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Then, through the baby monitor, I heard him jabbering on and on.
“Dada. ”
Jeff and I looked at each other. The next thing I knew, Jeff was pushing me off of him.
He jumped up and threw on his shorts. “Holy fuck! He just said dada!”
He was out of the room before I could even get my wits about me.
I heard Jeff running up the stairs, and then I heard him open the door to Luke’s room.
“Hey, little bit, what’s going on?”
I smiled to myself because I could imagine Luke’s smile as he saw his dad walk in.
“Dada. ”
“That’s right, buddy. Dada is the boss and ruler of the house. Always remember that,” Jeff said.
“Dada!” Luke said with a laugh.
Funny ’cause I thought that was a joke, too!
I looked over at the monitor and watched as Jeff picked up Luke and brought him over to the camera. That bastard!
He looked up at the camera and waved. “Tell mama who’s the boss,” Jeff said as he smiled at the camera.
“Mama!” Luke screamed into the monitor.
Wait! What? “Oh my god!” I yelled. I got up and threw on a T-shirt and panties. I was quickly up those stairs and in his room.
Jeff was standing there, looking at Luke. “Dude…ah, man, I can’t believe you did me like that!” He kissed Luke on the cheek.
Luke was smiling at him. I leaned up against the doorway and just watched them. I loved my simple life with my sexier-than-fuck husband, beautiful baby boy, and precious gift in my stomach.
I frowned slightly as I thought of Amanda and then Heather.
Dear Lord, I know I don’t converse with ya much, but you know you’re in my heart. Please…please take care of my two girls.
I watched as Jeff changed Luke’s diaper, and then he walked around, singing to him.
It didn’t take long for my little man to drift back to sleep.
By the time Jeff and I crawled back into bed, I was ready for round three. I rolled over to whisper sweet nothings into Jeff’s ear, but I was greeted with a loud-ass snore. I flopped back down and let out a sigh.
Just then, he started mumbling in his sleep. I moved closer to him to see if I could hear what he was saying.
“Ari…another baby…baby girl…”
I sucked in a breath of air and held it. I slowly let it out as I touched my stomach.
Yep…this one’s a girl. I just know it.
Chapter Eighteen
I watched as Scott jumped out of his truck, wearing a stupid-ass smile. Bastard. I took a good look at him and his stupid perfect blond hair and blue eyes that Ari would go on and on about.
He smiled as he walked up to me with his hand held out for me to shake. “Hey, Jeff! What’s been going on? How is your friend Josh?”
Wait, how the hell does he know about Josh? “He’s doing good. How did you know? Did you see Gunner?”
With the way he was smiling at me, I already knew the answer.
“Nah. I ran into Ari at the store the other day, and she filled me in on everything. I need to stop by Gunner’s place and see the baby. Speaking of…where are Ari and Luke today?”
Fucking dickwad. I’m just glad his ass is getting married.
Just then, I heard Luke calling out, “Dada. ”
My heart swelled at least ten times its normal size. I looked over to see Ari walking down to the barn with Luke in her arms. She was wearing a light jacket and jeans.
Thank fuck it’s chilly outside.
“Hey, Scott! How’s it going?” Ari asked. She glanced at me and smiled.
“Hey there, Ari. How is that adorable little man of yours?” Scott asked with a grin on his face.
“He’s good. He said ‘mama’ last night! And not the jabber mamamama…but the real mama. ”
“And dada! He said ‘dada,’ too. ” I walked up and took Luke out of Ari’s arms.
“So, how are the wedding plans coming along?” Ari asked.
Scott’s smile faded as he looked down toward the ground. “Uh…Chelsea called it off. She, um…broke up with me two weeks ago, so…yeah, there isn’t gonna be a wedding. ”
I almost felt sorry for the fucker—almost.
“Oh no, Scott! I’m so sorry. Is there anything we can do?”
What? What the fuck would we be able to do?
Scott let out a little laugh and looked at me.
Yeah, you better think before you talk.
“I’m just trying to stay busy. I haven’t been out in forever, so I might head into Austin this weekend. ”
“You know what? You should come to Luckenbach dance hall with us all on Saturday night. Everyone is going. Dewey and Aaron and Jenny will be there, too!”
I just looked at Ari. “I’m sure he would rather go to Austin, babe. Isn’t that right, Scott?”
That fucking bastard winked at me and shook his head as he turned back toward Ari.
“You know, I haven’t see Dewey and Aaron in so long. It would be fun to go out with my old high school buddies. Count me in!”
Fuck me.
“Awesome!” Ari took Luke back and turned to head to the barn. She looked over her shoulder and called out, “Feel free to bring a date!”
I smiled because I knew my girl did that one just for me.
“Holy hell!” Ari said as we pulled up and parked in Josh’s parents’ driveway. “When Elizabeth said she wanted to have a party for Josh, she wasn’t kidding. ” Ari looked over at me.
I let out a laugh. “I guess with the accident and all, she kind of felt like she had a little more to celebrate. ” I got out of the truck and jogged around to open Ari’s door.
