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“Yeah, but it’s Christmas, so it’s okay to spoil me,” Hailee replies, making us both laugh.
“Oh really? We’ll see what Santa says about that, little miss!”
Hailee grins, her eyes falling back to the paperwork as she lets out a long exhale. “I own a binary star.” She sighs.
I chuckle, patting the Saturn hat on her head and hoisting her off the footstool. “C’mon, time to head to Revel Rose for a catch-up.”
“Can I take my hat and star charts to show everyone?”
Zoey grabs the charts from her and nods. “Yeah, but we have to go. We should have been there ten minutes ago.”
Hailee glances back at the telescope. “Can I have one more quick look at my star?”
I smile at Zoey, and we both nod. “Five more minutes, then we have to go.” I hoist her back up, and she rushes to the telescope.
A sense of pride washes over me as Zoey cuddles into my side.
I did good.
I didrealfucking good.
***
Hailee is doing the rounds, showing everyone her certificate of authenticity and that she is the proud owner of the binary star. I must admit seeing her so delighted floods me with happiness.
She makes her way over to an eight-month-pregnant Brianna, and she shoves the certificate into her face making Bri chuckle. “I see… how exciting! I am so glad you’re so happy, Hailee.”
Hailee lets out a long exhale. “It’s like Christmas has come early. I mean, how can Santa compete with this? The big man will have to do something amazing,” she says, making us all laugh.
Paisley sits with two-year-old Jackson on her lap, and she shakes her head. “I can’t wait until Jackson is past the biting and demolishing everything stage so we can have a tree again. Right now, this little terrorist just wants to destroy everything in his path.”
Cleo bursts out laughing. “I don’t think you’re allowed to call your toddler a terrorist, Paisley.”
Paisley snorts out a laugh, handing Jackson over to Cleo, and he instantly starts pulling at her hair. “You take him for fifteen minutes, then come back and tell me what you think.”
Lucas chuckles, sipping on his beer. “She’s right, Cleo. You think that hair-pulling is bad? Wait till the food comes out, and you’re trying to eat your dinner.”
Cleo winces as Jackson yanks hard on her hair again, and she goes to hand him back to Paisley. She laughs, taking a step back. “Oh no. There’s no return policy. He’s yours now,” she jokes and walks away, leaving Cleo looking like a deer lost in the headlights.
“It suits you,” Cade says, walking in from somewhere, and we all turn to see him.
Widening my eyes, I smirk. “Where the hell haveyoubeen?”
He scowls. “What do you mean? I’ve been here since you guys got here?”
Everyone snorts out a laugh. “Yeah, but you go missing for age—” Suddenly, his cell starts ringing, and he raises his finger, halting me.
“Oh, I’ve got to take this,” he says, then walks away again.
We all shake our heads as Nash steps up to my side. “That guy is a full-blown mystery.”
“Anyway, let’s celebrate because next month, your daughter is coming into the world, and you’re finally going to take some time off work to relax and spend some time with Brianna and your baby. What the hell are you going to do without bossing Lucas and me around every day?”
Nash chuckles. “I’m going to love being home with my girls for a little while, but honestly, you know I’m still going to call in and annoy the hell out of you.”
“Figures,” Lucas mocks.
“And I’m finally going to be able to spend some time figuring out what I really want for our wedding,” Brianna says, making us all groan.
