“That’s not my fault,” I snap. “I told them I couldn’t pick. That I wanted all of them. That’s exactly why this is such a mess. So I did the only thing I could. I chose myself and none of them. Can we please stop talking about them?”
He sighs again. “Yeah. I’m not trying to upset you. I just want you to be happy, and it was obvious you were with them. Josh, that one took me for a loop, but I noticed the looks that the two of you gave each other.”
I stare at the floor, noticing some flour I spilled on it. I think about cleaning it up, but decide not to.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say quietly. “Because what was there before… is over. Now. It’s time we all move on with our lives.”
“Vee, just… think about it? Don’t write them off yet.”
“I’ll think about celebrating the birth of your son. I’ll think about my best friend, Ash, and how I’ll bring her home to whatever surprise the four of you have cooked up,” I reply. “Those are the only things I’ll be thinking about.”
He chuckles, resigned. “Fine. I know when I’m not winning the fight. Just text me when you’re on your way home with her tonight.”
I hang up, my heart already too loud in my chest. As much as I wish it were that simple to just move on, it's not. I can say I’m fine until the cows come home, but I’m not. All I can think about is them.
“Okay, guys, take a look at our lil’ mama, then pull off how many strips of toilet paper you think it will take to go around her belly and meet together. The one who is closest without going over, wins this wine basket!” I try to make my voice sound as cheerful as I can as I explain the instructions to everyone.
I gesture for Ash to stand up and do a twirl, making sure everyone can get a good look at her round belly. I’ve always heard there's a glow with pregnancy, and I always thought it was bullshit. Until Ash. She’s absolutely glowing. She deserves all the happiness she has now after everything she had to endure to find her father, her men, and her new family.
Ash twirls again, and this time I really look at her. She’s tired. And fighting hard not to show it. I don’t know what those men have planned for her tonight but I don’t know how much longer she’s going to be before she’s asking me to take her home.
I hand out the rolls of toilet paper so people can make their guesses and then step over to the side of the room and pull my phone out of my pocket.
Me: She’s getting tired. So whatever you’re doing, you might want to pick up the pace.
The response is almost immediate.
Mack: Yes, ma’am.
Mack: Make sure she sits down and rests. Please.
I send him back a thumbs-up emoji and move back over to the party. My gaze roams through the party guests until I find Ash finally sitting. Cassie hands her a plate of food, saying something that has Ash smiling, before she starts rolling out the toilet paper making her own guess. She must really want that wine.
My heart tightens as I feel a pang of jealousy. I’ve heard some rumors about Carlos and Javier spending a lot of time over at her house. It’s supposed to be a huge secret, but Luke let it slip that she lets them use a piece of her property to dispose of problems. I didn’t bother pressing him any further for information. The only question I have is why all the men in the fucking Hellions can share a woman except the three men I’m interested in.
Ash, screaming above the noise of the party, pulls my attention back to the present. “Hey now, I’m not that fat! Sheesh, I think your sister needs glasses, Cassie.”
“That she does, because she obviously doesn’t think I catch the way she’s been checking Jake out when he’s out at the farm,” Cassie says loudly, causing her sister AJ to glare at her.
AJ storms away, and I smile. Sometimes I wish I had a sister. Even when Luca and I were still living together before our dad left with him, I wanted a sister. Now, I just wish that Luca and I had been able to grow up together.
I weave through the guests, laughing at the toilet paper that each of them has rolled off. Some were actually pretty good at guessing, while others were severely off. AJ being the most off the mark. Ash leans into Melissa and they speak. She must be asking her to be Baby Jace’s godmother. When we were out for coffee, she pulled me aside to talk about it. She didn’t want to hurt my feelings, but she could never do that. I understand her reason, and honestly, I plan to be the best damn aunt the baby’s ever seen. By the way they are embracing, I can only assume she said yes. I never doubted that there would be any answer but that.
Stepping over to the table, I rap my knuckles on it, gaining everyone’s attention.
“Okay, time to stand up, and let’s see who the winner is,” I announce.
Ash stands up, and one by one each of the ladies moves over to her, wrapping their toilet paper around her belly, seeing how close their guess was to being accurate. When Melissa wraps her toilet paper around Ash’s very pregnant belly, it fits perfectly.
“We have a winner, ladies, and now she gets the wine and we get the cake she made.” Everyone starts clapping at my announcement, and Melissa takes Ash’s hand and leads her over to me, where I have the cake and wine waiting.
“Oh, Melissa, it’s so beautiful, I don’t want to cut it.” Tears fill Ash’s eyes.
“It was made to be eaten, sweetie. Just like that, wine’s going to be drunk tonight.” Melissa giggles.
Ash takes the knife and cuts into the cake, dishing out slices onto the waiting plates. She makes sure everyone has a platebefore cutting a slice for herself and walks back over to her chair, sitting down.
We continue playing games over the next hour, but with each passing minute, I can see how tired she’s getting. Arizona and I call the last game and begin giving out the door prizes. Before I can ask Ash if she’s ready, Melissa is calling my name, loudly.
