“No, we’re going to have a gender reveal so we can all find out together.”
And as soon as she says that I spin back to look at little miss smug. “And who is organising it?”
“That would be moi,” Violet answers before bringing her mug to her lips.
I shake my head and glance to Lottie, feeling my earlier excitement deplete.
“What? But I’m family.” I point to the rose petals—the ones I meticulously spread out all up the stairs and the hallway to the bedroom. “Who do you think helped do all of that lovey-dovey shit?” I ask, my eyes seeking out her engagement ring. Of course, she said yes.
I feel a hand patting my back. “You snooze, you lose,” Violet says in a condescending tone. She’s so irritating, it reminds me of Tinker Bell, and I’m not only talking about her height, five-foot-five at a push. Vi is sassy, feisty, stubborn, and hot-tempered, just like Tink. There’s no denying there’s a certain allure about her, oh, and not to mention she’s gorgeous.
“Maybe you could do it together,” Lottie says, pulling me away from my thoughts. Under any other circumstances, I’d say it's fine, but as soon as Violet pipes up, I already know I’m going to agree.
“What? No.” Violet’s lips form a slight pout before I look back to Ethan walking up behind Lottie.
“Are you stressing out my fiancée?”
“No,” Vi and I say in tandem.
“Good, then it's settled,” Lottie says, looking between us. “You can arrange the gender reveal together.”
Unable to stop myself, I plaster on the biggest grin I can muster and look at Violet. Take that,Tink.
“Yeah, well, I take great satisfaction in knowing that they’re having twins before you do.”
For the first time in a long time, I’m rendered speechless.Twins!
And then, without fanfare, I step forward and pull both Lottie and Ethan in for a hug.
“Oi, don’t squash the babies.” Violet tugs at my shoulder like she could physically make me move even if she wanted to.
But I release my grip and move away anyway. I don’t want to hurt the little peanuts.
“You can’t tell anyone else, though. It’s going to be a surprise,” Violet says with more sass than I want to deal with right now. She quirks an eyebrow and brings her mug to her lips again, polishing off her drink.
“Fine, but just so you know, you’re not my boss.”
She dares to wink at me before she flaunts off into the kitchen. And when I’m sure she’s out of earshot, I lean towards Ethan and Lottie.
“I can’t believe you told her before me. We’re family.” Won’t lie, it stings a little. Ethan isn’t just my cousin. He’s my best mate.
He chuckles. “So is she, man.” Well, fuck, what can I say to that? It looks like my favourite frenemy is now my family by default, whether I like it or not.
Resigning myself, I concede. “Fine, but she’s not calling all the shots.”
ChapterTwo
VIOLET
I can’t help but smile when I come back into the living room and hear Nathan’s reply, “Fine, but she’s not calling all the shots.”
Oh yes, I am.
“Keep telling yourself that, pretty boy.” As I pass him, I can’t help but put a little extra swagger in my step. “I need to get to work. How do we get the info for the gender,Char?” I ask, making sure to emphasise her name. I don’t really like them calling her Lottie, but don’t put up too much of a fight about it since it’s the name her brother called her and has recently resurfaced when they found each other and re-connected.
Char smiles. Gah, love looks so good on her. It's almost sickening.
“Oh, let me go get it.”
