“About time,” Guy calls out from the porch steps. “I thought for sure you would have had some kind of emergency and ducked out on us.”
Miller laughs, and Logan shakes his head. Ozzy just stands off to the side, arms crossed over his chest, watching me like he can see straight through me. “We’ve been waiting on you,” he says, staring at me.
I force a smile. “You could have started without me.”
“Wouldn’t have been as much fun,” Guy says. “Plus I want to see the doctor get his hands dirty.”
I glance around the porch. “Where’s Eli?” Miller and Lindsey’s son loves family get-togethers, and I’m surprised he’s not here today.
“With Mom and Dad,” Miller says.
Lindsey smiles and leans into his side. “I’m sure he’s being spoiled and loving every second of it as we speak.”
Miller wraps an arm around her. “No doubt. Mom already had pancakes waiting when we dropped him off.”
Guy grins. “So what I’m hearing is Eli got the better deal.”
“Absolutely,” Lindsey says. “He’s probably eating on a tray in the living room and watching cartoons while the rest of you are about to work.”
For a second, everyone laughs, and I try to join in, but my wife is still standing stiffly at my side.
Zach leans down and kisses Skyler’s temple. “And speaking of taking it easy, you are not doing anything today.”
Skyler rolls her eyes. “I’m pregnant, Zach. I’m not helpless.”
“Nope.” Zach points toward the house. “You are going inside, sitting in the air-conditioning, putting your feet up, and letting everyone wait on you.”
She opens her mouth, but he keeps going. “And before you argue with me, I already recruited backup.” He looks at Aria, Bree, and Lindsey. “Ladies, I’m trusting you to make sure my wife doesn’t lift anything heavier than a glass of sweet tea.”
Bree smiles. “I can handle that.”
Lindsey nods. “Same.”
Aria laughs softly, and the sound hits me in the chest. I’ve missed that sound.
Zach cups Skyler’s face and kisses her, not caring that all of us are watching. “I love you. Go rest.”
Skyler’s face softens. “Bossy.”
“Only with you.”
Logan wraps an arm around Bree and presses a kiss to her mouth. “Don’t let Skyler talk you into anything.”
Bree gives him a look. “I think I can handle your sister.”
Miller kisses Lindsey next, low and quick, but the way he looks at her says everything.
I glance at Aria. Any other time, I would pull her close and kiss her too. I would whisper something in her ear and make her blush before the women disappeared inside.
But she won’t even look at me. Her eyes are on Skyler, and her fake smile is back in place. She’s trying to act as if everything is okay, but they all see through it. I can tell by the worried look on each of their faces.
I take a step toward her anyway. “Aria?—”
She moves before I can touch her, walking up the porch steps with the women.
None of the other women seem to notice, but from the way Ozzy’s jaw tightens, he does.
“Come on,” Ozzy says, turning toward the barn. “We’ve got work to do.”
