“I don’t like the idea of you three going out alone,” Emilio says, setting Luis on the table where he promptly twists in an attempt to crawl across the surface.
“Give me,” Allie says reaching for him. “I need the baby snuggles.”
“We’re not going to be alone. We’ll be with each other.” I shrug.
“Bad idea,” Dominique adds. Roman and Emilio both nod in agreement. “Shit could happen. Someone could spike your drink. You guys could get hurt.”
Kasey snorts. “It’s at Sarah’s. I live literally right next door. We don’t have to worry about rides or designated drivers and none of us are heavy drinkers. Stop being spoilsports. We’ll call Aaron if we get in a bind.”
Aaron shakes his head. “I’ve got plans. You three are on your own.”
Kasey whirls on him. “Plans? What plans?”
“Personal ones that my nosey baby sister doesn’t need to know about.”
Her eyes narrow but surprising us all, she drops it. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. We don’t need—”
“No,” Roman deadpans like his word is law and all three of us girls raise a brow.
“No?” Allie says, a tilt of her head and a gleam in her eyes. Oh, this is going to be good.
“Vanilla, you know this is a bad idea.”
“What I know is that I’m having a much-needed girls' night. And I know you have a football game. State championships in fact, that I also know you can’t miss. That’s what I know.”
Kasey and I both snicker.
Roman opens his mouth to argue and then thinks better of it before he curses under his breath and then steals Luis from her. “I thought you both hated Sarah.”
“We do,” Kasey chimes in. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll turn down free booze and a night out.”
His lips mash together and Allie smirks in triumph as Roman starts making baby noises and faces at Luis. It’s weird how fast his mood shifts.
“Can I keep him next period?” she asks. “I want some nephew time.” I love that she considers him family already. That they all do.
“Sure. But don’t you have class?”
She nods, holding a finger out to Luis, who tries to bite it. He’s teething and everything appears edible, or at least chewable these days.
“Just gym so we’ll roll a ball around or something. No one will care.”
“Why not?”
The bell rings and we all push up from our seats. “See you in fourth,” she calls, claiming my diaper bag as she and Roman head toward the exit.
I’m about to follow when Emilio reaches out and captures my arm. “A party?” he asks, his voice low. “Is that a good idea?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
He tugs me into falling into step beside him and we spill into the crowded hallway. “Because the last time you went to a party you—“
“Had a one-night stand? Got pregnant?” I grin. “Worried it’ll happen again?”
He drags me into an empty classroom and closes the door behind us before spinning around and pressing me up against the wall. My breath hitches as he trails his nose along my jaw line and takes a deep breath. “It better not happen again, unless I’m the one who puts another baby in this oven.” He presses a hand against my stomach. My eyes meet his hooded gaze in question.
“Already planning on knocking me up, again?” I joke, but he doesn’t smile.
“What if I was?”
