8. Sloan
Sloan
“Oh my gosh! Sloan!” Charlie squeals and hurries to my side to wrap me in a hug.
We were close when I was dating Cody. We always talked about Cody and I getting married and having a big family.
We’d live next door to Charlie and Wyatt’s family and have so much fun.
We’d make sure the next generation of Mulberry Lane stayed close and our kids got to experience everything they did.
“How are you?” I ask, hugging her back just as hard.
Don’t get me wrong, I missed Cody when I moved. I missed him more than I ever imagined, but I missed his entire family too. I became so close to them, it was like I lost my family when I moved.
“Amazing! Basically living my dream life.”
“I heard you even have a house on Mulberry Lane.” I grin.
“Yes! I love it. Every second of the crazy, nosy, overprotective family. I wouldn’t ask for anything else.” She’s smiling so wide her face has to hurt. I don’t think I’ve ever been as happy as she is right now. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you the last time I was truly happy.
“Hey, Sloan. It’s so good to see you again.” Wyatt wraps me in a hug and I swear it’s like hugging your big brother.
Whenever we had a problem with anything, Cody would text Charlie or Wyatt and ask for advice. Sometimes he would call Wyatt after he went to college, just to talk about his day with him. Cody looked up to him so much. It was adorable.
“It’s good to see you too. I can’t believe you two finally figured things out.”
“Yeah, sometimes it takes a little bit of time to get where you’re meant to be.” Wyatt smiles shyly. “Charlie and I were destined to be together. There’s no way we would’ve been happy with anyone else.”
“I wonder who you’re destined to be with.” Sophia quirks a brow at me. She doesn’t beat around the bush; she has no problem saying it like it is and calling you out on your crap. She’s so much like Jax in that way.
“Oh! Do you have a picture of the baby!” Charlie squeals, more than excited, as she turns her attention to Sophia.
“Yes! We had the ultrasound today! It was so exciting! The baby is finally looking like more than a little bean.” Sophia pulls her phone out of her back pocket and scrolls through some photos for Charlie to look at.
“I can’t believe you’re already twenty-weeks along! I swear I was twice your size when I was twenty-weeks with Carter.”
“Are you pregnant?” I blink at Sophia, more than surprised.
“Yes! Can you imagine how adorable this baby will be? I mean look at Peck, the man is gorgeous!”
“Did you find out if you’re having a boy or a girl?” Wyatt asks Peck.
“Do we know? No. But there’s an envelope at the bakery with the gender in it.
Someone other than Sophia, Emma, or Bella will be making the cake and coating it in white icing so Sophia can decorate it.
We’ll have a little gender reveal party on Sunday.
” Peck shrugs his shoulders. “I don’t really care if it’s a boy or girl. I'm just thrilled to start our family.”
Peck stares at his wife with so much love in his eyes. I wish someone looked at me like he looks at her.
I know Jude and I haven’t been together for long, but I don’t think he loves me like that. Honestly, we haven’t even said those three little words even though we’ve been together for six months.
“Oh, Jax invited us to come for Sunday dinner,” Jude speaks up. “Is that an issue with you doing the gender reveal?”
I squeeze my eyes shut and wish I could make Jude go away.
The man doesn’t realize we’re not going.
He refuses to accept it no matter how many times I tell him.
The jokes on him, he doesn’t know where Cody’s family lives and he won't be able to get there without me.
From what Jax said, it sounds like they have a gate and only family can get on the street now.
“Oh my gosh! I’d love for you to be there, Sloan!” Sophia’s face lights up. “Please come!”
“Yes! Then you can meet Carter too!” Charlie claps like this is the greatest news ever.
“Wait… You climbed over the bleachers the other night when you were pregnant? Are you crazy?” The thought of her stepping over people and seats has my eyes widening.
“Oh, I'm fine. You worry too much!” Sophia waves me off as the horn goes off and the game begins.
The girls instantly take their seats and their eyes lock on the ice.
Wyatt and Peck are leaning back in their chairs and watching the game while casually talking to each other, but Sophia and Charlie are sitting on the edges of their seats.
The second something happens, Sophia jumps into the air and starts screaming at the players.
She pounds her fists on the glass and screams even louder when the ref does something she doesn’t agree with. I stare with wide eyes. She’s insane when it comes to her brothers playing.