She hopped out and smiled at me. “I’m so glad my mom and dad said they could watch Luke. I can’t wait to just let my hair down!”
“I hear ya, babe. Feel free to get tipsy. We can stop at a hotel for a quickie before we get to your parents’ house. ” I reached down and kissed her quickly.
“Oh, I, um…yeah, I don’t really want to drink anything. ” She was looking everywhere but at me.
“Why? Are you not feeling well?”
“Oh no, I feel fine. Perfect in fact. I just don’t want to be out of it when we pick up Luke, that’s all. ”
We started to walk up the steps when Heather and Josh came out the door. I hadn’t seen Josh smile like that since before the accident, and Heather…well, she looked like she was on cloud nine. I knew she hadn’t told Josh about the baby yet, or Ari would have told me. I looked over at Ari. She must have noticed the difference in them, too. She winked at me and grabbed my hand.
“What the fuck are you two smiling so big about? Did you get lucky last night?” Ari asked.
“Oh nice, Ari. Really nice,” Heather said.
“I wish! My damn parents talked to us until two in the morning. My ass fell asleep on the sofa last night, and I woke up with a stiff neck,” Josh said, rubbing his neck.
Ari walked up to Josh and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Happy birthday, sweets!” she said with a smile and a wink.
“Thanks, Ari,” Josh said.
I reached out and took his hand, pulling him into a bear hug. “Happy birthday, dude. I take it you and Heather are getting closer?” I whispered in his ear.
He pulled back and smiled. “Not close enough. ”
Just then, Ari let out a small scream as she turned to look at Josh. “Yep…that true love shit is good stuff!” she yelled out.
Heather laughed and hooked her arm around Ari’s as they walked into the house.
“What was that all about?” I asked, slapping Josh on the back.
Josh let out a laugh as he shrugged. “I guess I used to call Heather princess, and I called her that last night. Shit, everyone thinks it’s a big deal, but I don’t get it. I mean, I know her dad called her that and all, but it just seemed natural for me to say it. ”
I stopped and grabbed his arm. “Dude, that’s fucking huge. I mean, you don’t remember, of course, but you calling her the same thing as her dad meant the world to Heather. It just shows how much you love her. It’s down in there, Josh. Something just needs to trigger your memory,” I said as I watched him look down to the ground.
“I love her, Jeff. I told her yesterday. I mean, I’m sure what I’m feeling is love. I’ve never felt this way before. Well, at least, I don’t remember feeling like this. I want to be with her every second of the day. I think about her anytime she’s not right there by my side. I dream of making love to her. I want to give her that damn ring so bad, so I can ask her to stay with me forever. ”
I smiled as I looked at him. He was like a brother to me, and I was so happy to see him feeling this way. “Josh, I’m really glad you feel this way, but do me a favor. Don’t rush anything. Just take your time. Keep the ring in a safe place, and you’ll know the right time to ask. Make it special for her, a time she’ll never forget, because you won’t get a do-over. ” I winked at him.
Just then, I saw Ellie running up.
She stopped and kissed Josh on the cheek. “Happy birthday, Josh!” She turned and took the steps two at a time to head into the house.
Gunner walked up and slapped Josh on the back. “Happy birthday, dude. Sounds like you made Heather one happy girl yesterday,” he said with a smile.
Josh laughed and looked at me. “Yeah, well, she’s made me pretty damn happy as well. ”
I watched as Ari and the girls stood off to the side, talking and laughing with each other.
Damn that girl. Everything about her turned me on.
She glanced over at me and smiled. She was having a blast. Josh’s dad had set up a huge dance floor, and the girls were taking advantage of it. They were all having a good time without any babies around.
I watched as Ari walked over to Jack.
Ah shit. It was never a good sign when she would request a song.
She practically skipped over to me and reached out her hand for mine. When I took her hand, I instantly felt that familiar shock run through my body.
“Twirl my ass around on the dance floor!” she said with an evil smile.
I grabbed her, picked her up, and carried her out onto the dance floor. Just as I was letting her body slide oh-so-slowly down mine, “Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House” by Garth Brooks started playing.
I laughed. “Did you request this song?”
She smiled, and we took off two-stepping. As the song played, she was only singing the same damn line, not the other lines in the song.
“Workin’ on a full house,” she sang softly.
I pulled away and looked at her. The moment her eyes met mine, I knew. Holy shit. “Baby…you’re pregnant?” I silently hoped I wasn’t reading this wrong.
When she gave me a big smile, I saw that glow on her cheeks. Then, I thought about last night and how she couldn’t get enough of me.
She slowly nodded.
“We’re having a baby?”
“Yep. I took a home test yesterday at my parents’ house. I made an appointment for us next week!” she said as she placed her hand on the side of my face.
I put my hand over hers, and then I pulled her to me and kissed her. The small moans coming from her were driving me mad. I leaned away and looked around. I grabbed her hand and started walking toward Josh. He was sitting at the bar by the pool, talking to a few people. Ah shit. Victoria was one of them.