Adley had that look on her face again.The one that didn’t go away anymore.Soft and bright all at once.Her free hand rested against her stomach, fingers spread like she was already used to protecting something that wasn’t even here yet.“I think the baby’s favorite food is ice cream,” she said as they crossed the room.
“Babe,” Mason laughed.“I think you’re confusing your favorite food with the baby’s favorite food.”
She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.“You don’t know that.”
“I know you,” he shot back.
Adley huffed out a laugh and slipped her hand from his, heading behind the bar like she’d done it a thousand times before.She grabbed a glass, then reached into the fridge and pulled out a gallon of milk.
Mason leaned his forearms on the bar, watching her.“Didn’t you already have enough dairy after that big-ass banana split?”
She froze for half a second, then slowly turned her head to look at him.“Mason.”
He straightened a little.“Yeah?”
“We don’t comment on people’s bodies or their food.”
He blinked.“I wasn’t—”
“Especially,” she cut in, pointing a finger at him now, “when it’s your pregnant girlfriend.”
Mason held up his hands in surrender, a grin pulling at his mouth.“Noted, babe.”
“Good,” she said, turning back to her glass and pouring the milk.
He wasn’t done, though.“Do you want some string cheese to go with your milk?”he asked.
Adley laughed, shaking her head as she set the gallon back in the fridge.“I’m good with the milk right now.”
She came back around the bar and slid onto the stool next to me, lifting the glass and taking a sip like it was the most normal thing in the world.“How’s it going?”she asked.
I tipped my beer toward her.“Just unwinding.”
“Same,” she said, taking another drink.
Mason moved behind the bar, grabbing himself a beer.He popped the top and leaned against the counter across from us.
“Anything going on around here?”he asked.
I shook my head.“Quiet as shit, brother.”
He nodded slowly.“Weird.”
Adley snorted.“You mean normal.”
“I’m sure shit with the Northbound Reapers is over,” I said, shrugging one shoulder.“We showed them we aren’t to be fucked with.End of story.”
Mason nodded again, taking a drink.“Yeah.I’m sure.”
He didn’t sound convinced.
“Anyway,” Adley drawled, dragging the word out like she was already over the topic, “Ever made me the best banana split ever tonight.”
Mason didn’t miss a beat.“That’s because she’s getting some.”
I choked on my beer.It went down wrong, hitting the back of my throat hard enough to make me cough, sputtering as I set the bottle down too fast.“Jesus,” I muttered, dragging the back of my hand across my mouth.
Adley leaned back a little, eyes narrowing as she looked at me.“You good?”
