“We’re trying to figure out if we’ve ever heard you laugh before,” Emberly said, eyes narrowing curiously.
“That’s nice,” I murmured, then settled on the other side of the island they were standing beside, my stare shifting to Emberly. “Need to talk to you.”
Her shoulders sagged a bit. Her tongue darting out to wet her lips as her eyes shifted to Cayson for a second. “I’ve been trying to help—”
“I know,” I said quickly, stopping her from freaking out. “You said something today . . .” I looked at her in question, waiting to hear exactly what it had been.
She studied me for a moment as if gauging my anger, then let out a sigh. “Well, everyone’s been talking about this thing with Stephanie as if it’s Bible,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It was pissing me off. So, whenever I had one of my super gossipy customers or someone who works at the high school or is related to someone who does—well, you know, really just anyone—I casually mentioned how sleazy it was that Stephanie was willing to get you fired just because you wouldn’t sleep with her. Which, of course, had them asking questions. So, I told them how she’d basically harassed me at Brewed, revealing that she’d more-or-less been stalking you in the hopes you and Savannah were on the outs. And, Beau and Savannah Dixon being on the outs . . . honestly, that’s never gonna happen,” she added with a wink. “And how Stephanie had still gone total homewrecker on you at the school, and you’d shut her down.”
“Jesus,” Cayson said on a hushed laugh, but Emberly looked so damn proud of herself until she focused on me again.
Her expression falling and worry stealing across her features.
“I appreciate it,” I said, trying to assure her. “Really. All that shit you said changed everything.”
“Really?” she asked, grabbing Cayson’s hand and trying to rein in the hope bursting from her.
“Yesterday—” I cleared my throat, my head shaking. “What I did, what I said . . . I shouldn’t have done that. You didn’t do anything to deserve that.”
“Oh my God, are you apologizing to me?”
“No.”
She bounced on her toes, her smile wide and blinding. “I think you are!”
My eyes rolled. “Why are y’all here again?”
She leaned into Cayson’s side as she grinned up at me. “It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone.”
“Hi, sorry,” Savannah said as she hurried into the kitchen, her eyes catching on mine and cheeks burning with heat.
I dipped my head to hide the smirk that tugged at my mouth, but my stare followed her as she moved, all grace and sensuality.
“Hey!” Emberly said excitedly. “We brought y’all food, I almost forgot.”
“Again?” Savannah made an admonishing sound. “You’re always bringing me something.”
Emberly gave her a look as she opened up the large Brewed bag. “This is coming from the woman who is constantly giving to everyone else.” She set a two-drink drink carrier on the counter, followed by two food containers, explaining, “This is what I have to give, so let me give it.”
“The motion detector hasn’t gone off at the condo, so we figured you were here,” Cayson said to me as Emberly flattened the bag.
When I glanced his way, he was smiling—all encouragement and happiness for us.
“Oh yeah, he won’t be needing that,” Savannah said definitively.
Cayson’s smile grew. “Glad to hear it.”
“Thank you,” Savannah said to something Emberly had whispered, head faintly shaking. “I really appreciate this, you’re so sweet. But you know I can have caffeine, right?”
“It says not to,” Emberly reasoned softly as if Cayson and I weren’t intently listening.
“I doubt Rae is following that rule,” Savannah said pointedly. “And I’m pretty sure it says you can have a cup . . . or two. But I drank at least a cup a day through my first three pregnancies, and my babies were healthy and perfect.”
Emberly’s eyes slowly slid my way and widened when she noticed me watching. “Hello.”
“I already know she’s pregnant.” My eyes narrowed on Cayson when he didn’t react to the news. “You knew?”
He shrugged.
“Emberly!” Savannah scoffed. “You weren’t supposed to say anything.”
Emberly’s shoulders lifted. “It’s so hard not to tell him things. But he didn’t tell anyone.”
“You should’ve told me,” I said, never releasing him from my glare.
He gave another shrug. “I know when to keep things to myself.”
It felt like I took a blow to the chest at his unintentional reminder of what he’d gone through at the hand of our dad. How he’d let everyone think the worst of him instead of revealing the truth for most of his life.
I swallowed roughly just as his expression shifted to excitement, and he looked to Savannah. “Guess what?” At Savannah’s humming response, he looked pointedly at her stomach. “I’m gonna be here this time.”
I glanced over in time to see Savannah look from my brother to me, trying so damn hard to control her emotions even as her face crumpled.
I held out an arm and pulled her close when she fell against my chest, a soft sob of joy and everything our baby was doing to her breaking free.
“She’s happy,” I murmured as I ran my hand up and down her spine.
“I know,” Cayson said as he looked to Emberly. “You wanna tell them?”
She bounced on her toes and drummed her hands on the island, looking about ready to explode. “So, I mean, I always love coming here because your house is the absolute best and it smells like a bakery. But we’re actually here for a reason.” Her bouncing and smile grew as Savannah turned in my arms to face her. “We just found out we’re having a girl.”
“Oh my God, really?” Savannah gasped as she rushed away from me and over to Emberly, the two talking a mile a minute as Cayson headed my way.
“Girls are the best,” I said when he joined my side. “You happy?”
A jagged breath left him as he looked to the ceiling. “So damn happy, man. I cried.”
The corner of my mouth lifted as I nodded. “I did too.”
“Yeah?” he asked, shocked stare landing on me.
“Every time,” I admitted. “When they were born? Fuck.” My chest pitched with a muted laugh. “I was a mess.”
His own breathless laugh left him as he settled against the counter. “Yeah, that’ll be me, no doubt. Y’all gonna find out what you’re having this time too?”
“I already know.”
He slowly looked over at me, a dent between his eyebrows as he tried to figure out how before he asked, “Did I miss how far along she is?”
I listed my head in response but still said, “With Quinn, Savannah slept almost the entire first few months. I even asked her doctor if Savannah was okay because she was only awake a few hours a day. Then one day, she just popped back up and started running around here like she always had. With the boys?” I tilted my chin to where the girls stood. “Emotions on high. Taking her from one thing to the next faster than I could keep up.”