“I’m helping her with her school work. She won’t fall behind,” Noah adds.
“Will you finish sooner, Noah?” Dash asks.
“Yes, I’ll start at Indie Ink in January.”
Jase’s eyes dart back to Noah. “That means you have to write your finals in a month.”
Noah shrugs. “I can write them tomorrow.”
“At least that will take care of finances,” Jase grumbles. He stares at me, and then he lightly shakes his head again. “You’re happy? This is what you want?”
I don’t hesitate to answer, “More than anything.”
Jase signals for a waiter. “I don’t care what the time is, I need a drink.”
“So you’re okay?” I ask.
“Not today, but once I’m over the shock, I’ll be fine,” Jase mutters.
Dash places her hand on mine. “I’m happy for both of you. If I can help with anything, just let me know.”
I let out a sigh as I lean back.
Two down, a hell of a lot still to go.
NOAH
Kao’s already standing on the porch as I pull up the driveway.
Damn, I’ve been so caught up with Carla and the pregnancy, I haven’t seen Kao in way too long.
When we reach him, I give him half a hug. “Good to see you.”
“You too.”
I wait for Kao to hug Carla before we go inside.
Kao and I hang back so Fallon and Carla can have a moment to hug and catch up.
“How’s the relationship going?” Kao asks.
“Very well.” I take hold of his arm and pull him toward the living room. “Take a moment to brace yourself,” I warn him.
His eyes widen. “Why? Are you going to ask her to marry you?”
I shake my head and leaning closer to him, I whisper, “Carla’s pregnant.” Kao starts to blink as if he’s going to malfunction, and it has me repeating, “We’re expecting a baby.”
Kao nods, his eyebrows shooting into his hairline. “I heard you the first time.” He takes a moment to process the words, and then we hear Fallon shriek with excitement.
“I guess Carla just told her.”
Kao’s eyes lock with mine, then he asks, “Are you happy?”
A smile spreads over my face. “More than words can explain.”
He leans in and gives me a tight hug. “Then I’m happy for you.”
The women come into the living room, and we instantly pull apart.
Fallon comes to give me a hug, murmuring, “Congrats, Daddy-to-be.”
We all take a seat, and then Fallon begins with the questions. “How far along are you?”
Carla smiles brightly as she answers, “Raspberry is eight weeks old.”
“Raspberry… ahhhhh.” Fallon jumps up to hug Carla again. “I love it.”
For a while, Kao and I just sit and listen as Fallon and Carla talk non-stop, then he asks me, “Is it safe to guess that you’ll be getting a place of your own now?”
“Yeah, that reminds me. Can I get the contact details for the agent you purchased your house through?”
“Sure.” Kao forwards the business card to my phone, then he says, “Wow.” He stares at me as if the news only sunk in now. “I’m going to be an uncle.”
“I’m going to be an aunt,” Fallon exclaims excitedly, then she continues, “Just let me know if you want me to organize the gender reveal party, the baby shower, and help with anything else.”
The conversation then turns to the gender reveal party, and it has Kao standing up. “We’ll go get something for dinner while the two of you plan the baby’s entire life.”
Rising to my feet, I press a kiss to Carla’s forehead before Kao, and I leave to get food.
As soon as we’re in the car, Kao asks, “Who else knows.”
I grin at him. “Only our parents, Dash, and Jase.”
Instantly a smile spreads over his face. “When are you going to tell the rest of the family and friends?”
I shrug. “We’re working our way through the list. We’re telling Forest and Aria when we get back to the suite.”
“How did it go when you told Carla’s parents,” he asks.
“It was like walking through a ring of fire,” I joke.
Kao lets out a chuckle. “I’m sure she’s worth it.”
Smiling at Kao, I say, “She is.”
“Who would’ve thought you’d end up with Carla,” Kao states, a teasing tone in his voice.
“I never stood a chance,” I chuckle. “Like Carla always said, it was only a matter of time.”
I let out a sigh as I steer the car into a parking bay. “I’m just glad she never gave up.”
“Yeah? A couple of months back, I remember you singing a different tune,” Kao teases me.
Chapter 22
CARLA
Only one more week, and then we might find out whether Raspberry’s a boy or a girl.
I’m sitting in the library, trying my best to focus on my work, but my mind keeps drifting to Raspberry and how happy Noah and I have been.
We’ve gone to look at a couple of houses, but none of them were to my taste. We have time, though, so we’re not in too much of a rush.