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I laugh.

“Joshua Hawthorne!”

His eyes widen as Lily’s voice carries across the yard.

“Sorry, honey. Dex is rubbing off on me.” He looks genuinely chastised.

“I fucking heard that!” Dex yells.

“See?”

Everyone starts laughing again.

Noah chooses that exact moment to grab my lip.

And standing there with a Hawthorne baby in my arms, Lily yelling at her husband, Dex yelling from the table, the memory of Grace welcoming me like we’ve known each other for years and Jude beside me quietly watching the whole thing, something inside my chest loosens.

Damiano wasn’t exaggerating.

Not even a little.

These people are loud, chaotic and absolutely wonderful.

***

We all take our seats at the table, and I end up between Jude and Lexy, with Penny and Cas sitting across from me.

Josh says grace, and as soon as he's finished, my phone buzzes against the table.

Then again.

And again.

I glance down at the screen and frown.

Ethan added you to Delulu Fam.

What the hell?

Nora: What the hell is Delulu Fam?

Dex: Leave while you still can.

Lexy: Ignore him. Welcome!!!

Summer: Finally!

Grace: OMG WELCOME NORA

Cas: Why are we doing this while we're all sitting at the same table?

I look up and find Cas staring at Ethan, who is completely focused on his phone.

Ethan: Because Jace isn't here.

“You could just call him,” Jude mutters beside me.

Ethan looks up. “Where's the fun in that?”