winner is crowned, Bailey of course, who, to no surprise, knows her best friend more than her own brothers do. The soft beat of music plays from the old speakers above, and for a moment, it feels like the entire world has narrowed down to just us. I look around the room and see my friends, who’ve become family, and a few other acquaintances Monroe invited, and catch her watching me. I can tell she’s thinking the same thing.
However, what I don’t expect to see lingering just outside the open barn doors, like a snake dropped into a field of wildflowers, is the last person either of us would ever want here. My blood runs cold as Indigo Harper watches me with a pleased expression from right outside the barn doors.
My eyes flick to Monroe to see if she’s distracted, as I slip away before anyone sees her, moving fast down the side path leading outside. Indigo turns and starts walking away when she sees me follow her.
“Indigo,” I call out once I’m outside and not in earshot of anyone, but she doesn’t stop. Instead, she quickens her pace. “Indigo, stop,” I shout, reaching for her, and wrapping my fingers tightly around her wrist before forcing her to turn my way.
