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I rest my hand on his arm. “Ask me again, though.”
“I will.”
“Come over for dinner later.” I pause, then quickly add, “If you want.”
“Don’t you want to catch up with Libby?”
“I’m sure she’ll be done filling me in by dinnertime.”
“Okay.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. “I’d like that.”
Both of our phones ding. I turn mine over on the counter and flick the screen on. A photo of Serena holding a red-faced little bundle swaddled in blue blankets fills the screen. I sigh, smile, and get teary all at once.
“Baby Lincoln has arrived,” I say. “He looks pretty pissed too.”
Dex seems to be studying the photo more than I’d expect him to. Did he get a message with his?
“Aren’t they sweet?” I try to coax an answer from him.
“Huh?” He clicks his phone off and forces a tight smile. “Yeah. I just hope they have good doctors looking after them.”
I open my mouth, but I’m not quite sure how to respond to that. Obviously I hope so too, but that wouldn’t be myfirstthought. “I’m sure she does. Empire Med is known for having a top-notch birthing center. That’s why she said she didn’t switch to someplace closer to their new house.”
“Yeah,” he mutters absently, his gaze now focused on the window behind me. “Hope and Heidi were there too and did okay.”
For a single guy, he sure seems to know a lot of obstetrics info about his brothers’ wives. It’s sweet. But I can’t help wondering if there’s more to it than plain concern.
Dex
The long ride from Emily’s to the clubhouse is turning into a blessing. It gives me plenty of time to clear my head and organize my thoughts.
I ride up our long driveway and pull into the garage. Rock’s vehicles are here. That doesn’t always mean he’ll be easy to track down. Unlike Z, I’m not comfortable barging into Rock’s house on the weekends…or any other time.
I’ll check the clubhouse first and if he’s not there, I’ll text him.
Inside, a few people are hanging around the living room watching television. I nod to Sparky and Stash, whosurprise, surpriseseem to be high. Sparky waves, then stares at his hand.
The war room door stands open and the lights are on. No one called church but it’s not unusual for brothers to use the room to chat about stuff they don’t feel like sharing with the entire house. Rumor has it our president has used our table for “private time” with his wife, but that’s none of my business.
I poke my head inside. Rock, Wrath, and Z are at the table. Rock and Wrath are in their usual places. Z’s sitting in Teller’s spot.
Z notices me first and flashes a big, dimpled grin. “Look who it is!”
Rock lifts his hand, motioning for me to come in.
I pull out the chair next to Wrath and take a seat. “Looks like we have another baby King.”
Z grins. “He’s a cute little shit, right?”
“I don’t know about cute. He looks as grumpy as his father,” Wrath adds with a hard laugh.
Rock shakes his head. “We were talking about what we can do to help Grinder out.”
“I’ve already been trying to ease him into his position slow,” Z says, all serious now. “Things are quiet down there anyway.”
“Why’d you have to say that and jinx us?” Wrath snarls. “Now all hell will break loose.”
Z rolls his eyes, then taps his knuckles against the hardwood table. “Better now?”
