“And, what?”
“You have this secretive little smile on your face.So what is it?”Hallie asked.
Sophia groaned.Leave it to Hallie to notice.“Youcan notbreathe a word of this to my dad,” she said, pointing at Hallie.
Hallie mimed zipping her lips and Sophia shook her head at her.“With the way he reacted to you working at the club?That isnotsomething I'm going to share with him,” Hallie told her.
“Wait just a minute.How did he react?”Indi asked.“And don't you evendaretrying to weasel out of answering Hallie McNeill!”
“You know Sinner.He's overly protective.He was a bit of an idiot, but when he suggested there was something wrong with Sophia working there, she pointed out that he then must think there was something wrong with Rose working there and with you owning the club.It took him all of five seconds to realize he fucked up and he apologized profusely,” Hallie responded.
“What is with the misogyny?”Ivy questioned.
“I don't think it was misogyny.He just still sometimes struggles with the knowledge that he has an adult daughter,” Hallie told her.
“I guess that makes sense,” Ivy admitted.“Sorry, Soph.I didn't mean to derail things.Carry on.Tell us all the deets!”
Sophia snickered before she continued.“Okay.So, I kind of… kissed him.And he kissed me back.By the time he stopped, we were both breathing hard.”
“You go, girl!”Indi cheered.“Going after what you want like a boss.So, what now?”
“We're, I guess dating?Maybe?I don't know.We're just seeing where things go, which is why we're not telling dad.Axel really respects dad and values his opinion.I don't want to jeopardize that if we don't work out.”
“That makes sense.I promise he won't hear it from me,” Hallie told her.
“Or any of us.Right, ladies?”Indi put in and they all agreed.
“Thanks, ladies.I'll tell him if we get serious.”
Sophia was watching Hallie and frowned.The woman was picking at her food.
“Are you okay, Hallie?”
“Oh.Yeah.I'm fine.My taste buds have changed a bit.There's a reason I wanted to do this today.I told Sinner this last night but… I'm pregnant.”
“Wait.What?Sothat'swhy dad was grinning from ear to ear!”Sophia squealed.
“Yep,” Hallie replied with a grin.
“Congratulations!”all of the ladies said.
“Another brother or sister for me to spoil,” Sophia teased.
“Oh, please, dear Goddess, let it be another boy.Look at how overly protective he is of you, and you're an adult.He'd be even worse with a little girl,” Hallie said with a laugh.
“True.Very true,” Sophia agreed.
“Well, you did say you wanted to give Kingsley another sibling,” Ronnie interjected.
“Yeah.And now that we're past the terrible twos, this is a good time for it.”
“I knew you were glowing,” Rose said, “but I figured maybe it was a new makeup you were using.”
“So many babies in the club.The next generation,” Liria joked.
The only ones who didn't have any kids were Phaedra and Bones, CeCe and Ox and Tiff and Rebel.
“Yeah, well, don't look to me to add to it,” Tiff said.“Rebel and I are perfectly okay with being the cool aunt and uncle.We're not interested in being parents.”
