Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131821 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 527(@250wpm)___ 439(@300wpm)
Okay, yeah. No.
“Don’t finish that sentence.” I cut her off, but my tone is playful if anything.
Ari whips her head around, hitting me with a bright smile. She kicks so Noah will set her down, and she’s rushing for me in the same breath.
I don’t have time to brace, groaning when she slams into my chest for a full-ass hug.
“Shit. Sorry!” She jumps back quickly.
“It’s fine. Come here.” I pull her into my arms and hug her tight. And because she’s Ari, her sniffles follow soon after. “I’m okay, baby sister,” I whisper. “Promise.”
“Yeah?”
I nod. “I was fucked up for a couple of weeks, but I’m good now.”
“Thank god for that.”
My girl lays on the sass, and I glance back to find her leaning against the frame all fucking adorable like. I almost go to her, but Ari beats me to it.
“Oh my god,” my sister murmurs. “Look at you.”
The two hug, and Payton meets my eyes over Ari’s shoulder, playfully rolling hers. “Go ahead. Feel me up.”
Ari doesn’t hesitate, instantly running her hands along her belly, and the sight shifts some pieces inside me, yet another clicking into place.
My sister looks so honored, a giddy, loving eagerness bright in her brown eyes. She can’t wait for there to be a baby in our mix, something she’s dreamed of since we were way too young to even want such things, but that didn’t stop her from planning for it. She begged our parents to have another one for years, and as soon as we hit junior year of high school, she started talking about how she couldn’t wait until one of us had a baby of our own.
Of course we tried to take bets on who would be first, but everyone picked Brady, so the bet never took.
None of us expected a broken blond to join our mix.
Least of all me.
No one is happier than I am that she showed up.
The girls I’ve met on campus this semester, they meant nothing, and going back, I know I won’t even be able to entertain the noise. Not now.
Not after the last few weeks.
Last few months?
When is the last time I hooked up with someone? A couple weeks into the semester, maybe? A dumb drunken night that I hardly remember.
I remember every moment I’ve ever had with Payton, and I haven’t even kissed the girl yet.
I’m fucking going to.
The girls are still talking, but I’ve managed to tune them out, moving to Noah with an outstretched hand. “Riley.” I lift a dark brow. “Looks like my sister’s still in one piece. This shit serious now or what?”
“It’s whatever she wants it to be.”
“Good fucking answer, my man.” I chuckle, turning to Payton. “Payton, Noah. Noah, Payton.”
Noah smiles, giving a little wave. “Hi, Payton.”
A teeny tiny pink hue begins to creep up her neck, and I narrow my eyes, taking a half step before I realize it, as if to block his Prince Charming–looking ass from her view, but her eyes are already on him.
“Hey,” she says in greeting.
“Okay, intros are over.” I frown. “Inside. It’s getting cold as fuck out here.” I turn, raising a brow at her as I pass her on my way into the house.
I swear she thinks it’s funny, and I’m right when she teases, “Ari, did you know your brother is the bossiest person on the planet?”
Her words are purely for my benefit. Kind of like that part, though.
“Yeah, you get used to it.” My sister sighs dramatically, and I pretend to groan, flipping her off over my head.
My boys come in, both giving me that unsure, pitying look, but when I only grin, they wipe it away in an instant, coming in for a hug.
“Good to see you, my boy.” Brady slaps my good shoulder. “This motherfucker won’t shut up about you at practice.” He pretends to complain about Chase, but we all know it’s his way of letting me know they’ve had my back. As if I had any doubt.
“Oh yeah?” I grin at Chase. “Miss me, fucker?”
“Nah, just wanted to make sure the other dude trying to show off didn’t forget he was nothing but a stand-in.”
“My man.”
Chase smirks, moving over to say hi to Payton.
I watch as she beams up at him, laughing as he whispers something in her ear. Brady catches my eye, a brow raised, and I wink at the fucker.
“Whoa, whoa—” he starts, jumping out to grip my arm, fully intent on grilling me over what his perceptive ass is picking up on, but I dodge him, quickly whirling around the island.
I kiss Cameron’s temple, and she kisses the air in return, already digging into the fridge for something sweet, and I take a moment to look across my friends, all doting on the pregnant girl who’s glowing from the inside out.