“How about the kid?” Nicholas says.
Huxley looks like he can’t decide between kicking something or ripping his hair out. “I don’t know. It probably isn’t mine anyway.”
“You sure?” Emmett asks.
“Gonna have to check, but I am extremely careful with contraception.”
“Still could’ve failed.” Griffin gestures around the table—all of us are the result of our father’s failed vasectomy.
“I didn’t get a vasectomy from a second-rate doctor,” Huxley says.
“Neither did I, but…” Griffin shrugs. He got his wife pregnant purely by accident during a one-night stand in New Orleans.
Huxley closes his eyes briefly. “Yeah. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s cool. I know you’re upset.” Griffin claps him on the shoulder.
Hux shakes his head. “We should have some fun here.” His voice is grim. But he said we should have fun, so he’ll do his best to have it.
Grant pours Huxley his favorite scotch. I feel vaguely guilty about not keeping an eye on what’s been going on between the Huxleys and the Webbers because I’ve been distracted with Bobbi. It’s unfair for Hux to have to be stuck with a Webber—a member of a legal family he does not want to get involved with—when the rest of us are happily married to the women we love.
Huxley meant what he said about having fun. The man can throw himself into a party like it’s a competitive sport. But the gleam in his eye says his mind is on revenge.
Chapter Forty-Four
Bobbi
“You’re so beautiful!”
“You look like a Sugar Plum Fairy!”
I smile at the chirpy voices of the little ones as they surround me in the enormous bedroom I’m using as my dressing room. They’re pretty, too, in their pink and ivory dresses with little sparkly sequins and ruffles. Monique has a tiara from Sebastian resting on her head, and Lilian and Katherine are wearing stunning butterfly and flower pins made with amethysts and sapphires. Noah and I are getting married on the beach by his Malibu home. The cloudless SoCal sky is so blue it barely looks real, and waves lap the sand gently.
“You really are stunning.” Ivy’s admiring eyes roam over my white silk tulle dress with a sweetheart neckline and Watteau train. She hugs me. “I’m sohappyfor you!”
“I always knew it.” Yuna embraces me—and Ivy as well, probably unable to wait until the latter moves away. Yuna isn’t known for her patience. “The manifestation ring was so inspired.”
“I can’t believe it. It’s just so incredible.” Josie fans herself. Unshed tears shine in her eyes. She always gets emotional at big family events.
The door opens, and my soon-to-be sisters-in-law walk in, dressed as colorfully as their warm personalities. Lucie gasps. “Oh my God! Yuna?”
Yuna spins around and stares. “Lucie! I didn’t know you knew Bobbi.”
“She’s going to be my sister-in-law. You?”
“Oh, we’ve been friends forever.” Yuna grins.
While Yuna and Lucie gush about how small the world is, Aspen and Sierra hug me. “Welcome to the family!”
“How are you feeling? Hopefully not too nervous?” Amy asks.
“I’m fine. Ready to take my vows.”
“Speaking of ready…” Josie hands me a pretty silver bracelet. “Something old.” She smiles. “It’s from Grandma.”
“Thanks.” I watch as she loops it around my wrist, my chest starting to swell with anticipation and hope.This is it.I’m going to become Mrs. Noah Lasker in a few minutes.
“Something new.” Lucie pulls a diamond pin from the small box she’s holding and pushes it into my updo. The stone sparkles like all the blessings in my life.
