A few of the wooden letters are laid out, freshly blue.
It takes a moment for my groggy brain to put together what they spell. “Ollie,” I gasp. “I didn’t know you wanted to call him that too? I just mentioned it—”
“Just once. I know. You’re too modest, baby.” His thumb rubs the scar on my leg that I got fromthat night. “I think it’s perfect. Did I tell you it’s my dad’s middle name, too?”
Did he?
“I don’t remember, I’m sorry.” I trail my nails through his hair, frowning. “Was it in the flurry of texts when we were info-dumping every secret?”
He chuckles. “I think so. That seems so long ago now.” He turns and kisses my bare thigh, then sets the last letter down on the paper to dry. “I just woke up and wanted to make it official.”
I stare down and let out a sigh. “Seeing it makes it more…real.”
“”I’m gonna start using it. Our little Clyde Brookes.” He tilts his head up with his lips pursed. “It has a good ring to it.” He lifts the hem of my shirt to press a kiss to the swell of my belly.
“My grandpa wasn’t the type to cry, but I bet he would this time, knowing we named our son after him.” I miss him, and grandma.
So much has changed since Christmas. Geez, by this next one, we’ll havea child.
“I wish I could have met him.” Ollie reaches up and tugs me onto his lap. “But I think a little bit of him and your grandma trickled down.” His cheek lifts. “I feel bad for our kids, having you and I raising hell in their veins.”
“According to my grandma, they weren’t exactly tame back in the day.” I’ve heard many stories from her through the years. They were wild when they were younger.
“Ah, so that’s whereyouget it.” His whiskers tickle against my throat. “A genetic predisposition to chaos.” With a snarling growl, he play-bites under my jaw. “You were destined for monsters and magic.” His fingers wrap my neck to tilt my chin. “Lucky for me.”
With a shrieking laugh, I try to wiggle away.
But he catches me.
He always does.
Exactly the way I like it.
My cheeks hurt from laughing so much. Or is it the smiling for pictures?
Lori has taken so many I’m sure her phone is almost out of memory space, but I’m not complaining.
“Okay, now you and Val with your baby bumps.” She waves her fingers towards us, then pinches them like she’s trying to zoom us together.
“What about you? You’re more pregnant than we are,” Val giggles, then turns to Char. “And you? For crying out loud, we’re having a whole ass swallowed balloon convention here.” She rolls her eyes dramatically as she snickers.
April and Elena are both kicked back on the floor, propped on their hands with their legs out.
But I don’t miss that sneaky damn look they give each other.
“Seriously? You too?” I feel a twinge of insane cackling brewing.
When Libby raises her hand, everyone loses it and starts roaring.
“I’ve been asking Cynthia if she wants to start a babysitting career. It’d be built in for everyone here at the ranch.” Elena raises her eyebrows at her younger sister.
“No way,” the red head grumbles from the couch, glancing up from her cell. “Whatever you’re all drinking is contagious. I’m only thirteen.”
“I think we’re still baby balloons.” Libby jerks her thumb to include April and Elena. “We’re all due after the new year.”
“I need a picture with everyone. It might be the last time we’re all pregnant together.” Lori’s cheeks are flushed as she holds up her belly.
She’s the closest to delivery. Any day now could be it.
