Page 55 of Accidentally in Love

I sighed. Avery had asked me about Thanksgiving at our Doctor’s appointment right before the holiday, and I had been an enormous dick to her. I didn’t know she was trying to ask me to come to her dad’s.

“I was a dick.”

“Colossal one. I thought she told him now that you’re getting married. I’m sorry, I thought he knew.”

“Avs and I will deal with it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Gem, it’s okay. He would find out soon, anyway. Shit, should I have asked for his blessing?”

She laughed. “Hell no! My sister would have definitely said no again if you did that.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I better get this to your sister before I head to the brewery.”

“I’ll see you later for my shift,” she said and went back to unpacking her things.

Without another word, I walked down the steps and drove back to my house. When I walked into the house, it smelled like a bakery. Avery and Lizzie were sitting at the kitchen table, laughing over a plate of cookies. I set the box down on the table and pulled out the appliance.

I held it up. “This is what you wanted, right?” I asked.

“Oh, thank you!” Avery said and jumped up to hug me tightly. Her baby bump pressed against my stomach as I wrapped my arms around her.

“Did you know Gemma already started moving into your apartment?” I asked while resting my hands on Avery’s stomach. It still wowed me that our baby was growing inside there.

Avery looked confused. “No… I think my landlord needed to talk to her first…”

We shared an exasperated look.

Avery sighed. “She just up and started moving in, didn’t she?”

I nodded. “You know, Gem. She already had boxes and everything.”

Avery shook her head. “She wasn’t supposed to just move in! I guess it doesn't matter; this month is already paid for.”

“That sounds like Gemma,” Lizzie cut in. “She waits for no one.”

I nodded in agreement; that definitely was Gemma. Sometimes, she could be a flake, but no one could stop her when she set her mind to something.

Lizzie got up from her chair. “Hey, you two, I’m gonna get out of your hair.”

I shook my head. “No, you stay. I gotta head out to the brewery, anyway.”

She shook her head and put her coat on. “Nah, Wyatt and the kids should be home soon, so I better go. I’m happy for you two. Am I getting invited to the wedding?”

Avery shook her head. “We’re gonna go to the courthouse. You understand.”

Lizzie nodded. Wyatt came from a big family, and neither of them wanted a big fuss. They ended up going to Vegas and got married by Elvis. It suited them. I let go of Avery and let her hug her friend goodbye.

“Do I get a cookie?” I joked when Lizzie left.

Avery laughed and handed me two. “Sure big guy, you deserve two.” She leaned up on her tiptoes to give me a quick kiss… or attempted to. Avery was so tiny that I had to bend down to press my lips against hers. “Thanks for dealing with my moodiness this morning.”

I patted my stomach. “I can’t have all these cookies in the house.”

“They’re not all for you!” she teased.

I crammed the cookie in my mouth and chewed around it while I watched her ease herself back into the chair. “How do you feel?” I muttered through bits of cookie.