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Friends and familyfill my house, and as Kennedy and I step inside, everyone goes eerily silent. It's like they're all waiting for the same thing, because they are. The baby's gender. It was hard enough not to let it slip when one person at a time tried to sucker it out of me. And now that we've finally gotten to today, the last thing I want is to ruin it at the last minute.
Bringing Kennedy with me, we push our way through the house and into the kitchen. I let go of her hand to get up on the island. Everyone watches me expectantly as I throw my hands in the air.
“It's a boy!” I shout.
Gasps and squeals fill the room as I hop down and wrap my arms around Kennedy. She looks up at me with her chin rested against my chest.
“That was very anticlimactic,” she tells me.
I shrug and drop a kiss to her forehead. “I couldn't hold it in anymore. Another minute and I was going to explode.”
People start making their way over to us, saying hello and congratulating us on our baby boy. Even just thinking about it makes me feel like nothing in the world could ever bring me down.
I'm having a son.
There's going to be a little boy that looks up to me.
If I'm being completely honest, that fact still scares the ever-living shit out of me. But running isn't an option. This baby is coming into this world, my baby, and I refuse to be a deadbeat dad.
“A grandson!” my mom squeals. “Oh, honey. I'm so excited!”
“Thanks, Mom.”
She turns to Kennedy, giving her a hug. “And you, dear. How are you feeling?”
“I'm okay. Just tired basically all the time,” she answers.
“Then just make Easton do everything. You're allowed.” My mom tilts her head at me. “Better yet, Eas, put it in your wedding vows.”
My mouth goes dry as I stare back at her. “Subtle, Mom. Really.”
“Well, you can't blame me for trying. I couldn't think of a better daughter-in-law than Kennedy.”
I watch as Kennedy shifts back and forth on her feet. She doesn't look uncomfortable, per se, but she'd definitely rather be talking about something else. Hell, so would I. It's hard enough not knowing where our relationship is going to go from here, let alone having my mother jamming fantasies of a future wedding down our throats. I'm trying to make her trust me again, not run for the damn hills.
“How about this, I'll promise to make you the first to know when she agrees to marry me, and you promise not to bring it up again until that day happens.”
My mother perks up. “So, that's a when, not an if.”
“Mom,” I say warningly.
She throws her hands up and backs away. “Okay, okay. I'm going.”
My dad pats me on the back and apologizes on behalf of my mom before following her over to where Amelia and Zayn are standing. Kennedy relaxes and chuckles, giving me a knowing look.
“What?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Amelia is going to kill you for that promise.”
“Shit. I didn't think about that.”
“Good job, slick,” she teases. Then after a moment, she looks up at me, and she looks...hopeful. “So, is it a when, not an if?”
I stare back at her, ready to throw my heart on the line for a third time—heartbreak be damned. But before I can answer, one hundred and sixty pounds of pure douchebag comes to stand in front of us, ruining the moment. Immediately, I have every urge to scoop Kennedy up and carry her out caveman style. He smiles at both of us like he's not mentally plotting how to steal her away from me.
“A boy?” he asks. “That's great, Ken. Congrats!”
“Thanks, Alec,” she replies, going willingly as he hugs her.
