Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Of course, what did I know? I’d never been friends with anyone who was pregnant before.
“We want everyone to split up into two groups,” Sariah said. “Lars and Sheridan will stand on my left, and Wes and Hadley on my right. If you think Lars and Sheridan are having twins, stand on the left side of the yard. If you think it’s Wes and Hadley stand on the right.”
“But how will the pink or blue smoke or whatever tell us who’s having twins?” Boone asked.
“Just be patient,” Sariah told him, grinning.
She handed two thick tubes that almost looked like large Roman candles to Lars and Sheridan, and Lucy handed two to Wes and Hadley.
“One of the tubes is empty,” Lucy said. “So you’ll shoot all four at the same time.”
“Are you ready?” Sariah asked.
Everyone in the crowd started to hoot and whistle, calling encouragement to them.
“On the count of three,” Lucy said.
“One, two—” She and Sariah counted together.
“Three!” Everyone yelled at the same time and the two couples shot colored smoke into the sky.
Two clouds of pink and one of blue.
Wes and Hadley had one empty cylinder and a cloud of blue smoke.
Meaning Lars and Sheridan were having twin girls.
Holy shit.
Everyone crowded around both couples, playfully chastising Lars and Sheridan for not telling anyone they were having twins and congratulating all of them. I watched from a distance, happy for my friends even as I sought out Lucy.
As if she’d sensed something was up, she moved closer to me.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Do you want children?” I whispered against her ear.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Don’t you?”
“Yes. Very much.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my god. Are you getting baby fever?”
“I don’t know what this means, but yes? I want a baby with you. Maybe several.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I was surprised at the simple answer.
“Not right now,” she said, tipping up her face as she chuckled. “There needs to be a ring on this finger first, but yes. I want babies too. Before I’m too old to enjoy them.”
“Wedding next year, maybe a baby the year after that?”
“Yes.” She moved into my arms and I stroked my hands down her back as I kissed her.
“I love you, Lucy.”
“I love you too.”
“I am ready to go home and start practicing.”
“I’m one of the hostesses,” she said, shaking her head. “And the girls have nine thousand gifts to open. Plus, I know you’re going to want cake.”
“Okay. I will settle for cake. For now.”
“Baby-making practice later,” she said, playfully elbowing me in the ribs.
“Deal.”
I watched as she made her way over to where Sariah, Sheridan, Hadley, and a few other ladies had gathered. With a smile, I wandered over to join my friends and teammates.
“Congratulations,” I said to Lars, shaking his hand.
He grinned. “It’s been killing me keeping it a secret, but we didn’t know the sex and we wanted to wait until today to tell everyone.”
“Are they identical or fraternal?” Boone asked him.
“Identical.” Lars looked over at Sheridan. “I hope they look like her.”
“And another boy for our captain,” Nash said. “I think there will be a lot of babies coming in the next few years.”
“Anything you want to tell us?” Rory asked him.
“No kids until we’re married,” he said. “But sure. We want kids when we’re ready.”
I didn’t contribute to the conversation, happy to hang out and listen. At one point, I looked up and found Lucy’s gaze on me. I winked and she blew me a kiss.
A cloud of contentment settled over me, something I’d never experienced before, and it was all because of her.
Right here, in a random Missouri neighborhood I’d never heard of until a few years ago, I had everything I’d ever wanted and a few things I’d never allowed myself to even dream of.
Not bad for a skinny kid from Siberia.