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He stops the truck in front of her friend’s house. “Do you have a ride home?”
“Her mom will drive me home.” Libby shoves the door open. “Thanks, guys.” She waves as she races up the driveway.
Gray waits a few seconds until Libby disappears inside and then puts the truck in drive.
“Thanks for doing that. Helping Emily out with transportation was the one thing she asked me to do when I moved in.”
“It’s really not a problem.” He glances over. “Feels like it’s good practice, anyway.”
“I think we have some time before our little peanut is bursting into our room and asking us for rides.”
He shakes his head sadly. “Time has a way of slipping out of our grasp.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Grinder
Family night at the clubhouse is almost as loud and chaotic as chow time in prison. The big difference is how happy everyone is to see each other. I’m also not worried about anyone stabbing me. Food’s better too. Maybe it’s just the noise setting me on edge.
Serena seems to be agitated too. She’s been fidgeting with her hair or dress every few minutes since we arrived at the clubhouse. No matter how many times I tell her she looks beautiful. I shouldn’t force her into making this announcement. But what she said after leaving the doctor’s office really got to me. She needs some knowledgeable females who can help her with pregnancy stuff.
“Hey.” I pull her closer. “Instead of announcing it to everyone, would you rather just talk to Rock and Hope?”
She seems to contemplate that for a second. “No, I geared myself up to make the announcement. So we might as well.”
That’s not encouraging but I take her at her word.
“Is this a Spring Thanksgiving?” Z asks, pointing his knife at the four turkeys lined up on the table. “What’s going on here?”
“We let Sparky pick the menu,” Trinity says.
“I thought meat was murder?” Wrath shouts down to Sparky.
“Tasty, tasty murder!” Sparky yells back.
“Were the Brussels sprouts your idea too?” Jigsaw picks one up and chucks it at Sparky who catches it in his open mouth.
“Don’t start throwing food,” Rock warns. He lifts his chin at Alexa whose eyes gleam as she reaches for a Brussels sprout.
“No, no,” Heidi says, placing the bowl farther away.
“Apologies for setting a bad example for the little ones,” Jigsaw says, dipping his chin at Heidi.
“Bad example for humanity, you mean,” Murphy says.
Jiggy reaches over and stabs a sprout with his fork. “That too.”
“If that goes anywhere but your mouth, I’m gonna stuff every one of your holes full of Brussels sprouts until you’re airtight,” Z warns.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Prez.” Jigsaw grins and sticks the sprout in his mouth, chewing slowly. “Mmmm, bacon grease. These aren’t bad.”
“That’s how my mom made ‘em,” Sparky says.
“You have a human mother?” Steer gasps. “I woulda sworn you were hatched from an egg.”
“It’s going to be a while until we get to the adult conversation,” I mutter to Serena. “So don’t lose your nerve.”
She’s too busy shaking with laughter, an improvement from earlier.
As we start on dessert, Rock taps his glass. “All right. Anyone have good news to share this week?”
“I won my trial,” Charlotte says.
A round of applause goes around the table.
“You help set some poor helpless criminal free, Char?” Wrath asks.
“You know it.” She raises her water glass in his direction. “Seriously, though, no. It was a defamation case for a private client.”
“Very nice, Charlotte.” Z looks around the table. “Who else?”
“One of my book covers won a contest,” Trinity says. “I’ve had a lot of new jobs come in from the exposure.”
“Was it one of your hot man-chest covers?” Rav shouts.
“Was Wrath on the cover?” someone else asks.
“No and no. It’s something new I tried, that’s why I’m extra excited about it doing so well.”
She gets a loud round of applause.
“Anyone else starting to feel like our women outshine us a little?” Dex asks.
“Yeah, but that’s nothing new,” Murphy points out. “We’re used to it.”
“Speak for yourself,” Stash says.
“Oh yeah? What’d you accomplish this week?” Murphy asks.
“I ate an entire family size bag of cheese puffs all by myself in one sitting.” Stash stands and pats his stomach.
“Is that where my cheese puffs disappeared to?” Sparky’s face twists with outrage.
Butcher raises his hand. “I raised my kill-death ratio in Call of Duty to a solid three-point-oh.”
“I rest my case,” Murphy mutters.
Rav raises his hand next. “I went two whole days without watching any porn. Like, none.”
Across the table, Charlotte’s jaw drops. “You need a good therapist who enjoys a challenge.”
Rock closes his eyes and takes a long, slow breath. “Let’s save whatever kind of achievement that is for the after dark segment of the night.”
I stand and pull Serena up with me. “Serena and I have news.” I curl my arm around her waist. Her body trembles slightly and I give her a squeeze. “We’re having a baby.”
