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I spat out a laugh. “Are you crazy? He’s my freaking stepbrother. It’s not like I could avoid him after he lets me down gently.” As kind as Sawyer was, I knew he would be gentle about it after he tried to hide his disgust.
“You don’t know that would happen.”
“I’m 99.9999 percent sure. I’m not risking my heart on the one ten thousandth of a percent chance.”
She pressed her lips together thinking of a good counter argument. “Maybe you should just kiss him.”
“How would that be any less embarrassing?”
She grabbed onto my arm. “Listen to me. You two are always having cozy little chats, which by the way, proves my point that he’s into you. But anyway, next time you find yourself alone with him chatting it up, lean into him and take him by surprise. If he kisses you back, great, keep on kissing him and seal the deal. If he pulls away, play it off like it was an accident.”
“Oops, I’m so sorry my lips accidentally fell on yours. That sounds legit.”
“If alcohol is involved, it’s highly plausible.”
“Speaking of poor decisions, I saw Macey and Ashton sneak off into the woods when I left Sunday night.”
“Don’t think we aren’t coming back to you and Sawyer, but what the heck? How old is Ashton?”
“He’s thirty-six, so eleven years older than her, which is fine. The problem is I think Marlowe likes him too, and you know the whole creepy stepbrother thing.”
“Is that what’s keeping you from pursuing Sawyer? It’s not like you grew up together.”
“What’s keeping me from Sawyer is he doesn’t want me, but regardless, the whole dating your stepbrother thing, it’s weird, right?”
She tossed her head back and forth. “Kind of. Could you imagine explaining it to your kids?”
The honest answer was yes, because I had already named our offspring. We were going to have two girls and one boy. Eleanor Jane whom we would call Ellie Jane, Shannon Elaine after me and my mother, and our son, Dane Anders, after my fathers. I didn’t mention this to Jenna, because, hello, it was crazy. “I don’t need to worry about it, I think he has a mother in mind for his kiddos.”
Jenna’s face contorted in several expressions trying to land on one. “Who?”
“Shelby.”
Jenna shook her head. “No way. He didn’t act remotely interested in her at dinner last week.”
“Oh, believe me, he’s interested. He took Miss Sunshine on a tour of the town on Saturday.”
Jenna pursed her lips together. “Huh. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
I didn’t get to respond because Brad entered the picture and wrapped his arms around Jenna from behind. “Hey baby, who’s having my baby.”
Jenna snuggled right into him. “I can’t wait to find out what we’re having.”
“I already know it’s a boy,” Brad responded. “I was sure I saw his manhood on display today during the ultrasound.” He sighed with content. “I’m so proud to have passed down the family jewels.”
Jenna smacked his arm. “I think you were seeing things.”
“Yeah, I was—my boy in all his glory. Am I right, Emma?”
“You’ll have to play my game and find out.” Ever since they handed me the envelope this afternoon, I was having a hard time not telling them what they were having.
“Speaking of games, Brad and I want to try out a new game on the crowd tonight and we need you to help.” Jenna smiled coyly.
“We do?” Brad looked down at Jenna confused.
Jenna elbowed him in the ribs, making him groan. “Yes. Don’t you remember?”
Brad nodded furiously. “Oh, yep, yep. New game. It’s going to be awesome. Jenna just came up with it today.”
I narrowed my eyes at my two best friends. “All right. As long as it doesn’t involve slime, removing my clothes, or singing Spice Girls songs, I’m in.”
“Come on, Em, no one sings ‘Wannabe’ better than you while in a vat of slime in your undies.” Jenna laughed.
“As true as that may be, I’m not twenty-nine anymore.” I smirked.
“You’ve really matured these past couple of years,” Jenna smiled, “but don’t worry, this will be even more fun.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
About that time, patrons of the comedy club and our friends started filing in for the show and the gender reveal. Jenna and Brad had used their baby for marketing purposes, and judging by the crowd, it had worked. Tonight’s theme was, Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby. Sex apparently still sells. Not that they didn’t normally do good business. Edenvale was home to Vale College. If there was one thing college students loved besides sex, it would be cheap entertainment. Come to think of it, sex could fall right into that category. Anyway, the comedy Jenna’s and Brad’s club provided was worth the ten-dollar cover charge. They also made a killing in concessions and merchandise.
One face stood out in the crowd. Unfortunately, the face right next to him stood out even more. It wasn’t right for someone to be so beautiful, and I wasn’t talking about Sawyer, though he was ridiculously handsome. But Shelby, Belle of the South, was stunning in her pencil skirt and silk camisole. Together they made a gorgeous couple.
