“Then we’re on the same page.” He holds out a hand toward me.
I clasp mine against his and give it a firm shake. “We should probably hurry up before they start to question if they should send for help. Plus, I got a pregnant girl back there, who’s probably chewing on her thumb right now with worry.”
“She still does that?” Ford asks as we step out of the car. “She always used to chew on her thumbnail when we were kids.”
I chuckle. “She does, but I try to stop her whenever I can. It’s just a nervous habit.” I shrug with a smile, walking up to the door of the ice cream shop. “I actually find it pretty endearing.”
I give out the full order to the employee, ending with Aubrey’s request, so that her brownies stay warm by the time we get back. I also doubled it, which means we now have four sundaes and eight brownies.
“Well, shit, you really do have a sweet tooth.” Greyson laughs when he hears the end of my order.
“Actually, only one of those is for me. The rest is for Aubrey.” I laugh along with him.
It’s nice to be back to how things used to be. Greyson and I were never the closest, but we still got along well and jokedaround from time to time. We respected each other and it feels good to have that back.
“God, I do not miss the pregnancy days,” he says with wide eyes.
“I don’t know, I kind of like them. I mean, sometimes I freak out a bit internally when Aubrey gets emotional and has a meltdown. But aside from that, it’s been pretty great.”
He points a finger at me. “That’s because you have it easy. I had a pregnant wife who threatened to remove my balls and keep them as a trophy daily.”
I laugh in disbelief, but that totally sounds like something Emma would say. Maybe even do.
AUBREY
“Are you sure leaving them alone together is a good idea?” Gabe asks as I sit down on the couch between Morgan and Emma.
“I think so. Greyson wouldn’t have offered to go if he was still not okay with Shane.” I smile at him as he holds Gracie’s hands and makes her twirl slowly.
She wanted to dance and, of course, she asked for her favorite uncle to be her partner. I’m not sure where she’s been getting these ideas, but this is the third dance today they have had. Andyes, we’ve all admitted it by now that Gabriel is her favorite. She seems to have a soft spot for him.
Parker begins to fuss in his little rocker in front of Emma while she feeds Maddox. “Do you want me to take him?” I offer.
“Please? Cece, could you warm up Parker’s bottle for me? It’s on the top shelf in the fridge,” Em asks Cecilia who gets up right away and heads to the kitchen.
I slowly pick up Parker from his seat and cradle him in my arms with his blanky. “Hi, Little Duck. It’s okay, baby, your food is coming.” I bounce him gently in my arms. “I get it, I get fussy too when I’m hungry.”
Emma watches me with a soft smile. “You’re a natural at this,” she says as Parker begins to settle in my arms. “And by the way, the boys will be fine. Greyson has been asking me a lot of questions about you two.”
My eyebrows rise. “He has?” Despite my brother’s daily calls, I still wasn’t certain of how he truly felt about me and Shane.
“Mhm.” She nods. “I think he’s trying to put all the pieces together in his head, understand all the signs he missed.”
Cecilia returns with Parker’s bottle, and all it takes is a quick pass over his tiny lips for him to open up and latch onto it. “Well, I’m just happy they are finally moving passed this.”
“Trust me, we all are,” Clay grumbles as he walks around the room with Trinity in his arms, soothing her to sleep while Morgan holds Theo. “I’ve broken down more fights than I’d like in the last few years.”
“Thank you, milady, for this wonderful dance,” Gabe says as he bows in front of Gracie. She picks up the ends of her dress and does the same. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
“She’s been watchingCinderellaon repeat.” Emma giggles. “I guess she chose Gabe as her prince charming. Ronnie, I think you have competition here, better lock him up quick.”
When I look over at Ronnie, she’s nestled in Noah’s arms on the armchair, watching Gabe with hearts in her eyes.
“So, Ronnie, when are you giving us some nieces or nephews? You’re the only one left.” Cecilia snickers, knowing Ronnie does not like us bringing up the subject.
Ronnie gives her the stink eye. “What have I said about baby talk in front of these two?”—she points to her two men—“Once they get that idea in their head, they’re all over me for weeks.”
“And you’re complaining?” Emma cocks a brow at her.
