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“Hey, your cousin has been trying to get a hold of you.” Lexi sits next to me and watches me warily. “She said it was important.”
“Oh, I haven’t even checked my phone since I got here.” I pat at my jeans like I expect my cell phone to pop out of nowhere.
“She said it was about…” She is trying to tell me something confidentially, that much is clear, but my brother interrupts us.
“Okay, so I got some news,” he puts his arms up to quiet the room.
“Ridge,” Brooke elbows him just as Levi slams into her legs, and all three of them about go down at the same time.
“Oh my goodness,” Mom jumps to help, but she is mostly in the way, especially once she somehow ends up with baby Julia in her arms.
The doorbell rings again, and my dad’s face is priceless. He is confused and aggravated all at once. With a sigh, he walks to the front door, only to come back followed by Chloe’s parents, her dad being brothers with mine. There are more voice coming in and I realize that Van’s parents are here as well.
“What is happening?” I mouth to Dad, but he is looking at me just as lost as I feel.
While everyone is greeting each other, Lexi grabs my attention again.
“Chloe and Van are coming, too.”
“What? Now?”
“Yeah, they wanted it to be a surprise, but I have no idea what’s happening here,” she laughs and looks around nervously. “And I don’t know if I am good at keeping secrets.”
“Aww,” I give Lexi a side hug. “I’m glad you’re part of us, Lexi.” Her eyes get watery and she seems to be at a loss for words. “I’m sorry if you ever felt like I was judging you. I am seriously the last one to talk.”
She looks at me like she can see inside my soul. Her beautiful face breaks into a smile, and she finally hugs me back. “You’ll be fine. Slayer,” she adds after a slight hesitation.
When the doorbell starts ringing again and Dad looks like he is about to lose his mind, we both burst into fits of giggles. Mom on the other hand seems to be right in her element. She is holding Julia while chasing Levi around. She’s always loved having a full house.
“We’re here, let the party start!” Van walks in with his arms up. Chloe is right behind him, rolling her eyes at him, but also grinning from ear to ear.
Movement behind her makes me freeze in my seat. I guess Lexi is much better at keeping secrets than she’s been giving herself credit for.
My husband is here.
CHAPTER 39
I got news
Zach
I walk into Hunter’s parents’ house with my heart in my throat. All conversation stops with everyone turning around to stare at me. That includes Ridge and Marco’s little kids. It’s like they can feel the tension coating the air.
“Zach, this is a surprise,” Eva Montgomery rushes to hand Marco the baby girl she’s got in her arms. She then almost runs to me and pulls me in a hug.
“She’s okay,” she whispers in my ear, and I know she’s talking about my wife. My eyes find Hunter’s, like a piece of metal to a magnet.
I step around Van, who’s just standing like a clown in the middle of the room, and get to the couch where Hunter is sitting.
“Can we talk?” My voice is low, but since it’s so quiet in the room, everyone is just unapologetically eavesdropping.
“Hey, before you guys go do that,” Ridge butts in, “I got some news…”
“I am not ready to talk to you, Zach,” Hunter stands up, forcing me to take a couple of steps back.
“Okay, guys, I just need a fucking minute here,” her brother tries again.
“Ridge, the kids,” Brooke’s appalled voice cuts him off.
