Chapter 22
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
Charli
“’Bout time you got here,” Lizzie says, pulling me into a big hug.
“I got behind with these,” I reply, holding up the plastic container of chocolate chip cookies.
“Oh!” she says, taking the container and opening the lid. “I better try one of these before Cade sees them.”
I chuckle. Cade has the biggest sweet tooth, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t take a handful of the cookies before anyone else gets an opportunity to have one.
But to be honest, I didn’t make them for him.
After I got back to my condo, I paced the living room for a good ten minutes, trying to figure out why I didn’t want Quinn to leave.
I know he’s frustrated at me, but he’s too much of a good guy to cause a big discussion that could end up an argument.
Last night, when he was about to offer to stay, I know he saw my hesitation.
I don’t know why I did that, but a part of me is still scared.
That’s right, boys and girls. Me, Charli Miller, is scared.
Of the feelings I’ve developed for him over the last few weeks.
They went from friendly and comfortable to…
more. He quickly became someone I can’t seem to live without.
And that scares me.
The last person I cared for hurt me more than I ever thought he could. I was all in, hoping to spend the rest of my life with a man who so easily could cheat on me when an opportunity presented itself.
Would Quinn do that?
No.
I already know he’s not anything like Richard, but that doesn’t stop the fears from creeping in every now and again, and lately, those insecurities are rearing their ugly heads regularly. I’ve convinced myself if I keep Quinn at arm’s length, everything will be fine.
But it’s not fine.
Last night, when he left, it wasn’t fine at all.
I hated it.
I wanted him to stay.
“You’re glowing!” Lizzie insists, her green eyes twinkling.
My heart beats hard in my chest, but I wave off her comment. “Oh, that’s just sweat. It’s getting hot out there,” I insist with a chuckle.
“Finally! I’m starved. Oaklee doesn’t feed me,” Cade bellows dramatically.
“It’s not my job to feed you,” Oaklee states, walking up and poking him in the gut. “I’m not your mommy.”
“No, you’re not. But I’m your daddy,” he sings, waggling his eyebrows.
“Gross,” I state as he pulls her into his arms and kisses her soundly. “I’m gonna throw up.”
He just grins when he finally lets Oaklee come up for air. “Don’t knock it until you try it, sister.” Then he levels me with a serious look. “But you’re not allowed to try it until you’re fifty.”
“Excuse me?” I ask with a laugh.
“No boys, Charlotte. No kissing. It’s gross, remember?” he says.
Rolling my eyes. “You’re gross. Kissing is great.”
“Dinner’s ready!” Mom hollers, interrupting the conversation and worming her way through the small crowd to approach me. “Hi, honey.”
“Hi, Mom. Dinner smells good,” I say, my stomach growling.
“Well, it’s not anything fancy. I know everyone has to work tomorrow, so I just did a meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, and creamed corn.”
My mouth waters. “Gimme.”
She throws her arm around my waist and leads me into the kitchen. She has the food set up in the kitchen on the stove and counter, so we all file in the open kitchen and make our way to where the food is ready. “Ladies first,” Mom announces, earning a shocked gasp from Cade.
“Rude.”
Mom rolls her eyes at him and continues as if he hadn’t spoken. “There’s lemonade and water in the fridge here, or the soda is in the garage. Lizzie, Oaklee, Charli, you ladies go first.”
You don’t have to tell me twice.
I get in line behind the other two and dive in, scooping up a heaping pile of mashed potatoes and plopping it down on my plate.
“Great, there’s gonna be nothing left, guys. Charli’s eating it all,” Cade mutters, earning a middle finger from me.
“She can have mine.”
I look up and see Quinn leaning against the doorjamb, the faintest grin on his lips as he watches me pile on the food.
“Of course you’d say that,” Cade says.
“Hey, where’s Laura? I thought you invited her?” Mom asks Camden, who is standing beside his best friend.
“Oh, uhh…yeah, we sort of ended it.”
“Sort of?” I ask. “How do you sort of end a relationship?”
“Well, I told her I wasn’t interested in traveling to Chicago to meet her family,” he says a bit sheepishly.
“You already know her family,” Mom states.
“I know her family because we live in the same town, but I don’t know them too well. She was wanting me to go meet her extended family. Like her grandparents and some aunts, uncles, and cousins who live there.”
My eyes widen. “Really?” I ask, taking a middle slice of meatloaf because it’s bigger.
“Yeah, and I’m just not ready for that,” he replies with a shrug.
“You know, if you get ready for that, I’ll have grandkids before I’m eighty,” Dad insists as he enters the room, walking straight over to where I’m making a plate and placing a kiss to my cheek. “Hi, baby girl.”
