Chapter 30 #2
Duke’s family is going to be so happy for us. They already are, despite the, ahem, less than perfect circumstances that led to us getting together. It’s nice to know we’re not going to be judged for what happened.
It’s nice to know we’re going to be celebrated for it instead.
My boyfriend—I still can’t believe this delicious specimen of a man is my boyfriend—emerges from the cottage.
He’s carrying a large metal tray that contains all the accoutrements we’ll need for our s’mores: a box of graham crackers, stacks of Hershey’s chocolate bars, and a big bag of marshmallows.
In his other hand, he holds a bottle of Coca-Cola, which he holds out to me.
“Sally and Wyatt swear it tastes better in the glass bottle,” he explains. “So I grabbed some at the grocery store. I know the carbonation helps settle your stomach some.”
Taking the bottle, I shake my head. “You’re lucky your family’s about to be here. Otherwise I’d be climbing you like a goddamn tree.” I take a sip of the Coke. It’s sweet, ice cold, and so delicious I can’t help but moan. “Thank you.”
He grins. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. You’re welcome to climb me anytime, sweetheart.” Leaning down, he presses a quick, hot kiss to my mouth before setting the tray on the nearby picnic table.
Ryder is the first to arrive. He’s wearing a Bellamy Brooks T-shirt and a big smile.
He’s also holding a gift that’s wrapped in pale yellow paper.
My throat closes in as he mounts the steps. I stand, and he loops an arm around my neck and pulls me in for a hug.
“Hey, mama,” he says. “Congratulations.”
I can only whisper a reply. “Thank you.”
“I’m thrilled for y’all.”
I see Duke approach over Ryder’s shoulder. “You whisperin’ sweet nothings into my girlfriend’s ear?”
“Just some words of wisdom for the mother of my niece.”
Leaning my head against Ryder’s shoulder, I swallow. “So you’re convinced it’s a girl too?”
“Definitely a girl. We need more of ’em in this family.” Ryder pulls back, and my heart twists when I see that his eyes are wet. “Glad you’re one of them, mama.”
Duke glances at me, brows knit. He’s not sure if I like being called that.
I don’t like it. I love it.
“We’ll see if you and dad are right.” I lean over to curl my hand over Duke’s shoulder. “I’m still thinking it’s a boy.”
“It’s definitely a boy!”
I glance to my right and see Mollie and Cash approaching. She’s got a bouquet of flowers in her hand, and Cash is carrying a huge box.
“What’s that?” My heart begins to pound.
Mollie grins. “Just a little something I know you’ll like. I’m sorry I didn’t have time to wrap it.”
“Dang thing is heavy as hell.” Cash sets down the box on the porch with a grunt. “Means it’s gonna be sturdy.”
Ducking to get a better look, my eyes blur over when I see that it’s the dream stroller Mollie and I gushed about the other day. We’re obsessed. She likes it in heather gray, and I liked it best in bright red.
She and Cash got me the red.
“Y’all.” I cover my face with my hands. “You did not need—”
“Yes, we did.” Now Cash is pulling me in for a hug. “I love that our babies are gonna be almost the same exact age. It’ll be like having twins.”
Wyatt’s face splits into a grin. Where the hell did he come from? “I think we got enough of those in the family. Hey, Wheeler. Welcome to the family.”
“Please don’t make this weird,” Duke says. “Wheeler and I are dating. Yes, we’re also having a baby, but we’re not—I’m not—”
“Gonna wife her up?” Ryder rolls his eyes. “We all know it’s happening.”
Duke does that thing where he looks at me, gauging my reaction.
I’m crying and I’m smiling and, wow, Sawyer and Ava are here, and so are Ella and Junie, who are currently wrapping me in the world’s sweetest little group hug.
“Y’all ready to make s’mores?” Duke squats in front of them, a handful of sticks in his hand. “I know I am.”
“Yes!” Junie jumps up and down. “But what is a more?”
Duke smiles. It’s so handsome and so genuinely happy that I feel short of breath. “It’s only the best dessert ever invented. Here, I’ll show you how we make ’em. You start with the marshmallow, which we put on the end of this stick…”
Sally insists Mollie and I sit in the pair of rocking chairs in front of the fire. Ryder insists I open his gift. Everyone breaks out in awwws when I hold up the little onesie dotted with cowboy hats and horseshoes.
