Chapter 45 Arden
ARDEN
“What…is going on here?” Lana asks as she sits down on the patio, accepting the pink cocktail from Nessa without question as she pushes her sunglasses up on top of her head.
Despite being together last week for our collective baby shower, Ellison invited everyone over for a barbeque. Because why wouldn’t she?
She points at the group of men huddled around the three strollers in the driveway.
“Dad and Montana went to the store together and got one of those really expensive baby strollers that does everything but make coffee. So there’s that one, a backup just in case, and then Jensen brought his stroller out to compare. ”
“And look how easy this is!” Montana exclaims as he throws open the back door of the truck and puts the car seat into the dock.
“Jensen has been doin’ a lot of nodding. I think he’s upset Remi is too big for that system,” Nessa says.
“Are you and Mason having kids?” I ask Lana, surprised at how animated Mason is as he folds and unfolds the stroller.
“No, he just likes babies.” She waves between me and Ellison. “Make sure he gets his fill of yours.”
“There’s so much nodding,” Nessa says, taking a sip of her drink as Ella joins us and Bodhi walks toward the stroller party.
“Wow,” Ella says, sitting down next to Lana before clinking their glasses together. “This is hot.”
“Is that what we’re going with?” I ask but I can’t deny that I’m a little flushed watching Jude do bicep curls with a car seat from each travel system.
“Yes,” the others say in unison.
“Competence is sexy,” Ellison says pointedly, “and look how happy they are!” She squeals and we all laugh.
“Plus it’s nice that if we ever need someone, there’s no shortage of car seats or men who know how to use them,” Nessa says, crossing one leg over the other.
“Uh-huh. Mason said that when the guys were teasing Bodhi one night about his impending road trip with this one,”—she elbows Ella playfully—“Bodhi just said goodnight and took Remi home with him.”
“I remember that, although Jensen said Bodhi’s response was a little more colorful than that,” Nessa says, leaning forward and pointing at Lana. “We used every second of that free time.”
“As you should,” Ellison confirms. “Max! Show me how that thing breaks down again,” she yells, drawing the attention of all the guys in the circle.
“You just want to stare at my ass, Eddie.” He grins as he places his hands on his hips, adoration in his eyes as he looks at her.
“It’s a nice ass, Max.”
“I think I just threw up in my mouth,” Bodhi deadpans. The rest of the guys snicker as Montana turns around with faux indignation.
“Mind your business. I’m flirtin’ with my wife.”
“Good lord, he’s hot. Excuse me, y’all. I have to go do very naked things with that man,” Ellison says, setting her drink down and using the table to help her stand. “You guys stay as long as you like.”
The rest of us giggle as my sister leads her husband back toward their house, the two of them already kissing and pawing at each other.
“You know,” Nessa drawls, “if I didn’t like them so much, I’d find them completely obnoxious.”
“But look how cute they are!” Ella coos.
“Should we pick a book club book without her?” Lana asks but I shake my head.
“No. She’ll be mad and then she’ll pick something awful so we all have to suffer through it next month.”
“You know I just come to drink, right?” Nessa says. “Bea gives me the highlights. Hey, where is she today?”
“I think Archer took her away for the weekend,” Lana says with her eyebrows raised.
“No way! Is he finally gonna ask her to marry him?” Ella squeals. “Oh my gosh, those two are my favorite! He still blushes every time he sees me at The Poppyseed even though we’re friends now.”
“He is precious, isn’t he?” I muse, remembering how I’d talked to him and Montana for the paper because despite the odds, their families’ farms continued to thrive. It gave me hope for the quirky, small town, and it was one of the things that really made me fall in love with Blackstone Falls.
“Definitely,” Lana says. “That reminds me I need to get more soap from Bea when they’re home.”
“For you?” Ella asks. “I think I have some if it’s an emergency.” She winks and I just shake my head.
“No, it’s for Mason.”
Nessa snorts out a laugh. “I love that all these big strong men love that damn soap so much.”
“He says he likes the way it makes his skin feel,” I parrot and the girls laugh even though they’re all nodding in agreement.
“Don’t hear you complainin’, Tennessee,” Jude murmurs, the words all low and throaty.
“Never said I was—just that it’s adorable.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, his lips quirk up on one side. “Well, let’s get you on home and I’ll show you just how adorable I can be.”
I don’t hear what anyone else says as Jude offers me his hand.
And I take it, letting him lead me back toward the truck.
Because it’s definitely time to go home.