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Aaron’s warm palm slid to her waist. “Ready to keep going?”
She leaned into him. “Yeah. Is Nash okay?”
Aaron shrugged. “He’s not really a talker. I let him know if he needs anything, I’m here.”
“You’re a good man—the best.”
Aaron led her towards the picnic area and kissed her temple. “I do what I can, but my wife? She’s the real heroine of this story.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Why?” They walked under the shade of a few oak trees.
“Because she wouldn’t be where she is without the patience, love, and understanding of her amazing husband.” A giggle slipped free.
“I think you would have found your way. You just needed a safe place to land, and someone who listened and ordered you to take up space and disagree with them.”
She laughed again, and this time Aaron joined her.
“Hey, you two newlyweds!” Mikel called out, standing from the picnic table next to his seven-year-old son, Phoenix, who was busy reading a book out loud while his cousin Zoey drew pictures next to him.
Remy spun around, then set a plate in front of their daughter, Lyra. “Brynn! How are you?”
“I’m great. And you?” Brynn gave her a hug as the rest of their friends got up from their seats around the two picnic tables pushed together. Their family was so big now that they even had a few blankets set out where Bently and Belle’s foster teens sat, happily chatting and snacking.
Remy pushed her braids behind her shoulder. “I’m just trying to come to terms with the fact that next month I’ll officially have a teenager.” She motioned to Lyra on the blanket with Bently and Belle’s adopted daughter, Amara, with her friend, Lyric. The boy couldn’t keep his eyes off her, suggesting he might have more than friendly feelings towards her.
“Honestly, I take it one day at a time,” Brynn replied.
“Everything all set for the fireworks later?” Aaron asked Bently.
Bently wound his arm around Belle’s shoulders. “Yup. Fire department will start setting up in a couple hours.”
Atlas, and Finn joined them, their conversation droning in the background as their wives greeted Brynn.
Mia and Andre, two more of their friends, joined them, their three-year-old daughter and five-year-old son charging ahead.
“Buenas tardes!” Mia cried. “You guys have done a wonderful job this year with the Juneteenth event.”
“I barely had anything to do with it.” Brynn shrugged as Andre picked up his son and threw him high into the air before catching the giggling boy.
“We both know that isn’t true.” Jasmine smirked, brushing a crumb off her toddler son Hart’s cheek before he snuggled shyly into Atlas’s arms.
“You and Aaron make a great team,” Belle added.
“I like to think so.” Brynn cast a quick glance at her husband, his broad shoulders showing off his salmon-colored T-shirt that stretched over his muscular torso. The bright color contrasted with his warm brown complexion.
“I know that look,” Charli teased, drawing Brynn’s attention away from her handsome husband.
“What look?” Brynn asked.
The ladies laughed together.
“The same look that got me pregnant again.” Charli sipped her cup of lemonade.
“You’re pregnant?” Brynn asked.
“Congratulations!” Remy said, the other ladies joining in.
