“When it comes to you, I’m never joking.”
“This just in,” she said, dragging a hand up my thigh. “We’ll be experiencing a cold front coming in from the east. Our seven-day forecast shows nothing but flurries and sub-thirty-two temperatures. You’d better find your favorite person to bundle up with because it’s going to be a cold one.”
I shivered, and not even on purpose. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.”
She pumped her brows suggestively. “I know exactly how to get your engine revving by now.”
“Is Asher asleep?”
“I put him to bed almost an hour ago.”
“Well, maybe when the guys get back from town we can go to my room and—”
Just then, the front door swung open. Red and Cash hurried inside, covered head to toe in snow. They looked the tiniest bit ridiculous, two large men wrapped up in several thick layers of sweaters and overcoats, scarves tied around their necks to protect against the wind.
“I told you we should have gone in earlier,” Cash complained as he set the groceries down. He’d been carrying roughly ten bags in hand. When he put them down on the floor, they landed with a heavythud.
“Yeah, yeah,” Red grunted.
“I want to hear you say it.”
“I’m not going to.”
“Just say it! Say that I was right!”
Red threw his head back and sighed. “Fine. You were right, Cash. We should have gone into town earlier. You are the smartest man in all of Sunville. Nay, the world.”
I laughed, grabbing a few of the grocery bags and carrying them into the kitchen. “Did you just use ‘nay’ in a sentence? Who evenareyou?”
“I’ve been reading Asher a lot of fairy tales lately. He makes me do the voices. Sometimes it gets stuck.”
After Cash hung up his coat, he first went over to Julia to give her a kiss. She shivered, peeling away with a laugh. “You’re so cold!”
“Come here, baby. Need you to warm me up.”
“Don’t you dare touch me. Your hands are probably freezi —Gah!”
Cash frowned. “I haven’t even taken my gloves off.”
“No, no,” Julia said, suddenly breathless. Her face was screwed up in concern. “Oh, God.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, alarmed.
“I think… I think my water just broke.”
Red dropped everything. “Are you serious? But you’re not due for another three weeks.”
Cash and I helped Julia stand up from the couch.
“Alright, nobody panic!” Cash yelled, totally panicking. “Crap, the snow’s really coming down now. Will the ambulance even be able to make it? The plow hasn’t been through for hours.”
“We’ll have to drive her to the hospital,” I said, guiding Julia to the door. “Cash, go get Asher. Make sure he’s dressed warmly. Red, the hospital bag we prepared is next to the dresser in our room. Julia, deep breaths, sweetheart. Everything’s going to be okay.”
The corners of her lips tugged up into a big smile, her eyes a bit watery but the hope and excitement behind them perfectly clear.
“We’re having another baby,” she said with a bubbly, breathless laugh.
“She’s on her way,” I said, chuckling. “We love you so much, Julia. You’re amazing.”
“I love you, too. All of you,somuch.”
The End