“Thanks, Jett and I have to agree with you.”
Speaking of… I snap a quick picture and send it in the group chat. “Jett and Stevie went with Adam to practice?”
“Yeah, Stevie wants to meet Miles. And them hitting it off will most likely be crucial for her not absolutely going crazy at the baby shower.”
“Eh, I don’t know, I could see that duo getting into a bit of fun trouble.” I chuckle. “They won’t hurt anything, I promise. It’ll be great to see them play together. And any mischief they have will mostly be a great distraction from my mother.”
“You say that now, wait until Stevie’s sliding down your banister after a cupcake.”
“At least there’ll be entertainment.”
Andie coos as she plays patty-cake with my stomach while Foster rolls and kicks back.
“I think they like each other.” I dip back into my baby voice.“Are you two best friends?”
Wyla chuckles as she works around to my other side. “If not, we’ll force ’em. I always thought Nashville was going to be my and Jett’s favorite place since we met there, but Boston is quickly growing on us.”
“Oh, any chance I can convince you to move here?”
“Sorry, girl, I fear I could never fully leave Aster Creek, but I’m thinking we’ll be visiting a whole lot more.”
“I’ll take it. Who knows, maybe we’ll come down to you sometimes, too.”
“Anytime, babe. Any?—”
“Mia,” my mother calls from my bedroom, and before I can even respond, she calling my name again. “Mia…oh, there you are. I was knocking and knocking on your front door.”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you, but thankfully you know the code to get in.” I bounce Andie slightly in my lap. “I’m a little preoccupied right now.”
“I see that.” My mom comes around my side. “Who’s this sweet angel?”
“This is Andie, and her mom, Wyla. Her husband Jett used to play with Adam in Seattle.”
“Oh, more baseball players for your father. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very excited for you, dear, but I’ve told him he has to keep his baseball talk to a minimum.” My mom looks to Wyla with a shake of her head. “He’s always been a huge Blues fan. I suggested we only do women for this shower, but that idea was voted down rather quickly.”
Yeah, that was not happening. Between the way my aunt handled us moving in and our situation entirely… I need more buffers here. I’m half tempted to start the whole shower off with a giant disclaimer, so I don’t have to answer the same rude—yetdelivered in a very polite manner—questions about how Adam and I are doing thingsdifferently…
At least with the team and our friends here, we should be able to escape a few of those conversations rather quickly. My dad was really thinking of himself on that front, though; seeing him fangirl over the team really is one of my favorite things.
“Well, I’m going to get everything situated downstairs, but first…can I hold the baby?”
“Mom.” I hold Andie close when she starts to reach before Wyla can even answer.
“What? I’m sorry, I’m excited for my grandbaby to get here, and she’s so adorable.” She leans back, holding her hands up. “I can wait.”
“It’s so okay.” Wyla chuckles. “Take her with you if you want. She doesn’t know a stranger. All I ask is no one kisses her.”
“We can do that.” Mom scoops little Andie right up from me. “We have a lot of setting up to do. I’ve got caterers coming, a dessert board, and decorations to do. You’ll be my perfect little helper.”
“Boss people around,” I mimic in my mom’s soft tone.
She snorts. “And you thought you got your bossiness from your father…ha, comical.”
“Great, then it’s hereditary. Think we’ll have Foster as our first female president?”
“One of, I hope. I’d love to see a female president in my lifetime.”
“Amen.” Wyla lifts a hand.
