“Lexy, darlin’, you hungry?” Josh asks, already handing me a plate.
“Yes, sir,” I smile.
“Good answer.”
Lily leans in. “You tell me if you want more, okay?”
“Thank you.”
Across from us, Penny leans into Cas while Ethan continues his dramatic storytelling. Mia giggles beside him.
It’s loud. Messy. Alive.
For a second, it’s almost too much.
And for no clear reason, a flicker of unease moves through me, quick and quiet, gone before I can catch it.
Dex notices immediately. His thumb brushes slow circles against my hand.
“Hey… stay with me,” he murmurs.
I exhale.
And just like that, I’m okay again.
???
Penny claps her hands once, drawing everyone’s attention as she steps forward with a grin that already gives her away. “Okay, okay, before anyone eats the rest of the dessert, we’ve got something we want to share with you,” she says, glancing back at Cas, who hands her a small white box tied with a neat golden bow. She holds it out toward Lily, practically vibrating with excitement. “It’s from both of us,” she adds, her voice softening just a little as she looks back at him, then at Lily and Josh, like this moment matters more than she’s letting on.
“Oh honey, thank you!” Lily takes the white box, the golden bow wrapped neatly around it.
We all lean in as she pulls the ribbon loose and opens it, and freezes.
Then she pulls out a tiny romper.
“Oh my Lord!” she squeals. “Another grand baby!”
She pulls Penny into a tight hug, tears in her eyes.
Josh laughs, blinking away his own as he pulls Cas into a hug.
“No better gift than this,” he says.
I glance up at Dex. He’s smiling softly.
“Guess you’re Uncle Dex again,” I tease.
He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. “Yeah… Uncle Dex. And Auntie Lexy.”
My eyes widen. “I don’t know if that’s… I mean, it’s still too soon to…”
He leans in, his voice low. “I’m in this for eternity, Tinker. As long as you’ll let me… I’m not going anywhere.”
Warmth floods my chest.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“So you won’t mind being Auntie Lexy?” Penny asks behind me.
