Andrea was a different story.
Geared for battle, Holly picked up the bottle of sparkling water she’d abandoned to go love on Ethan. “I didn’t realize football was your thing.”
“It’s not.” Andrea slid a wry, pointed look at Scott, and here was another contrast. Caitlin often fixed Tick with a look like that, full of affection, and Andrea’s was just . . . condescending. “But if I want to see him tonight, apparently that involves football and this gathering.”
This gathering.Huh. Going to the dentist for a root canal sounded more palatable.
Next to Holly, tension moved through Lorraine’s body like a pre-earthquake tremor. Oh, help them, Lord, if they both disliked her. Holly needed Lorraine to keep her in check.
The back door opening saved them, Del ushering Barb in ahead of him, phone pressed to his ear, a rare gleeful grin splitting his face. “Wait, what?”
He listened, biting his bottom lip to keep back a laugh that gleamed in his Calvert-dark eyes. Setting a slow-cooker crock on the counter, Barb slanted an amused look over her shoulder at him before hugging Holly and Lorraine.
“Put your headphones in . . . why not?” Laughter strangled Del’s voice as he propped on the counter next to David and fist-bumped him and the other men in greeting. He nodded at Andrea, a flare of surprise in his eyes. Barb smiled at her, and Andrea slid a tight smile over the new arrivals. “Listen, we just walked in, so let me go. Yeah, I’ll text you updates.”
His amusement transformed into an even rarer guffaw as he killed the call, wiping at his damp eyes. Andrea half-grimacedwhile the others grinned. Del was so quiet normally that a person just had to enjoy the moments when he let loose. And he had a great laugh.
David glanced sideways at him, teeth flashing in a wide smile. “That was my boy, right?”
“Yeah.” Del caught his breath and blew it out, face lit with affectionate joy. “I don’t know what he did or why she’s put out with him, but they own one television and she’s fussing about how loud he plays the game, wants him to watch it on his phone. He’s dying, and that’s funny as hell.”
“Don’t be mean.” Barb shook out corn chips in a bowl next to the crock.
“Don’t be mean?” Del snorted. “It’s obvious you’re an only child, honey. She’s not usually unreasonable or irritable with him, but he’s been fussing about that for days, so he must have done something big.”
A significant look bounced among them, all of them except Andrea in on Caitlin’s pregnancy and her resulting hormonal reactions. Well. Obviously, Tick hadn’t told his brothers yet.
Holly sighed. “She’s not.”
“What’s that look?” Del’s brows dipped down, head tilted, so like Colt in his expression that Holly smiled despite herself. The Calvert boys were all so much alike, except maybe Chuck who was just . . . Chuck.
Barb glanced between Holly and Lorraine, her smile widening, blue eyes sparkling with intrigue. “Is she pregnant?”
Mackey held up a hand. “We can’t discuss that.”
Which was as good as ayes, and they all knew it.
“Oh.” Barb covered her mouth with a hand, her happy gaze darting to Del’s face. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”
“Yeah, that’s great.” Del’s grin this time was pure he’s-a-dead-man enjoyment. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Guess we’ll find out when he tells Mama.”
“Guess you will.” Lorraine mirrored his pose, but tempered her sardonic tone with a smile. “Because none of us are going to slip up and tell your mama before he does.”
“I can’t tell her anything because I don’t know anything.”
Holly grinned. “There you go.”
“I’m a little lost.” Andrea moved to the counter and picked up a red plastic cup, studying the beverage options. Once more, that small grimace crossed her face, and Holly stifled an urge to gut her. “We’re talking about your friend Lamar? His wife is pregnant.”
Mackey shrugged. “We can’t discuss that.”
She gave him an odd look, then glanced at Del and the rest of them. “I don’t understand all the secrecy. Why doesn’t he simply tell his mother?”
Lorraine stiffened. “Lots of people wait until the second trimester.”
The smile Andrea bestowed on her held a hint of smugness. “But you all know.”
Because they were close — not that Holly was pointing that out. She would, however, move this unsettling interlude forward. “Barb, what is that? It smells fantastic.”
