I nodded with a huge smile spreading on my face. “I just hope Ryan isn’t mad aboutit.”
“How could he be?” Fletch asked as he walked in with Annie in hisarms.
“He’s just been allbah humbugabout the whole birthday thing. He asked me to keep it low key, and he thinks we’re just going to dinner.” Keeping secrets from Ryan made me uneasy whether it was for a surprise party ornot.
“Trust me, once he’s there with all of his friends with a beer in hand, he’ll be glad you went behind his back. It’s for his own damn good. That boy works way too hard to not cut loose for at least one night.” Fletch set Annie down and she jumped into mylap.
“Can I come to the party, Aunt Cass? Please?” she asked, bouncing a little and holding the tiny white and rainbow unicorn rubber duck I had gottenher.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I hugged her tome.
“Lilly is coming over soon to play with you and Mikey, remember,” Emilyresponded.
“Yay!”
Crisisaverted.
“Ryan is going to be home soon. I’m gonna head out and meet him there. See y’all in a bit?” I kneeled down, kissing Mikey on theforehead.
“Yeah, we’re picking up a keg for Nate and then we’ll be on our way.” Fletch walked me to thedoor.
Ryan and I pulled up to the house at the sametime.
“Mikey all set?” Ryan asked as he hooked his arm around my neck before kissingme.
“Mmmhmmm. Fletch really seems to like having himaround.”
Tank trotted next to us as we made our way inside. “They’re going to be knocked up again before we know it.” Ryan chuckled to himself as he filled Tank’s water and food bowls in thekitchen.
“Baby fever isn’t just a chick thing,” Iresponded.
Grabbing me, Ryan put his hands on my stomach. “What about you? Want another bun in this oven?” heteased.
“Not when you put it like that.” I laughed, playfully shoving himaway.
“Aw, come on babe. Don’t you want a whole bunch of screaming kids running around this place, wreaking havoc? Could befun.”
“I love our family just the way it is,” I replied, starting to head up thestairs.
“As do I,” Ryan cooed as he smacked my ass, followingme.
After quickly getting ready, we wereoff.
“Can we stop at my parents’ place? I have to drop off this paperwork with Nate really quick.” I held up a manila envelope full of bullshit documents as Ryan put his truck ingear.
With an eyebrow raise, he put his hand on my knee. “Of course,babe.”
Chapter 6
Ryan
Iknew it.” I slammed my fist into the steering wheel as I glanced over at Cass, who was bouncing in her seat. The flames of a raging bonfire could be seen from the gravel road as we made our way to her folks’home.
“Don’t be mad. Everyone wants to celebrate with you.” Her sheepish grin and furrowing brow melted myheart.
“I could never be mad at you, babe. Thank you for putting this all together.” It was a kind gesture, but it stung my heart abit.
We passed the row of bikes lining the fence as we headed into the field out back. “Looks like the gang’s all here,” I remarked as I parked my truck between Nate’s andFletch’s.
