“Congratulations, you two. When’s the due date?”
Nicolette goes into biology mode. “As you may know, conception is calculated from the date of the LMP, or last menstrual period. Some like to use ovulation tracking, since conception is estimated to occur within three days of ovulation. But as the LMP is used to calculate the EDO, or estimated date of ovulation, we can just use the first date of my last period, which was?—”
“Uh, babe,” Helix says gently, squeezing her shoulder. “That’s a little TMI.”
“Oh, right.” She turns back to the screen with a self-deprecating smile. “The estimated due date is March sixth, and we couldn’t be more excited about that since it’s such a significant day.”
I scramble through my brain, trying to remember something important about that date before tapping on my phone screen to bring up my calendar app. Nope. I’ve got nothing.
“Sorry, it’s been a long day, so my brain isn’t fresh,” I say tentatively. “Can you remind me why it’s significant?”
Nicolette looks aghast at my ignorance. “That’s the date DmitriMendeleev presented the very first periodic table to the Russian Chemical Society in 1869.”
My lips roll between my teeth to stifle my laugh. “Ah, my assistant forgot to put that on my calendar. I’ll fire her immediately.”
Everyone cracks up, even the happy couple. Perri dabs at her eyes and giggles. “You two are going to have the cutest little nerd baby ever.”
“I’m a little afraid of that baby,” Phoenix announces. “He or she will probably be smarter than me by the time they’re a month old.”
Helix flips him off. “Our fetus is already smarter than you.”
As I listen to my siblings bicker, I rub a spot right over my heart. I’m absolutely thrilled to be an uncle again, and I couldn’t be happier for Nic and Helix, but deep inside my chest, a tiny part of me feels a pang of something else.
A word that starts with J and ends with ealousy.
The clock is nearing midnight when my phone rings. Reaching across my bed, I pick it up and unplug it before smiling at the name on the FaceTime request.
“Cesar fucking Marnotti,” I say when I answer.
“Remington fucking Hale,” he replies, and we share a chuckle at our usual greeting. “How are you, my friend?”
“Not bad. You?”
He rubs the spot between his eyes and spits out an annoyed noise. “My father is pressuring me to get married.”
My eyebrows shoot upward. “Really? I wasn’t even aware you were dating anyone.”
His dark eyes go flat. “I’m not.”
“Ah, I see. So, like, a… business arrangement?” I choose my words carefully. Though Cesar has never specifically told me, I have reason to believe the Marnotti family is connected to organized crime in New Orleans.
“Not so much. He says he wants me to marry before Nonna passes away.”
My forehead furrows. “Cesar, I’m so sorry. I know how much Nonna means to you, but I didn’t know she was ill.”
He waves a dismissive hand around. “She’s not sick. Healthy as a goddamn horse. We know that old woman will outlive us all. Fuck, she’ll probably take over running the world when God retires.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I could totally see her doing that. Everyone would be required to pray to the pasta gods every Sunday.” A sigh escapes my lips. “I miss Nonna’s spaghetti bolognese.”
“Come to N’awlins and she’d be happy to make it for you. We might even be able to scrounge up some crawfish, even though we’re at the tail end of the season.”
“You’re tempting me, man,” I drawl. “It’s been a while since I’ve visited.”
“I have an even bigger temptation,” he says, waggling his eyebrows. “Golf.”
“I’m in,” I say instantly, earning me a laugh from Cesar.
“I haven’t even told you about it.” I roll my hand to tell him to get on with it. “It’s in January in Florida. A pro-am tournament with each team having one professional and three amateurs. It’s for some charity. We’ll get to play with a pro and save the wetlands.” His eyebrows dip in thought. “Or is it the whales? Fuck, I don’t know. Might be the ozone layer. Is that still a thing?”
