“Celebratory burgers,” I say, patting my stomach and offering her a genuine smile. “We just came from the imaging center.”
Brandy leans against the edge of the booth, her smile turning curious as she takes in the way Mason’s arm is draped over the back of the seat behind me. “You look wonderful, Janey. Honestly. There’s a light in you.” She shifts her focus to the brothers. “Which one of you is on daddy duty in a few months?”
“Both of us,” Mason and Brookes say in unison.
“Alrighty,” she smiles. “You two take good care of her? I’ll be checking in with Angela, so don’t think you can slack off.”
“With everything we have,” Brookes says, his voice dropping into that serious, gravelly tone that always makes me feel like the center of the universe.
Brandy laughs, a warm, rich sound that cuts through the hum of the diner. “Lord, I don't know how you handle two of them. One rugged cowboy is too much trouble for me,” she adds with a wink.
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.
She shakes her head. “My life is complicated enough.Enjoy that milkshake. You’ve earned it.”
As she walks toward the counter to place a to-go order, a sharp thump hits the window beside us.
Brookes nearly jumps out of his skin.
Wade grins through the glass, palm still pressed to the window. Beside him, Joelle is laughing, with one hand resting on her small bump while Caleb holds Little C against his shoulder.
Little C waves both hands wildly.
I wave back, laughing.
A minute later, the diner door opens, and my bestie’s family spills inside.
“Well, well,” Joelle says as she reaches the booth. “Look at you three. Glowing after the ultrasound?”
I immediately pull the pictures from my purse. “Look.”
Her face softens at once. “Oh, Janey.”
She slides into the booth across from me, and Wade and Caleb settle beside her. Little C hovers impatiently until Mason lifts him onto the edge of the booth.
“That the baby?” he asks, pointing at the picture.
“That’s the baby,” I say.
He squints. “Looks like a bean.”
Brookes laughs. “That’s what I said.”
“You did not,” I say.
“I thought it.”
Mason taps the picture gently. “That’s the best-looking bean I’ve ever seen.”
Joelle wipes at the corner of her eye. “I can’t believe this is happening. Both of us.”
I reach across the table for her hand. Her fingers squeeze mine.
“Two pregnant best friends causing scandals together,”she says.
Wade chuckles. “This town’s never gonna recover.”
“Good,” Brookes says. “It could use some excitement.”
