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Next to Paxton was Steed, looking at Paxton like she hung the moon. My stomach dropped at the sight. It was beautiful to watch a man look at the woman he loved like that.
Next to them, Wade and Amelia exchanged secret words. The smile on both of their faces almost screamed We have exciting news too. I couldn’t wait until they shared it.
The last couple was Mitchell and Corina. Baby Merit had crashed in Mitchell’s arms. She was only about four months old, and my goodness did she have the bluest of blue eyes. I wanted to walk over and ask Mitchell if I could hold her, but Daddy was not about to let his little one out of his arms. Corina caught me staring and smiled.
“Want to hold her?” she called out across the table. I jumped up, taking the invitation without hesitation.
“Do you mind, Mitchell?”
He laughed. “Not at all. She may be little, but she gets heavy after a while.”
Mitchell stood and placed Merit in my arms. She didn’t wake up. Corina and I walked off to the side as I stared down at the baby in my arms.
“Are you nervous?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yes. A bit scared, really. I mean, they’re adorable when they’re other people’s!”
She chuckled.
“Thank you for letting me come work for you at the bed and breakfast after the baby is born. It’s going to help out so much.”
Her smile was genuine. “Of course! It will be fun having you there, plus it frees up more time for me. My mom helps a ton, but it will be nice for her to be able to take a day off, as well.”
I rocked back and forth while staring at Merit. She was so precious. Everything about her was perfect.
Glancing up at Corina, I asked, “Do you know what the guys were talking about with the Smurf thing?”
She grinned. “Cord started it, I think, with Steed or Mitchell. I’m not sure. He said once the guys fell in love they walked around with this goofy, happy expression. Cord said they had been Smurfed.”
“Why Smurfs?” I asked with a little giggle.
“Smurfs are happy little people. Cord’s given each of them a name. So when he called Trevor Farmer Smurf and Trevor didn’t argue with it, they were all surprised. He was basically saying he’s happy and in love, according to the guys’ secret language.”
My eyes snapped over to Trevor. He was talking to Wade and Steed off to the side of the table. I watched him nod at something Wade was saying. He was so handsome he took my breath away. Lowering my gaze, I sighed internally at the way the man filled his jeans. It honestly made my mouth salivate knowing he didn’t have anything on but the jeans. Moving my gaze up to his button-up shirt, I could see his muscles move underneath the fabric.
Damn. The man was hot as hell.
“He loves you, Scarlett. I know he hasn’t always showed it, but we’ve all seen him struggle since last spring with his emotions about you.”
The sting at the back of my eyes was becoming familiar, but I pushed it away.
Focusing on Corina, I smiled. “It’s…complicated.”
“Why?” she asked her voice so sincere. But it was a question I wasn’t even sure I could honestly answer.
“I don’t know. I mean, he pushed me away for so many months, yet at the same time I felt like he didn’t want to push me away…if that makes sense.”
She nodded. “It does.”
“I see another side of Trevor coming out that he only ever shared with me. It’s confusing because I try to think it’s not about the baby, but I still do. That insecurity is slowly fading away. I just need time.”
Corina tilted her head, a slight smirk on her face.
“I have never doubted that Trevor was in love with you, Scarlett. I think we all saw, everyone but Trevor. He was scared, but the thought of you being with Eric was the punch in the stomach he needed to see the light. I don’t doubt for one second that Trevor wouldn’t be there for you and the baby. He’s a Parker, and his parents expect him to take care of their women and always be there for them. But this!”
She motioned to the room.
“This he did because he wanted you to be happy. He told his family you were robbed of celebrating this miracle and asked if we could be here tonight.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes drifting back to Trevor. He was laughing at something Wade was saying.
Her hand landed on my shoulder and she gave it a squeeze. “I’m not telling you to rush into his arms. I’m sure he did things that hurt you. I’m just saying, no man would do all of this for a woman he didn’t love with all his heart, and I’m pretty sure he’d only do it for the one he hoped he’d get to spend the rest of his life with. Don’t let it make your guard go up because you feel like he changed overnight. Love does some pretty crazy things to people, especially when they think they’ve let it slip through their fingers.”
