Page 77 of Blue Line

She shakes her head. “I’m going to go say hi to Sutton and Ansley.”

“Okay.” I kiss her cheek, and we go our separate ways.

“Brother,” Holt greets me when I step into the kitchen, where he, Hunter, and Elias are hanging out.

I shoot him a look that I hope conveys don’t oversell it. “Not yet.”

“Thanks for coming,” Hunter says, giving me a hug.

“Of course. Wouldn’t miss it for the world. No Sebastian, eh?”

Hunter shakes his head. “No, he sent a gift but wasn’t able to make it. He’s back home in England, something about helping his mom on the farm.”

“His family owns a farm?”

Hunter shrugs. “He didn’t say own. Maybe they work on it. Or rent it.”

“Huh,” I mumble, taking the beer that Elias hands me. “Thanks.”

“You’re the last one standing,” Holt says to Elias.

“Last one standing?” Elias asks.

“Not dating, engaged, or married to anyone,” I answer. Technically, Hadley and I aren’t engaged, but we are dating, so I guess I’m still not single.

Elias scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Sebastian is single too.”

“Pfft, he and Sutton are endgame,” I say, grabbing a chip from the bowl on the counter and dunking it in the salsa before popping it into my mouth.

“Unless there’s something you’re not telling us,” Hunt says to his brother before taking a sip of his drink.

“Ha. Nope. Nope,” Elias says, shaking his head a little too vigorously. “Bachelor life for me.”

“We should set him up with someone,” Holt says. “Anyone you’re interested in?”

“Hey, guys,” Caleb, our former team captain who lives locally with his family, says as he enters the kitchen. “Look who I found.”

I turn to see him holding Hazel. “Aww, thanks for finding her.” I set my beer bottle on the counter and walk over to them, my hands outstretched. “Hazel, girl, want to come hang out with your favorite uncle?”

One of the guys snorts, but I ignore it. They’ve all tried to take the best uncle title away from me, but none have succeeded.

Hazel giggles, clapping her hands, and I take her from Caleb, who lets go reluctantly. He’s got kids of his own. He doesn’t need to snuggle my niece.

“She started crawling the other day,” Holt says.

“She did?” I swing back around to face them. “You’re crawling now, Haze, girl.” I kiss her on the cheek.

“She’ll be walking before you know it,” Caleb says.

Holt groans, and I can’t help smiling. “I thought I’d have a few more months. She’s only nine months old.”

“Just you wait,” Caleb says, grabbing a beer out of the fridge. “See what you have to look forward to,” he tells Hunter.

Hunter just grins. “I’m so excited. I can’t wait. And to think our kids will get to grow up together,” he says to Holt, rubbing his hands together. They share a look.

My shoulders slump, and a pang of sadness pings through me at the thought of the bond they’re sure to form over both being dads. An exclusive club I’m not invited to.

“We hanging out here or joining the rest of the party in the living room?” Caleb asks.