And it was just wrong for bikers to look cute, but they did.Hella cute.
Maybe this was why Jen was okay with being pregnant all over again.
Would Aidan wear something ridiculous like Rex if we had a daughter?
I bit my lip at the thought because I'd bet that he would.
What had he said the other night?
That he wanted a son or a daughter not to have an heir or an heiress, but to have a child. Someone that was a part of us both.
I straightened up my shoulders as my ovaries started to melt. "I found out last night about his lie."
"Is that why you’re here?" Giulia asked.
"No."
"But the salt in the wound is still raw." Link gave me a commiserative nod. "Well, there are ribs and burgers on the grill, steaks too, but you wanna ask Giulia to prep you those because she's the only one who'll make it taste good—"
Giulia grinned. "Thanks, Link."
"My pleasure, hellcat," he retorted with a laugh. To me, he said, "Make yourself at home."
"Feel free to have something to drink," Lily offered. "There are all kinds of cocktails because Tiff is making those, and we have a dessert bar if you feel like drowning your sorrows in carbs."
Was it really as easy as that?
I figured it must be because the guys started to drift away, but the women didn't.
"I didn't expect you to be so welcoming," I admitted, not making a move toward the barbecue, bar, or dessert table. "I figured you'd be suspicious."
"Oh, we are," Giulia chirped. "But you're Star's friend, you helped Amara out, and you're an ally. You might bring some chaos to our family day, but I like chaos with my burger. Makes it digest better."
I immediately picked up on what she meant. "Aidan won't come," I told her even though, after the conversation with Conor, I hoped he did. "He's going to his family home for Sunday lunch."
Rachel cleared her throat. "I've met your husband."
"At your father-in-law's funeral, I know. My condolences, Rachel."
She hitched a shoulder. "Your grief is fresher than mine."
"Grief doesn't work like that, does it?" I mused, seeing warmth flicker into her cool eyes at my words.
"No," she concurred.
"Maybe that's how it's supposed to be. The more impact someone has on us, the more we feel their loss when they're gone."
When the prickle of tears inadvertently struck me, I gnawed on the inside of my cheek to offset them. I hadn’t meant to get maudlin. Especially not after the news about my mom this week.
I needed PMA, not to be a negative Nancy.
Changing the subject, I repeated, "Aidan won't come."
Giulia smirked. "Wanna bet?"
"What would you bet?"
Rachel warned, "Giulia, no gambling with guests."