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Blair is standing to my right, her arms crossed over her chest as she smacks her gum. “Sadly, none of these boys are doing anything for my nether regions, but I’m happy for you all if they are.”

I laugh at her comment, but my humor is short-lived as my attention returns to Easton. He stands shirtless among the other guys, sweat gleaming across his torso. Dark blue jeans hang low on his hips, his tool belt circles his waist, and naturally, his backward hat does nothing to shield his face from the sun.

But dear God, this sight of him will never get old.

Yeah, maybe I need some popcorn too if I’m going to watch this after all.

The guys from the fire station have stripped off their shirts too, and even Owen finally removed his, despite the mild forecast.

It’s Saturday morning, and Easton, Crew, Aiden, Beau, Tony, and Owen are all gathered here to start building a deck this weekend—the deck that Easton promised he would build for us before the baby arrives.

It’s the beginning of November, so the worst of the heat this year is behind us. However, doing any sort of construction is hard work, which explains why they’re all already stripping off their clothes and sweating.

Ginny, Nora, and I definitely aren’t complaining, though.

“You seriously wouldn’t bone any of those guys from the station?” Ginny asks Blair.

Blair’s nose scrunches up. “No, honey. They’re like my brothers, but part of that is because we spend too much fucking time together. I know things about them that would give any prospective romantic partner the ick.”

Ginny tilts her head and looks back at the guys as they carry wooden beams across the yard. “But the muscles…”

“Yeah,” Nora interjects, slowly lifting a handful of popcorn to her mouth. “So many muscles.”

Blair hip-checks our little sister. “God, just go tell Crew you like him.”

Nora sighs, blinking herself out of her trance. “It’s not that simple.”

Yeah, I understand those four words more than Nora and Ginny may realize—because that’s how I’m feeling about this thing happening between me and Easton.

It’s definitely not that simple.

“Yes, it is. Guys like when women are direct,” Blair replies. “Especially if you go up to them and tell them you want to fuck them.”

Ginny snorts, and Nora rolls her eyes. “Then that’s all we’ll ever be—just sex,” Nora says with a sigh. “I want more than that, Blair. I want a relationship with someone who can’t take his eyes off me. Plus, you know Dad would lose his mind if I went after one of his guys.”

Blair nods. “I get it. I thought you only wanted to bone the guy, but that look you want from him? Yeah, it’s hard to find.” She tips her chin toward me. “Looks like Lennon found it, though.”

My head snaps over to her. “I’m sorry?”

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on, Len. You know you hit the jackpot, right?”

“What do you mean?”

She gestures toward Easton through the window. “Any man who looks at you the way Easton does—like he’d be content looking at you and only you for eternity? That’s all any girl wants, Lennon. And your man was right under your nose all along.”

He was.

I was too scared to let myself go after him.

But I’m finally at a point in my life where I’m ready to start embracing things that scare me instead of running from them.

My hand finds my bump on instinct as a few small kicks rattle me from deep within.

Knowing I’m about to become a mom is the most terrifying challenge I’ve faced. I thought leaving home to travel the world was scary, but being responsible for another human in every way makes me question every part of myself.

Can I do this? Will I fuck this child up? Can I meet the expectations I place on myself—and the ones I feel from others?

Or will this become another part of my life where I feel I’ve fallen short?