Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Alyssa laughs. “Did you ever buy new swim trunks since yours split open at the end of the season last year?”’
“Damn. No, I didn’t. I’m probably going to need those for the trip, huh?”
“Yep.”
“Remind me to give you my card before you leave, and you can grab me a pair. Actually, grab me two. You never know what could happen.”
“Any special requests?”
“Nope. You know my style just as well as I do.”
“You mean clean, wrinkled, and some just a little bit faded from welding all day.”
“Smartass.” I reach over and poke her side, making her splutter with laughter. “And yes, that’s exactly it,” I concede. “But the wrinkle thing is no more. Not since I started giving my clothes a couple of spins in the dryer. I’m wrinkle-free.”
“You know that’s wear and tear on your dryer and hell on your electric bill. You could just hang them up or fold them as soon as they’re dry, and voilà, no wrinkles.”
“I seriously hate laundry.”
“Your future wife is in for a battle with that one, huh?” she teases.
“It’s called compromise.”
“What are we compromising on?” Archer asks, taking a seat in the recliner with a heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs.
“I was just telling Sterling his future wife is going to have a field day with the way he does laundry.”
“She’s right.” Archer points his fork at me. “You suck at it.”
“Like you’re any better.”
“Hey, I might live out of clothes baskets, but at least they’re all folded.”
“Progress.” Alyssa nods her approval. “Oh, do you want me to make you a salad?” she offers.
“Nah, if I’m still hungry after this, I’ll make one. It’s great, by the way.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re spoiled,” Archer tells me. “Not only do you have a cool-as-hell best friend, but she also makes you these awesome dinners.”
“Don’t forget that I do his shopping too.”
“Shopping?”
“Yep. The girls and I are going shopping for our trip tomorrow, and I’m going to pick up some swim trunks for him.”
“Oh, shit, that night was the best. It’s a good thing Blakely wasn’t there when you jumped out of the pool with your twig and berries hanging out for all to see.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” I defend.
“It was pretty bad,” Alyssa tells me. “All I saw was your bare ass, but rumor has it the front was just as bad.”
“They split up both sides. I couldn’t do that again if I tried.”
“Let’s not try,” Archer says, reaching for his beer. “I’m scarred for life. I can’t afford any more damage.”
“Whatever.” I flip him off, and he rolls with laughter, almost spilling his plate of spaghetti on my floor.
“Are you ready for the movie?”
“Yep, and I don’t even care if you make me watch a chick flick after this dinner. It’s delicious, Lys, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She hits Play, and the three of us settle in for the action film.
The only thing that would make this night any better is if the rest of my family were here.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Alyssa
“Brooks is already freaking out,” Palmer tells us.
We’re sitting at the food court at the mall having lunch. We’ve been shopping since early this morning and have been finding some good deals.
“About what?” Ramsey asks.
“Next week I’ll be six weeks from delivery, and he’s convinced we should stay home.”
“We’re not going to be far from a hospital,” Kennedy tells us. We all must be giving her weird looks because she grins and says, “Declan looked.”
“Of course he did.” Ramsey laughs. “If anyone should be freaking out, it’s me. We’re going the week before my wedding,” she reminds us.
“How are you not freaking out?” Jade asks her.
Ramsey shrugs. “Stressing won’t change anything. As long as at the end of the day, Deacon is my husband, and all of my favorite people are there, I can’t ask for more.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to be my sister.” Palmer wipes at her eyes. “Don’t mind me. Pregnancy hormones.”
“What she said,” Kennedy adds, also wiping at her cheeks.
“It’s real,” Jade chimes in. She bats her eyelashes, which are beading with tears. “I freaked Orrin out the other night. He came into the bedroom, and I was sitting on the bed with the remote in my hand, crying. I was watching a stupid commercial for coffee. You know, the ones where the soldier comes home surprising his family by waking them up with a fresh pot of coffee. Tears, lots and lots of tears.”
“I wanted kids. I want kids—” she places her hand on her belly, “but damn these hormones are no joke,” Piper mutters.
“Right? This isn’t a glowing review, ladies,” I tell them.
“For all of the hormones and trips to the bathroom, it’s still worth it.” Palmer smiles, placing her hands over her baby bump. “When I get to feel her move, it’s life-altering.”
“Stop.” Ramsey blows out a breath. She takes a minute to gather her emotions before speaking again. “I can’t wait until that’s me. Deacon and I want to start a family right away. We want our kids to be raised with all of yours.”