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“That’s different.”
“Not really,” Lily says.
“Like you’re any better? You sucked Randy’s face after he busted in on you in a bathroom! And then he locked himself in a bathroom with you after you defaced all his underwear!”
Lily blushes. “The underwear defacing was a misunderstanding.”
“Whatever. I’m making a point. Alex played on the same team as Buck. I was introduced as his sister. He couldn’t murder me without everyone knowing it was him, so it’s totally not the same as handing over a keycard to a perfect stranger.”
“That’s true,” Sunny agrees.
Lance points to an ABC store, maybe because he’s not interested in continuing the conversation. “I’m gonna stop and grab something. Anyone need anything?”
“We can drink in the streets here, can’t we?” Violet jumps up and down, her boobs bouncing with the movement.
“Want me to get you a water, or maybe some juice, sweets?” Miller asks Sunny. “You need a snack? I’ll get you a bunch of stuff, ’kay?”
She adjusts the brim of her oversized hat so she can tilt her head up for a kiss. “That’d be great.”
I stay outside with Sunny while the rest of them go into the store. I put an arm around her shoulder. “You doing okay?”
She takes off her hat and leans her head on my chest. “I’m so good, Alex. I know you worry, but me and Miller, we’re made for each other, just like you and Violet.”
I nod. I see how he is with my sister. “You know you don’t have to wait for me and Violet to get married before you do, right?”
Sunny laughs; the sound matches her name. She puts a hand on my cheek. “Please don’t take offense to this, but I’m not waiting for my wedding because I’m worried about stealing your spotlight.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Shit, I feel like an asshole.
“You can’t help it, Alex. You’re used to being the center of attention. It’s what you know, and that’s never been an issue for me. It’s where you belong. I get what it’s like to be the center of someone’s universe. I’m that for Miller. And he’s that for me. And now that’s what this baby is for both of us.”
“I don’t think people realize how strong you really are,” I admit. “I don’t know that I’d be handling this situation as well as you.”
“It’s as hard to be the shadow as it is to be the light, Alex.”
There’s some real insight in that. “When did you grow up?”
She laughs again and hugs my arm. “While you were off playing hockey and getting famous.”
“I mean it, though. Don’t feel like you have to work around mine and Violet’s plans.”
“Miller and I want to wait. We’ve talked about it, and I want to do all the planning and fun stuff, and I want Mom to be part of that. I think it’ll be good for her and me to have that experience together. There’s just too much happening in all of our lives for me to be able to enjoy the process. I don’t want to be stressed about it like Violet’s been. And I don’t want to rush it. This baby was unexpected, but he’s not unwanted, and while we might be doing things out of order, we’re going to wait until after he’s born, so we can plan things properly.”
“Wait. Did you say he?”
Sunny clamps a hand over her mouth. “Oh, poop. I wasn’t supposed to say anything. It’s ninety-percent probably a boy, but we have to wait for the next ultrasound. You can’t tell Miller I told you.”
“I won’t.”
“And you can’t tell Violet.”
“Okay.” It’ll be a challenge to keep this news to myself. “Who knows?”
“No one. Just you.”
“Not even Lily?”
She drops her lying face. “Okay, Lily knows.”
“Which means Randy knows.”
“But that’s it. If you tell Violet, she’ll tell Charlene, and Charlene will tell Darren, and then the circle of knowledge will expand, and everyone will know.”
I run a hand through my hair. “When’s the next ultrasound?”
“Not for another three weeks. You’re going to tell Violet aren’t you?”
I’m going to be an uncle. I get to spoil some kid and do all the awesome things without dealing with the fallout afterward. Of course I want to tell Violet. Then I kind of want to get her pregnant so we can do it, too.
“Have you told Mom?”
“I wanted to wait until she comes to Chicago in a couple of weeks.”
I sigh. “I’ll keep my mouth shut.” If Violet finds out I knew and didn’t tell her, she’ll be hurt. All I can do is hope someone doesn’t slip before Sunny has a chance to disseminate the information.
The conversation ends when everyone comes out of the store, stocked with beverages. Violet has an entire bag. “Look!” She opens it to show me the contents. “They have shooters! Let’s all do one! Except you, Sunny.” She bends and kisses Sunny’s stomach through her dress. “We don’t want to get the yeti baby drunk.”
