Page 105 of Lethal Attraction

Loxley smiles before grabbing his ear and dragging him down to her. “If you do this to me again right after I push this baby out, I’m going to fucking end you. Do you understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he swallows.

She pats his cheek before pulling away and noticing us. “Oh! Hi, Reed!”

My boyfriend waves awkwardly. “Hi.”

Loxley claps her hands together before motioning to the man at my side and Taryn. “Great. Two doctors. I have questions.”

Taryn shrugs as she looks at Reed. “We might have answers.”

Everyone takes a seat at the table, and it’s a little crowded, but it feels…right. My family is here, before my very eyes, and it makes something grand swell inside my chest. I’m going to be an aunt; I have everyone I love in one spot, and I can’t imagine a future where this isn’t always happening. The bar. One of our houses for a cookout. Just all of us.

It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and seeing Reed blend so seamlessly and fit right in is making me emotional. Everyone loves him, and by the look on his face, he’s loving them too.

I slide onto his lap, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and placing my head next to his as I let everything wash over me. He’s finding little ways to touch me the whole time, his hand lingering on my knee while the other rubs my back affectionately as he discusses possible ways to help induce labor.

“Curb walking is a good one,” Taryn says around her glass. “Getting plenty of exercise can make labor easier.”

“Eating dates,” Reed adds as he tips his beer towards his colleague.

Loxley is frantically typing everything up in her notes app on her phone, her brow drawn in concentration as Atlas scowls.

“What the fuck is a date?” My brother asks.

“It’s a fruit,” Rowan says with a bored tone from across the table.

“Exactly,” Reed says. “A fruit.”

Atlas stares at him. Then at Taryn. Then back at Reed. “You’re telling me my wife has been carrying a whole human being for nine months and the solution is fruit?”

“It’s not a solution,” Taryn laughs. “It just might help.”

Atlas huffs. “That sounds stupid—”

Loxley cuts him off sharply with a finger pointed in his face. “You don’t get opinions. You aren’t pregnant.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Connor is laughing so hard he’s trying not to choke on his beer. Even Bailey has lightened up, her mouth quirking into a smirk as she sips from her whiskey glass. Addison is trying to offer some kind of help to her best friend as she throws out ideas from her searches on her phone.

Loxley turns back to Reed and Taryn with a fresh wave of determination. “Okay. What else?”

“Spicy food,” Reed says.

“I’ve tried that.”

“Walking,” Taryn suggests.

“Tried it.”

“Yoga,” Reed pitches.

“Tried it.”

“Sex,” Taryn says casually.

The table goes silent. Atlas immediately straightens. “Now we’re talking. We should do that now.”