ARIA
I shake my head before he can say anything else. “I’m okay.”
He doesn’t look like he believes me.
“I promise,” I tell him. “I’m happy for them.”
“I know you are.”
His voice is gentle, and somehow that makes the ache worse.
He reaches for my hand, and I let him take it.
We don’t talk much on the way to the hospital. Penn keeps one hand on the wheel and one hand wrapped around mine like he’s not willing to let go.
He was about to tell me what he’s been hiding, and I know it’s going to be even harder for him now that Skyler is having her baby. We both have so many emotions about this, and we’re both holding them inside for the time being.
When we get to the hospital, Penn parks and comes around to my side before I can open the door. He takes my hand again as we walk inside. The maternity lobby is easy to spot because the whole Brody family is already there.
Logan is pacing near the windows with Bree sitting in a chair, her hand resting on her still flat stomach.
Miller has Lindsey tucked against his side, and Eli is asleep in his arms. Ozzy is standing off to the side, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the floor.
His cowboy hat is pulled low, but I can still see his face.
Gran and Pops, Penn’s parents, are there too, sitting close together. His mother has tissues in her hand already, and his father looks nervous enough to pass out.
“Any news?” Penn asks as soon as we reach them.
Logan shakes his head. “Not yet. Zach texted ten minutes ago. He said she’s doing good.”
“Doing good?” Bree asks. “That’s all he said?”
Miller looks at her. “He also said if anyone asks to come back there before they’re ready, he’ll have security remove us.”
Lindsey smiles. “That sounds like Zach.”
“It sounds like Skyler too,” I say. “She probably told him to say it.”
Everyone laughs.
Nervous energy fills the room. Logan paces. Miller checks his phone. Lindsey keeps asking if anyone needs coffee. Bree tells her to sit down and then immediately stands up herself. The soon-to-be grandparents whisper to each other. Penn sits down beside me and takes my hand again.
Ozzy stays by the wall by himself.
I lean closer to Penn. “Is Ozzy okay?”
Penn looks at his brother, and his jaw tightens. “He will be.”
That’s not really an answer, but I think I understand. I’ve thought about how this birth affects me and Penn, but I haven’t considered what it’s doing to Ozzy. I’m sure he and Valerie wanted to have children.
Before I can say anything else, the lobby doors slide open, and Guy comes rushing in wearing a baseball cap, athletic pants, and a hoodie that looks like he threw it on without thinking.
“I’m here,” he says, slightly out of breath. “Tell me I didn’t miss it.”
Logan turns. “Where were you?”
“Airport.” Guy drags a hand over his face. “I was about to get on a plane when I got Miller’s text. I almost knocked over a guy in first class trying to get off.”
Miller lifts an eyebrow. “You flew commercial?”
Guy points at him. “Not the time.”
Bree laughs.
Guy looks around and goes to his mom and dad, giving them each a hug before turning back to the room. “Where is Skyler?”
“Zach is with her, and we’ve all been warned to stay put until we’re asked to come back,” Penn says.
Guy blows out a breath. “Okay.”
He drops into the chair beside me and lets out a big breath. “Hey, Aria.”
“Hey. Glad you made it.”
“Me too.” He leans back and looks at the ceiling. “Skyler would’ve killed me if I missed this.”
“She would have forgiven you,” I tell him.
He snorts. “You don’t know my sister.”
“I know her pretty well.”
“Then you know I’m right.”
I smile because he is.
Penn’s hand tightens around mine, and I glance at him. He’s watching Guy with a small smile, but there’s still a heaviness in his eyes. I squeeze his hand, and his thumb brushes over mine.
For a while, we wait.
A nurse comes out once, and everyone practically jumps to their feet, but she’s there for another family. Logan mutters something under his breath, and Bree tells him to sit down before he wears a hole in the floor.
Ozzy still doesn’t sit.
Guy notices too. “You good, Oz?”
Ozzy looks up. “Fine.”
Guy gives me a look like, See?
I press my lips together.
A few minutes later, Guy’s phone starts buzzing.
He pulls it out and looks at the screen, and his face instantly fills with anger.
“What?” Miller asks.
Guy doesn’t answer. He scrolls, and his jaw gets tight. Then he stands and walks a few steps away from everyone.
Penn sits up straighter beside me. “Guy?”
Guy laughs once, but there’s no humor in it. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Logan walks toward him. “What happened?”
Guy looks at his phone again. “Nothing.”
“That didn’t look like nothing,” I say.
