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“Are you ready for all the games we have planned?” Everleigh asks, and I groan.
“No games,” Gemma adds. “I planned activities instead because I know how much you hate them.”
“Thank you.” I sigh. “At least one of my friends listens.”
Everleigh snorts. “I listen, but that’s about as far as it goes.”
Gemma laughs.
Everleigh continues. “We got onesies to decorate and set up a photo booth and a cupcake table. Oh there’s also one small game. Guess the number of penises, I mean M&M’s in a jar,” she says, moving her arm like she’s giving me a tour. “And Belinda made your favorite sandwiches!”
“Oh my goodness,” I say, covering my mouth. “Y’all didn’t have to do all this for me. Not at all. I feel so…”
“Special?” Gemma suggests with a side hug. “’Cause you are!”
Mom comes over and offers me a bottle of water, and I laugh because she knows me so well. “If at any point you need a break, let me know,” she says with a wink. She has a way of distracting people so I can escape to the bathroom. Loretta says hello, and so does Missy, who hasn’t stopped giving me shit about being pregnant and getting the D since she found out.
The baby shower is actually more fun than I thought it would be. We do the activities that Gemma had planned and open gifts for what feels like hours. I’m overwhelmed by the kindness all the ladies have shown me and by how much stuff I’ve gotten. When it comes to celebrating having babies in Lawton Ridge, these women are all in. After that, we eat the yummy club sandwiches and chocolate cupcakes Belinda made for the event.
As things come to an end, I stand and give a small speech, thanking everyone for coming out and loving me so much. Of course, I cry, and tears splotch my dress. The room explodes into applause, then people trickle out. While some of the ladies from church stay to clean up, I sit at a table and have another cupcake, and my best friends join me. They plop down across from me, and I’m overjoyed by how amazing all of this has been. I’ve got everything I need for when the babies arrive.
“You know, this party was just missing one thing,” I admit with a snicker.
“What?” Everleigh asks around a mouthful, and Gemma meets my eyes.
“A woman coming and slapping you in the face for sleeping with her husband,” I barely get out before I burst into laughter.
Gemma nearly chokes because she’s giggling so hard.
“Oh, the thought crossed my mind,” she says, totally okay with being poked at. One thing I love about Everleigh, it’s often hard to get a rise out of her. If she can make herself the butt of a joke first, she will every single time.
“You know Archer got parole,” Gemma eventually says.
“Really?” I ask.
“Yep. He’s planning to fly here the week before Thanksgiving.”
I nudge Everleigh. “Oh, you better get your place ready.”
She licks her lips and bats her eyelashes. “I’ve been ready.”
Gemma shakes her head. “Tyler isn’t happy about the arrangement, but between you and me, I’m glad he’s staying with you. Just be aware Tyler’s been preparing his threatening speech about behaving around you.”
Everleigh groans and rolls her eyes. “I’m a grown-ass woman and will dowhatandwhoI want when I want.”
I snicker. “This is very true.”
“Of course it is,” Gemma says, then leans across the table. “And I know how you like those bad boys.”
“Damn straight,” she admits. “And honestly, Tyler can act like I’m his innocent little sister all he wants. He has no idea how dirty I can be.”
“No, he doesn’t,” I say, and my eyes go wide when Tyler walks up behind Gemma and Everleigh.
“He’s behind me, isn’t he?” Everleigh asks, and I nod.
“Maybe I should be giving you the speech then,” Tyler says as Gemma turns around and wraps her arms around his waist. He bends down and kisses her forehead. “Are we early?”
“No, you’re right on time. It officially ended about fifteen minutes ago,” I confirm.