“Dude.” Duke sets a plate of s’mores on my lap. “Where the hell’d you find that?”
Ryder shrugs. “Billie helped me pick it out.”
“Billie?” Cash raises his eyebrows. “Colt know about y’all hangin’ out?”
“There’s nothing to know.” Ryder’s voice has an edge. “I asked her for a favor, and she helped me out.”
Wyatt claps his hands. “Oh, Lord, there’s more to that story, ain’t there?”
“Shut up,” Ryder says.
“Tread carefully is all we’re sayin’.” Wyatt holds up his hands. “You know how the Wallace boys are.”
Sally pats his stomach. “Almost as bad as the Rivers boys are.”
“True story.” Duke sets down his stick and wipes his hands on a towel. “I’d like to think we’re more handsome, though, right?”
“Of course you are,” I say, picking up my s’more.
Ella and Junie are happily munching on their treats, their little faces already streaked with melted chocolate and marshmallow. I take a bite of mine and nearly moan again.
“You’re also really good at making dessert.” I lick some chocolate off my thumb. “This is delicious, Duke. Maybe you’re not so far off from cracking open those cookbooks.”
He meets my eyes. “Ready when you are.”
“I hope that means y’all are ready to officially share your ‘surprise’ news.” Cash swipes a s’more off the tray by the fireplace.
Duke slips his hand through mine. “Ready?” he asks me.
“Not like everybody doesn’t already know.” I set down my plate and stand up. “You wanna tell them?”
“I mean, I do. But if you have something you’d like to say…”
I squeeze his hand. “You first.”
“All right.” His broad shoulders rise on an inhale before he glances at his family. “Y’all will be happy to know Wheeler finally agreed to be my girlfriend.”
Wyatt throws up his hands. “Hell yeah, she did!”
“What a shocker.” Sawyer smiles as he slips his hand into his front pocket. “The two of you have only been making eyes at each other for how many months now?”
Ava gives him a playful shove. “You know better than anyone that timing is everything.”
“So do you.” He leans in to kiss her.
Duke gives my hand a squeeze. Your turn.
I also take a deep breath. “We’re also going to have a baby. He or she—”
“She,” Ryder says.
Wyatt nods. “Definitely a she.”
I’m smiling so hard my face hurts. “She—or he—is due a little after the New Year.”
The patio erupts in hoots and hollers. John B and Patsy have snuck their way in, and they clap, absolutely delighted.
I watch, eyes brimming, as Ryder extends a hand to Duke.
He takes it, and then Ryder is pulling his twin in for a hug—the kind where guys slap each other on the back because they’re so overwhelmed they don’t know what else to do with themselves.
Ava and Mollie are crying, and Sally is taking both my hands in hers, eyes gleaming as she tells me how excited she is to see the family grow.
“Gimme a bump.” Mollie sticks out her stomach. “C’mon. Don’t make me wait, Wheeler. I know you wanna.”
It’s my turn to roll my eyes, but I give her the belly bump she’s looking for. Then she pulls me in for the fiercest, tightest hug she’s ever given me.
“Proud of you, friend,” she says in my ear. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Getting knocked up by cowboys?” I say with a laugh.
“Yes. Also, loving yourself as hard as you love him.”
My heart lurches. Yes, I’m well aware that I’ve been in the process of falling for Duke.
Falling hard and apparently falling fast, because hearing that word—love—in relation to him feels…right.
It feels true. Which should scare the ever-loving shit out of me. I mean, it wasn’t long ago that I was terrified to date the guy. Now I’m in love with him, and I’m not panicking or running for the hills?
“Who the hell am I?” I manage.
Mollie gives me one last squeeze. “You’re exactly who you’ve always known yourself to be. I’m legit thrilled you finally have the courage to acknowledge her. Also, congrats on the superhot stud. I mean that literally.”
“Ha. Funny cowgirl joke.”
“I am a cowgirl now.” She pats my back. “Only a matter of time before you become one too.”
Cash, who’s been shamelessly eavesdropping, gives me a smile. “Howdy, mama.”