Page 78 of Blue Line

“Right, living room,” Hunter says, leading the way out of the kitchen.

Coach makes a beeline for me and holds his arms out for Hazel. “Gotta get some practice in before my grandson gets here.”

“Want to go to your Great-uncle Jake?” I ask Hazel.

She claps her hands together and reaches for him. I let her go, and once relieved of my baby duties, zero in on Hadley, who is sitting on the couch between Sutton and Ansley, the three of them having a very animated discussion. Madison is relaxing in a rocking chair next to the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table.

“Hi, ladies,” I greet them. “Momma.” I kiss Mads on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”

She rubs her very pregnant stomach. “Tired. Ready for little man to be out.”

“I can imagine. Anyone need anything?”

“Could you get me more water?” Madison holds up her reusable cup. “Or ask my husband to do it.”

“I got you.” I take it from her. “Anyone else?”

“No. Thanks.” Ansley gets to her feet. “I’m gonna head to the bathroom. Excuse me.”

Sutton shakes her head.

“I’m good. Thanks,” Hadley says.

I lean down and kiss her, just because I can, before I stand to my full height, wink at her, and walk away to get Madison’s drink.

Chapter thirty

Hadley

“That was hot,” Madison says the minute Wes disappears back into the kitchen.

“It was barely a kiss.”

“It was adorable, and I’m kind of jealous,” Sutton interjects.

“Who’s jealous?” Ansley asks, coming over to us with a bowl of chips in one hand and a plate of deli meat, carrots, and celery in the other.

“I said I was kind of jealous of Hadley and Wes,” Sutton tells Ansley, grabbing a carrot off her plate and taking a bite of it.

“Remind me again why you and Sebastian aren’t dating,” Ansley asks, getting settled. “Oh, that’s right, because you’re too stubborn to say yes.”

Sutton shakes her head. “I think I’m about done with the dating scene. It’s exhausting.”

She snags a chip from Ansley’s bowl.

“Hey, hands off. Get your own.” Ansley smacks Sutton’s hand away, holding her bowl out of her grasp.

“Here.” Becca walks over with a bowl of chips and sets them down on the coffee table. “I don’t know why the guys felt the need to put all the snacks on the dining room table. It looks nice set up over there, but it just means we have to keep getting up. I told Holt to bring everything over here.”

“Dating is shit,” Rachel, Madison’s friend, pipes up.

Sutton opens her mouth as if to say something, but then abruptly closes it, reaching into her pocket and pulling out her phone, her eyes widening when she sees who’s calling.

“Hello,” she says into the phone before turning to us. “Sorry, it’s my sister. I need to take it.” She starts talking again as she steps away.

“Did you know she had a sister?” Ansley asks.

“No. Did any of you?” I answer, glancing at the other women.