Myla’s slender arms wrapped around me as she held on for dear life. “I am so proud of you, big brother.” Her words were muffled as she spoke them into my chest.
“For what?” I asked, resting my head on the top of her head.
“For growing up so much in the last couple of years.” She sniffled a little, squeezing me even tighter before letting go.
“Congratulations again, man. It’s nice to see our little family growing.” Gavin held his hand out to me. We shook hands and I didn’t know if I wanted to punch him or hug him. We had come such a long way, but sometimes I still couldn’t stand him. Knowing that he wanted my baby sister to live with him was a little much for me to deal with, but I knew that I needed to stay out of it for Myla’s sake.
“Thanks.” It was short and simple and the best way to handle myself. Maybe Myla was right – maybe I was growing up.
Chapter 17
Karla
“This is goingto be so fun.” I was practically skipping into the bakery with Brayden’s hand firmly gripped in mine.
“I’m definitely ready to try some cakes.” He held the door for me as a sweet woman greeted us from behind the counter.
“How may I help you two today?” She waved us in.
“We have a noon appointment to try cakes for our gender reveal party that is coming up.” I started to rub my belly, thinking about the little girl that was snuggled up in there.
“Congratulations!” She elated as she walked out from behind the counter. “Please take a seat over here. What are you having?”
Brayden smiled wide with pride while he helped me into my chair. “A little girl.” It was so amazing seeing how excited he was about the news.
“That is so wonderful!” The kind woman started handing up a few binders to look at. “Here are the different styles you can choose from and in the back, is a list of cake flavors. You can pick as many as you want to try and just let me know whenever you’re ready.”
After taking a little while to decide and look around, we were trying the most amazing cake that I had ever had in my life.
“I don’t know if this shit tastes better because I am pregnant or what, but I think I have died and gone to cake heaven.” I mumbled, while shoving another spoon full of lemon raspberry swirl into my mouth.
“Slow down there, tiger. It’s a marathon not a sprint.” Brayden winked at me from across the table. “I think this double chocolate is my favorite.”
I turned my nose up at him. “No. How boring is that!”
“Boring, huh?” He shot me a devilish grin as he scooped another bite’s worth of chocolate cake onto his spoon. Instead of bringing it to his mouth, he turned the spoon around and flicked the cake right at me.
I gasped, wiping the cake off my cheek where it had hit me. “What the hell.”
Brayden was in a fit of hysterics as I grabbed a handful of run raisin and flung it at him. “Two can play at that game,” I yelled, loading up more ammunition onto my spoon.
I was about to let the cake fly when the sweet lady came back to check on us. “Do you two need a few more…” She trailed off, a look of shock and disgust plastered on her wrinkled face. “What in the world?”
“Sorry. We were having a disagreement over chocolate or a more interesting flavor.” I bowed my head, trying to stifle my fit of giggles.
“Did you make a decision?” She was trying her best to keep her composure.
Brayden handed me a napkin the clean up my face. “I think we’re going with the lemon raspberry.”
Brayden filled out the paperwork and gave her the deposit, while I cleaned up the mess we had made during our mini food fight.
Brayden
Ihad never knownthat gender reveals were even a thing, until Karla told me that we had to have one. As long as she was smiling, I honestly would have done anything she asked me to do.
We had everyone over to our house.Our house. I was still getting used to idea of Karla living with us, even though it had been a couple of weeks already.
Crosby held his beer up to me from across the room as he made his way over to the corner I was posted up in. “Karla is glowing.”
