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Ryan snorts. “Nope. But I’ll tell you what, the second this kid asks for a dog, he’s getting one. Aren’t you, my little Lukey-boo?”
Everyone gawks at Ryan.
“What?”
“Anyway, kids aren’t the same as dogs. You can’t leave a kid home alone,” Heather says to our cousin.
“Afraid they’ll chew your shoes?”
“No, Brando. Where have you been sneaking off to, anyway?”
Frowning, he tucks his chin, but the faintest hint of rose creeps up his neck. “I haven’t been sneaking off.”
I tap my chin. “You have so. Odd, it hasn’t been reported on the Coconut Wireless.”
“Then it didn’t happen.” As if wanting to take the attention off himself, Brando says, “Ryan, I’m joking around. You’re a great dad. And you’re glowing,” my cousin says to me.
“I’m glowing?”
My husband’s eyes land on me.
My lips play with a smile and it’s then I realize the rest of the crew has gathered around—Ryan’s brothers and their significant others, well, not CJ, obviously, because he’s the lone wolf, wild card of the family.
Harper and Heather study me from head to toe.
“Yep.”
“She’s glowing.”
“If I’m glowing, so are you.”
Heather winks.
Harper shrugs as if she’s keeping her secrets.
“We’re all married women. We can glow, you know. But mine is more of a sweaty sheen after working here all day.” I brush my hand across my forehead.
Then Ryan blurts, “I can’t keep it to myself any longer. Can we tell them, Nugget?”
But Luke beats us to it and points at my belly yelling, “Ba! Ba!”
“Ba like a sheep?” Brando asks.
“That’s baby speak for baby,” Rosalie says, joining our impromptu gathering.
Brando breaks out into a blush and, flustered, says, “Oh, right. I knew that.”
“You’re expecting?” Isla bounces.
I beam a smile at Ryan. “We are.”
“Baby boy number two.”
Everyone cheers and we discover that not only are Ryan and I growing the family, but Isla is also pregnant along with my sisters. Twins and singles respectively.
“Coco Key is having a population explosion,” I say.
I expect Brando to laugh, but he’s gone. Rosalie too, though I expect she went to make a report on the Coconut Wireless. Oops. I don’t think I’m supposed to share that she’s behind our gossip messaging system.