He glances at me and then turns the phone so I can see the headline.
Baseball Bad Boy Guy Brody Spotted Leaving Bar with Mystery Woman — Has His Type Changed?
My stomach turns before I even read the rest.
Under the headline is a blurry picture of Guy outside a bar with a woman beside him. I continue reading.
Brody’s mystery companion is already drawing attention online, mostly because she doesn’t fit the mold of the women usually seen on his arm.
Known for dating slim blondes, the baseball star’s latest outing has fans questioning whether this curvy brunette is something more—or just another name in his long list of one-night distractions.
I scrunch my nose up. “Oh, that’s disgusting.”
Guy’s eyes flick to mine.
“Sorry,” I say, even though I’m not sorry at all. “But it is. That’s horrible.”
Lindsey comes over and reads over my shoulder. Her face hardens. “They wrote that?”
Guy locks his phone and shoves it in his pocket. “They write whatever gets clicks.”
“Who is she?” Bree asks softly.
Guy’s face immediately shuts down, and he shakes his head. “No one.”
Penn’s eyebrows lift. “No one?”
Guy glares at him. “Drop it.”
That only makes me more curious. Guy is always light and flirty. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him affected by something like this. He looks like he wants to put his fist through a wall.
Guy drops into the chair beside me again, still angry.
“You okay?” I ask quietly.
He looks over at me. “I’m fine.”
I give him a look. “I don’t believe you.”
He just glares at me.
I nudge him with my shoulder. “You think you should call the woman and give her a heads up… or maybe apologize.”
He glares at me, and I hold my hands up. “What? I’m just saying. If she means anything to you at all, you might want to check on her.”
He opens his mouth and then closes it, shaking his head. “You going to start giving me unsolicited advice too? You’re spending too much time with my family.”
“I married into it. I’m allowed.”
He looks toward Penn then back at me. “Yeah. You are.”
I’m still holding Penn’s hand, and I look down at our joined fingers.
I married into this family.
Even with everything happening between Penn and me, that’s still true.
These people are mine. Skyler, Bree, and Lindsey are my sisters.
Logan, Miller, Guy, Ozzy, Zach, all of them, they’re mine too.
And I don’t want to lose them. I won’t lose Penn either, no matter how much he thinks he needs to save me.
Guy leans back in his chair and stares at the opposite wall.
“So,” I say because I need something to keep my mind from spiraling, “is this mystery woman actually a mystery?”
His eyes jerk to mine. “Aria.”
“What? I’m just asking.”
He shrugs. “She’s a friend.”
I roll my eyes. “Uh-huh.”
He insists, “She is.”
“Okay.” I shrug.
He narrows his eyes. “Why do you sound like you don’t believe me?”
“Because I’m sitting beside a Brody man, and I’ve learned that when one of you says something too quickly, there’s usually more to it.”
Penn makes a sound beside me. “Careful.”
I look at him. “Am I wrong?”
He doesn’t answer.
Guy holds his phone up. “I’m going to call her.”
He stands up and walks away, putting his phone to his ear.
My mind goes back to what we’re here for. I stare at my hand that is being held by Penn. He’s holding on to me like he’s afraid I might disappear if he lets go.
A little while later, Miller stands up so fast his chair scoots back.
Zach is coming down the hallway.
Everyone freezes.
He takes off the scrub cap he’s wearing and smiles. “She’s here. Both mom and baby are doing well.”
The room erupts.
Bree and Lindsey start crying. Skyler’s mother sobs right into her husband’s chest. Logan hugs Miller hard enough to make him grunt, and Guy lets out a relieved laugh. Ozzy walks over to Zach and pulls him in for a hug.
Penn’s hand tightens around mine.
I press my free hand to my mouth, and tears fill my eyes before I can stop them.
I’m so happy.
Zach looks at Skyler’s parents. “Mom, Dad, she wants you first.”
Zach leads them down the hall, and for a minute, the rest of us just stand there waiting for our turn.
Ozzy turns away slightly, and I catch him wiping at his face. He tries to hide it, but I see.
So does Guy, but for once, Guy doesn’t tease him.
Penn stays beside me with his hand still wrapped around mine.
I lean into him, and he looks down at me.
“You okay?” he asks softly.
I nod, but tears slip down my cheeks anyway. “Yeah.”
His eyes search mine like he doesn’t believe me.
I squeeze his hand. “I’m happy.”
“I know.”
I rest my head against his shoulder while we wait for our turn to meet the newest member of the family.