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“Is this in reference to that ‘talk’ you wanted to have?”
“Yes. I need a few more days to wrap my head around us becoming parents. I’m still a little scared. While I’m confident I’m making the right decision, I need a week, two at the most.”
I reached over and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “That makes sense. Can I ask for favor in return?”
“Of course,” she said, lovingly caressing her stomach.
“I was going to ask if you minded if I talked to Marcel about the babies?”
“Oh my God. Yes. I was going to release you from that promise. I should warn you, I believe Tori suspects.”
“Really?”
“Yes, with a clarity and almost ninety-nine point nine, nine percent probability.”
“Awe, man. You going to loop Kinsley in on things?”
“Of course, she’s my girl. Now I’m going to throw your words back at you. How long before she’s knocked up alongside me?”
I let out a loud chuckle as she joined me and for the first time in weeks, a sense of normalcy reigned.
Kinsley fluttered around her office. Her dance skirt billowed elegantly behind her before she dropped into the chair next to me. We were finishing lunch and discussing the family meeting planned for that evening.
A week and a half had passed. I was officially sixteen weeks pregnant. And showing.
It was way past time.
“I keep wondering if we should do the relationship announcement first and save the babies for another meeting.” I folded a slice of cheese in half and popped it into my mouth. “Maybe it would be less overwhelming.”
“You could,” Kinsley said thoughtfully. “And don’t take this the wrong way, but your tummy is looking rounder every day.”
“Thanks for pointing out the obvious.”
“I think it’s cute.”
She reached over and rubbed my stomach without permission. Again.
“My little nieces are in there baking away.”
I rolled my eyes and stole the cheese from her plate. She didn’t even try to stop me. I was pretty sure she’d asked Mrs. Patterson to pack extra these days. I loved her so much for it.
Pasha wasn’t in today. He and Sebastian were tied up at the new club location, meeting contractors and reviewing final plans for the build-out. Between permits, inspections, budgets, security systems, and enough paperwork to bury a small village, they had more than enough to keep them occupied.
“I still think we should do something fun. Oh! A scavenger hunt. I love those.”
“No. We are not sending everyone on a wild goose chase to announce my pregnancy. I still think we should do them separate.”
“A treasure hunt?”
“The answer is still no. That’s just a fancy scavenger hunt.”
“A riddle?”
“Kinsley.”
“No really, Tori is excellent at poetry. A riddle is similar enough. The guys could all guess who is pregnant.”
“Swan,” I groaned.
