"Six weeks," Nixon said, looking bored.
Trace's eyes widened.
Nixon shrugged. "What? I know your cycle better than you do. You're about six weeks along. I was waiting for you to say something, thought maybe you didn't know." His grin was shameless. "Apparently, someone's been distracted."
Trace launched herself at Nixon, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Nixon kissed her across the mouth. "I honestly thought you were just waiting to tell me until you were further along — until you knew. Don't girls do that?"
"No…" Phoenix stumbled into the room, his eyes tired. "…they tell you right away and then cause you to freak out at the exact same time they find out, making you lose sleep and wonder if your child is going to inherit the same awful tendencies to stay up ALL THE NIGHT LONG!"
"Just me?" Tex frowned. "Or did Phoenix just say 'all the night long'? Like he was born in the eighteen hundreds."
"Coffee," Phoenix croaked.
"Bee not sleeping well?" I guessed.
Phoenix shot me a glare. "Insomnia. Which means I don't sleep either. Which means nobody's happy."
Bee entered the kitchen humming.
"Ha, someone's happy." I pointed.
Phoenix sighed and glanced at Sergio. "Tell me you have coffee, man, or else I'm heading to Starbucks, and nobody wants to see me drive into a tree because I can't keep my eyes open."
"Same cupboard." Sergio pointed.
Phoenix mumbled a "Thank God" into the air and started making coffee.
Nixon was still kissing Trace.
"Get a room," I called.
Trace blushed and pulled away from her husband. "Sorry, I just… this is crazy, right? Me and Bee at the same time."
"Same time what?" Bee said mid-mouthful of popcorn.
"I think I'm pregnant." Trace bit down on her lower lip. "I mean I—"
"YES!" Bee jumped into the air. "I was wondering if you'd be next, though I honestly thought my brother's sperm would have found their way to Mo. Weird… must be slow swimmers."
"Now see here," Tex said in a booming voice as he stood. "My swimmers are just fine, and please, don't think about them, or talk about them, or—"
Bee waved him off. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Tex turned bright red. "You aren't seeing jack shit."
"Chill." Bee rolled her eyes. "I meant the pregnancy, bro. I don't actually want to see it." She scrunched up her nose. "This conversation just took a turn for the worse."
Sergio snorted. "Good thing Chase isn't here."
"Ladies, I have arrived," Chase announced from the bottom of the stairs. "Who's the siren that made the call, because I could have sworn I heard my name."
"Tex." I nodded. "He needs reassurance his swimmers aren't crap."
"Tex swims just fine." Chase nodded his head then tilted it. "Wait, are we talking swimming or…" He swallowed then grinned. "swimming."
"Oh, good Lord." Tex hung his head. "Trace is pregnant!"
"What?!" Chase's eyes widened. "No way! Who's the father?"
Nixon growled.
Chase inched past him and pulled Trace in for a giant hug, lifting her off the ground. "Just kidding." He kissed her cheek. "Congrats, Trace… I can't wait to be the godfather."
Nixon let out a groan.
Chase shrugged and wrapped his arm around Trace. "It only makes sense," he whispered in Trace's ear. "Go ahead. Tell him."
"Er..." Trace giggled. "…it really does, Nixon."
"Family's fun." Tex chuckled. "Don't you think, Serg?"
Sergio had been pretty quiet. I expected him to be scowling; instead, he was laughing, his face bright, happy. My stomach clenched. I wanted him to be like that forever — and I had no way of securing his happiness, except for the plan I'd put into motion, the plan I wasn't even sure he would go along with.
It was a long shot.
But it was all I had.
"Nixon…" Sergio tossed some popcorn into his mouth. "…just think how much fun it will be to have Chase as the godfather…"
"Hey…" Trace looked around the room. "…where's Mil?"
"Movie." Chase released Trace and opened his arms. "She felt like we should have a movie night to celebrate a week since Andi and Serg have been home — oh, and the fact that nobody's been shot at."
"Throw a damn parade." Frank entered the kitchen, wine glass in hand. "Sergio, a word?"
Sergio's smile fell.
Damn.
"Sure." He cleared his throat. "No problem."
"Phoenix..." Frank nodded. "…you too."
Why did it feel like the parent had just come into the room only to end all the fun?
"Let's go." Tex helped me up from my chair. "Time for the movie."
Sergio walked over to me and kissed my head. "I'll be right in. Save me a seat."
"'Kay." I gripped his hand then released it and followed Tex out, but I didn't miss Phoenix's morose expression or the look of confusion on Sergio's. I had a sneaking suspicion my plan was already getting set into motion.
Not by way of me.
But by way of Luca.
Someone who wasn't even living anymore — carrying out his wishes.
Funny, we'd soon have that in common.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Sergio