“Hi, Daddy.”
“If you’re wanting grandkids, old man, you’re talking to the wrong child. There are three a hell of a lot closer to making your dreams come true than me.”
My eyes instantly lift and settle on Quinn. He’s looking a little uncomfortable, his eyes cast downward, as if there’s something on the floor that’s the most interesting spot ever.
“Two!” Cade hollers, getting in line for the food behind Oaklee. “Charli’s not allowed to date until she’s fifty.”
“You’re being a touch unreasonable,” Oaklee tells her boyfriend, flashing him a wide grin.
I decide to head into the dining room instead of sharing our news, even though that might have been the perfect opening. Instead, everyone seems happier after their bellies are full, so I opt to wait to tell them about my pregnancy until closer to dessert. Mom’s sweets always lighten the mood.
Slowly, everyone starts to join me at the dining room table. I have my plate half empty by the time Quinn and Camden have a seat. “I’m gonna grab a drink. Anyone want anything?” he asks, glancing around the table and his eyes settling on me.
“Water, please,” I mutter with a mouth full of mashed potatoes.
He heads to the kitchen and returns with three bottles of water. He hands me one first before putting one at Camden’s place setting and the third in front of his. When all seats are filled, the conversation grows louder and more insistent, everyone trying to talk over someone else.
Collin’s attention seems to be on the woman beside him, who is happily chatting with Oaklee to her left. “I have an announcement,” he blurts out, grabbing everyone’s attention.
Lizzie’s eyes are wide as she stares at Collin. She seems surprised by the interruption at dinner, but not when he reaches for her hand and has her stand up. “Lizzie and I are moving in together.”
The room erupts into chaos, all excited for the oldest twin. I know it wasn’t easy for him to put his past hurt at the hands of an ex behind him, but he’s done a damn good job in the last year since he met Lizzie. I’m super happy and proud of him, and I adore her.
“You practically live together already,” Camden argues with a teasing grin.
“Yes, but now her home address will be the same as mine,” Collin says, bringing Lizzie’s hand up to his mouth and kissing her knuckles.
“Aww, I’m so happy for you,” Mom proclaims.
Before things start to settle down, Cade stands up. “Well, now I have an announcement.”
Eager and excited eyes turn to him, and the anticipation is building.
Cade takes Oaklee’s hand and says, “Oaklee is moving in with me.” When the room erupts into congratulations, he holds up his hand.
“I’m not done!” He gives his girlfriend the sweetest smile that makes tears burn my eyes.
Slowly, he brings her left hand up, and it’s the first time we catch sight of the big sparkly diamond on a very important ring finger.
The noise grows to an almost deafening level as everyone hoots and hollers.
Collin just shakes his head. “You just had to one-up me, didn’t you?”
Cade grins mischievously. “Too slow, brother. You could have proposed, but no,” he sings. “I beat you!”
Everyone is talking at the same time, and I have no idea what comes over me. I stand up and blurt out, “I’m pregnant!”
All the chatter just…stops.
“What?” Collin asks, confused by my outburst.
“Haha, beat you both,” I mutter, dropping back down on my chair and taking a bite of my potatoes.
No one moves.
No one says a word.
“You’re…pregnant?” Camden asks slowly, as if trying the words out for the first time.
“Congratulations,” Oaklee hollers, breaking the silence.
“Thanks,” I mumble, chewing.
“Who is the father?” Cade demands, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Wait, she’s joking,” Camden says with an awkward laugh. “You know, because you and I had big announcements. She’s just teasing.”
“Nope. Definitely not teasing,” I say.
“Then again, I ask, who is the father?” Cade insists.
I keep my eyes on my plate, as if it holds state secrets or something. Before I can figure out how to say the words, someone else throws them out into the universe.
“Me. I’m the father.”
All eyes turn to Quinn, including my own. Those dark orbs are soft, gentle, and so full of excitement, it steals my breath.
“Outside, Garrison!” Cade bellows, dropping Oaklee’s hand and pointing to the backyard.
“Oh my G—” I start but am interrupted.
“Yep. Outside,” Collin agrees.
Camden still looks confused. “You got my sister pregnant?” he asks almost absently.
“Stop it, right now.”
“Nope, he broke the rules, and now he has to pay the price,” Cade insists, pushing his chair in, plate of food forgotten.
“This isn’t funny,” I say, but it falls on deaf ears.
Quinn looks at me and says, “It’s okay,” as he pushes back and heads for the back door off the kitchen.
“No blood on the floor, boys!” Dad hollers, making me gasp.
“Daddy!”
He shrugs his broad shoulders. “It’ll be fine, sweetheart. Sometimes men have to figure things out for themselves.”