“Maybe. But a no-kissing-Mum rule will definitely be put in place.” He disappeared from the doorway and we heard him yell for his sister, probably going in search of her to complain about us.
“They’re ganging up on us,” I murmured ominously, staring after our son.
“Oh, they can try.” Braden turned my face so he could kiss me again. When he pulled back, he grinned. “But they won’t succeed.”
I grinned at the humor in his eyes, the humor I shared, the connection we shared that got us through absolutely anything, and I knew always would. “We’ve got this.”
“We’ve got this,” Braden agreed, and then he kissed me once more as Luke walked back into the room, and our laughter bubbled against each other ’s lips at the sound of our son’s outrage.
Grace
“You have to be nicer to Charlie,” I whispered in Logan’s ear as we walked hand in hand into the rugby stadium.
Maia walked ahead of us, clasping tightly to Charlie’s hand as Chloe and Ed chatted to them about something.
Logan grunted. “I was nice.”
“You barely said two words to him during the taxi ride here.”
“What do you want me to say to him?” He frowned. “The only things I can think to say to him involve threats.”
“He was a perfect gentleman with her at the wedding the other day. He’s always a perfect gentleman.”
As if he knew we were talking about him, Charlie threw us a look over his shoulder and blanched.
Tall and lanky, he was cute in a very boyish kind of way. He was smart, funny, and stylish. He was wearing a pair of thick-framed black glasses that really suited his angular face, and he was dressed in a white shirt, a black waistcoat, and black tapered suit trousers with a chain dangling from one side of his waistband to the other.
“You could ask him about his band. Maia said the boys booked a gig.”
“A band.” Logan shook his head. “He went from Mr. Good Guy to Guy in a Band.”
“I thought you’d be over this by now.”
“I’m not over it because the longer they’re together and the more she falls for the little bugger, the more chance he has of violating my baby girl.”
I squeezed his hand. “You have to let her grow up and trust her to act responsibly.”
His face snapped toward me. “What do you know? Has it happened already?”
“Oh dear God, fatherhood has made you crazy.” I sighed. “Let’s just talk about something else.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know… maybe —”
“Hurry up, slow coaches!” Chloe yelled back at us, grinning.
I rolled my eyes at her, but Logan and I picked up speed and followed them down the stands. Juno waited in first-row seating for us.
“Hey, you.” I hugged her close. “How are you?”
“Fine.” She grinned at us. “Excited for the game.”
“Who are you supporting, Grace?” Ed teased me.
It was a Scotland versus England game.
I made a face. “Funny.”
“No, seriously?”
“I’m supporting Aidan,” I huffed, and sat down with Juno on one side and Logan on the other.
“Aka Scotland.”
“Just checking.”
“Chloe, please punch your husband for me.”
“Ow!”
I looked down the chairs to her and grinned. “Thank you.”
She winked at me and ignored Ed’s grumbling.
“So is Aidan ready?” Logan said to Juno.
“As he’ll ever be.”
“The place is packed,” Charlie noted from beside Maia. Maia was seated next to her dad, placing Charlie on her other side. Smart girl.
“It is that,” Logan said, surprising me even more when he asked, “You a big rugby fan, Charlie?”
Charlie and Maia looked just as stunned as I felt. Charlie collected himself. “Not really, sir.”
“Me neither. But it’s different when you have someone to support.”
“Oh, definitely,” he hurried to agree. “Aidan’s a cool guy.”
Logan stared at him. “I’m a cool guy, Charlie.”
Maia’s boyfriend swallowed hard. “Of course, sir.”
I groaned. “You almost had it. Then you ruined it.”
Logan grinned unrepentantly.
“Did anyone bring any food?” Chloe yelled.
“Nope.”
“Drink?”
“Nope.”
Chloe threw us a disgusted look. “You did well, guys.”
“Go and get us our usual drinks,” Juno called down the row to her. “We’ve still got time.”
My friend pulled out her purse.
Logan nudged me with his shoulder. “Want anything to drink?”
I bit my lip and stared up at him. “Maybe just water.”
“You don’t want a beer or wine?”
I shook my head.
Juno scowled. “We always get a beer to salute Aidan as he comes out.”
“I know. I just don’t feel like having one today.”
She grunted. “What? Are you pregnant?”
I blushed so hard my face felt like it was on fire.
“Oh my God, you’re pregnant!”
“WHAT?” Maia yelled.
Logan was silent as he stared at me in shock.
“What? What did I miss?” I heard Chloe ask.
“Grace is pregnant!” Maia cried out, and she at least sounded happy.
“Logan?” I reached for his hand. “Are you okay?”
“You’re pregnant?” he said, his voice low. “Pregnant, pregnant?”
I giggled inappropriately. “Is there any other kind of pregnant?”
“There’s a pregnant pause,” Juno supplied helpfully.
“Are you a little bit pregnant or pregnant, pregnant?” Logan said, absolutely ignoring everyone but me.
“A whole lot pregnant.”
I jumped in surprise as he lunged at me, hauling me off my seat as he stood up. My feet left the ground and I clung to him as he held me tight, his face buried in my neck.
Eventually he lowered me to the ground and pulled back to cup my face in his hands.
“I take it you’re happy, then?” I smiled, tears shining in my eyes.
“Understatement, babe,” he whispered.
“I want a hug!” Maia pushed up against us, wrapping her arms around us both in the tight confines of the row.
I laughed as Logan slid an arm around us both and grinned like a little boy.
“Uh, move over, people!” Chloe huffed, ducking under his arm to get to me. “Let the best friend through.”
“This really has nothing to do with you, Chloe,” Logan teased her as she snuggled into me.
“Oh boy.” She shook her head at him as if she felt sorry for him. “You really need to learn faster than you’re learning. The best friend… that would be moi” – she gestured to herself – “is always included in everything that is not the actual sex.”
“And that’s the moment ruined for me.” Maia wrinkled her nose.
Logan snorted. “I think it’s just ruined, period.”
Chloe stuck her nose up in the air. “I’m not listening to your negativity. I’m going to go and get water for my beautiful and glowing best friend. I thought there was something different about you tonight.”
I nodded. “Uh-huh. Sure you did.”
She pushed back out of the circle and grabbed for Ed, dragging him out of the row and back up the stairs in search of drinks.
After hugging Juno and Charlie, I sat back down on my seat, this time with Logan’s arm around my shoulders.
We were silent as we all took in the significance of the news and of the moment.
And then Logan said, “Best rugby game ever.”
“Nothing can ruin this moment,” Maia added.
“Not even England beating Scotland?” Juno teased.
“Not even Charlie,” Logan said pointedly.
“Aw, thank you, sir,” Charlie said, sounding genuinely pleased.
At that I burst out laughing, falling into belly-aching giggles, and the sound was so infectious I took Logan, Maia, Charlie, and Juno with me.