“You look amazing,” he said, leaning in to give his sister a peck on the cheek.
“I feel like a bloated hippopotamus with heartburn, but thanks.” Hope looked over Joel’s shoulder and smiled brightly. “Oh my God, Lucy! Joel said he was bringing you, but I didn’t believe it. It’s been forever.” She moved toward Lucy with open arms.
The barking dog intercepted, jumping paws up onto Lucy.
“Get off of her, you silly pup,” Hope scolded, shooing the beagle away. “Come in. Everyone’s in the backyard. I’ll giveyou a proper hug out there, if you can get your arms around me.”
Joel glanced at Lucy, trying to assess her first impressions. Her happiness and comfort around his family was crucial to him, so when her gaze met his as she moved past him to follow his sister down the hall, the smile she gave him went straight to his heart and tattooed itself there. Because there wasn’t a damn fake thing about it.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Stepping onto Hope’s back deck was like stepping into a photoshoot for some high-end parenting magazine. An impressive archway made entirely out of blue and pink balloons held a big sign in the middle that read “Boy or Girl?” In the garden, round tables were decorated with blue or pink centerpieces. A long table off to the side had themed snacks and a massive tower of cupcakes topped with either pink or blue icing.
“Oh, it’s a gender-reveal party,” Lucy breathed as Joel came up beside her.
He glanced down at her and registered the delight on her face. And it was hard not to be caught up in everyone’s joy. He was genuinely happy for his sister and Gabe and knew there had been a journey to get to this moment. But his concern for Lucy’s mental well-being was his priority. So there was some relief in seeing her okay being here. At a baby shower that was also a gender-reveal party.
Without thinking, he reached for Lucy’s hand. She immediately linked her fingers with his, leaned against his shoulder, and looked up at him with a reassuring smile. Aswell of pride lifted the dread that had weighed on his chest. This was his woman, and her smile was the center of his universe. There would be hell to pay if this ended, but at the moment, he couldn’t muster a single fuck about that.
“Um, okay, so this is new,” Hope said, interrupting his thoughts. Her gaze was locked on his and Lucy’s joined hands.
Right, here went nothing…or everything.
“Hope, there’s something you should?—”
“Joel!” His mother’s trill shot through the air and a second later, she appeared beside his sister. “Darling, I’m so glad to see you. I miss having you in San Francisco, not that I ever saw much of you there, but at least I knew where to find you if I wanted to.” Audrey Morgan opened her arms for a hug.
Joel leaned into them, letting his mother’s arms settle around his shoulders.
When she pulled back, she regarded Lucy. “The last time I saw you must have been at a Christmas party five or more years ago. You look lovelier than ever, Lucy. How are you doing?” she asked as she reached for Lucy next. “I’m so happy that you’re here to join us for this.”
Lucy nodded. “I’m so glad to be here. Hope, you must be excited to add the newest member to your family.”
Hope smiled, rubbing her enormous belly. “Yes, I’m 100 percent ready to have this little guy…or girl. I swear, it feels like this baby is trying to push every single one of my organs out through my esophagus.”
They chatted and mingled in the garden with friends and relatives who’d come to share in his sister and brother-in-law’s special day. Finally, he led Lucy to a table.
She tugged his hand, and he leaned closer. “When areyou planning on telling your family about our engagement? Before or after cupcakes?”
Excellent question. As a man who meticulously planned most things in life, he was finding himself in more situations than ever where he was making shit up on the fly.
He pulled out a chair for Lucy to take a seat. “Definitely after. As they say, first gender reveal, then engagement reveal.”
A soft gasp drew his attention from Lucy’s unamused eye roll, and behind his shoulder, where Ivy had halted dead in her tracks.
Shit.
“Ivy,” his sister called from across the garden by the punch bowl, summoning her best friend with a wave.
With one last wide-eyed gawk, Ivy turned from Joel and hustled straight to Hope.
Double shit.Those two had a bond thicker than cement. If Ivy thought she uncovered the news of the century, no way would she withhold it from Hope for even one second.
Sure enough, Ivy immediately launched into an excited monologue as Hope poured lemonade into a glass.
“Who is that?” Lucy asked, as she followed Joel’s gaze to Ivy and Hope.
“Ivy. She and Sean are my neighbors across the hall. She’s also Hope’s best friend.” He watched as Hope’s eyes widened to saucers and her mouth formed a smallo.Yep, the tea had definitely just been spilled.
