Page 106 of Serving Bunt

“Um, Peter,” Dani said, her eyes bouncing between me and her seven-year-old stepdaughter on the floor. “That sounds like an inside thought.”

I knew I shouldn’t have had that fourth cup of punch.

Thankfully, Carolina was too caught up in her coloring pages to notice my accidental slip.

“Puñeta,” I grumbled. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Oh, I don’t mind. Believe me, I would love to hear about your naughty sexcapades. Just maybe not in front of the kiddos.” Dani pointed her thumb toward the bearded man at her back, the one staring daggers into me. “And your coach.”

I swallowed hard. “Er, sorry, coach.”

He grunted.

Which, honestly, was probably the best outcome I could’ve hoped for. It sure beat having my ass handed to me in my own house. Well, Matty’s house, though if I had it my way, it would be ours soon.

I glanced around the living room, taking in the beautiful chaos. The dining table behind us still looked like Thanksgiving had exploded all over it. Half-empty casserole dishes littered the surface beside crumpled napkins and abandoned wine glasses, while containers of leftover turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes were waiting to be packed away.

It had taken a lot of persuasion (plus a decent amount of peer pressure) to convince Matty to leave the dishes for later.

Pink and Nessa had claimed one end of the sectional, her legs draped over his lap while he absently rubbed her ankle. A half-finished bottle of wine sat on the side table beside them.

Across from them, Tucker and Brock had commandeered a pair of barstools from the kitchen island and dragged them into the living room. Tucker had a slice of pecan pie balanced on one knee and a pumpkin pie on the other.

Bella and Bennett occupied the opposite corner of the sectional. She was perched at the edge of her seat like she was watching the final inning of game seven instead of a baking competition, while Bennett looked perfectly content to let her use him as a backrest.

Coach Ward and Dani had taken over the oversized recliner near the fireplace. Carolina sat cross-legged on the rug at their feet, diligently coloring a picture of a turkey wearing sunglasses while her little sister snoozed in the baby bouncer beside her.

Roman had somehow ended up on the floor beside the coffee table, one leg stretched out and the other bent beneath him while he inhaled the “Gooey Gobbler” sandwich he’d made himself. How the man was still able to eat at this point was beyond me.

Then there was me.

I was in heaven, aka on the rug between my man’s legs, head tipped back against his thigh while his hands played with the back of my neck. The snoring dog curled up in my lap was the icing on my cake.

It didn’t get better than this.

The only ones missing were Soren and Clarke. She was due any day now, and Soren had become somewhat of an obsessive dad-to-be.

Over the past month, our team captain had transformed into his wife’s personal bodyguard. He carried her purse. He opened every door. He refused to let her carry anything heavier than a throw pillow and had somehow convinced himself that a strong breeze might send her into labor.

Just last week, during the baby shower the team had thrown them, I’d watched him quietly trail behind her for three hours, materializing with a fresh glass of water every time hers dipped below halfway. At one point, she’d mentioned her craving for a particular carrot cake from a bakery on the other side of the river. Soren had disappeared for a solid forty-five minutes before returning triumphantly with an entire cake, plus an armful of cupcakes “just in case.”

“The baby might want options,” he’d offered up as an explanation.

Clarke had laughed so hard, she’d cried.

“Oh my god,” Bella exclaimed, drawing me back to the present. “The way you two blended your cultures into the Lane Cake . . .”

“Baby, are you crying?”

“No, you are.” Her loud sniffle didn’t exactly help her case.

I laughed and tilted my head back to look at Matty. He was smiling down at me, fingers still playing with the nape of my neck. The simple affection of it made my chest feel too full.

God, I love you, I thought, the words burning on my tongue. The words I still hadn’t found the courage to say out loud. It’s disgusting how far gone I am for you.

Roman grinned from his spot on the floor. “Don’t worry, Bella. I’m telling everyone at spring training that Diaz cried during the cake judging.”

My head spun around so fast. “Did not.”