Page 124 of You Fall First

“You look amazing,” Sayla gushes as I climb into the back of their truck.

Dex glances at me and fakes a frown. “She looks like a grown woman who stole my little sister’s face.”

I know full well what he’s joking about. My dress is curve-hugging, with spaghetti straps and an attention-grabbing slit, not something you’d wear to make waffles with your brother.

“I miss Jojo and her cheek butts,” he says.

“Stop.” Sayla swats his arm. “Jo is perfect, and she’s not a baby anymore.”

“Don’t remind me. But if our baby is a girl, I’m never letting her out of the house in an outfit like that.”

“A blue dress?”

“Sure,” he smirks. “Let’s pretend the color’s the issue.”

“Your future daughters will have minds of their own, Daddy,” Sayla says, with a palm on her belly. “So will your future sons.”

“Great.” Dex grunts. “I’m doomed, aren’t I?”

“Forget him,” I tease, leaning over Sayla’s seat back. “How are you feeling?”

“Like the term morning sickness is a big lie,” she says. “But mostly happy and excited.”

“Good.” I smile. “I almost texted you after the movie last weekend, but I didn’t want to be nosy, especially since the news isn’t out there yet.”

“Thanks so much for not saying anything.”

“Of course,” I tell her, and I mean it.

“Dex and I didn’t want to steal even a minute of Landry’s thunder before the wedding, and I’ve been feeling pretty bad since then. But we saw my doctor, and she says everything looks perfect, so we’re going to make an announcement at the next family dinner.”

“I’ll be there,” I say. “Then again, I always am.”

Sayla and Dex share a glance, and a moment passes between them I can only describe as pure love. I want that, too.

Listen, Jo. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Noah Stadler has kissed you once.

And you’re dreaming about having his babies.

That blue dress can only go so far.

“In more good news, Dex found Stony Peak High spirit wear in baby sizes,” Sayla jokes. “And since we’re the Gray Squirrels, the jersey color works for a boy or a girl.”

Dex flashes her a grin. “We should have both.”

“Like twins?”

He reaches for her knee and gives it a squeeze. “Like enough babies to make a whole football team.”

My smile goes crooked. “Is that supposed to be romantic?”

“You could learn a thing or two about romance from your big brother,” Dex says. Then he launches into a comparison of quarterbacks between Stony Peak and Harvest High.

That’s when he loses me.

We reach the red light just before Havenwood, and Dex pulls up slowly, like his truck’s full of precious cargo. Meanwhile, Noah’s truck is already idling in the next lane over. Paige is in the front seat, her hair swept up in an elegant twist. Dutton must be behind her, but I can’t see much through the tinted back window. The Stadlers don’t notice we’re next to them, and Dex is too wrapped up in his football diatribe to clock them either. To be fair, dark Fords are a dime a dozen in Harvest Hollow. And Sayla’s got her eyes closed, probably dealing with another bout of evening morning sickness.

As for me?