“Take me with you?” she asked, reaching for his arm. He looked back at where the four women stood watching them and shook his head.
“I’ve seen Piper ruin a whole gaming area, Harper scares me, Elli is my boss, and I want your mom to like me… sorry babe, you’re on your own.”
With that, he placed a quick kiss on her cheek before running out of the kitchen, dodging Posey before running down the hall as her sweet giggles flooded the hall. When Reese turned back, all of the women were grinning like cats that had eaten a family of mice.
“What?”
Harper shrugged. “Just wondering what is going on with you two?”
“Yeah, you two make a cute couple,” Piper said.
“I think you guys would be great together. Phillip is a really great guy,” Elli added.
“I just want more grandbabies,” Rowan all but cooed.
Scoffing, Reese shook her head and decided she needed an out. Fast. Cocking her head to the side like she was hearing something, she reached for the door and then yelled, “Shea? Is that you? Of course, I’ll come help with the boys!”
And then she was gone.
It was short-lived though. She tried hiding with Shelli and Posey, but it didn’t work. The two little girls that favored their mommy with big green eyes and dark hair gave her up to Elli and, before she knew it, Reese was seated at the table with Claire on one side and Phillip on the other. She didn’t mind the seating much, but she did mind the way her mother was staring at the two of them. She could see it in her mother’s beautiful brown eyes, she was planning their wedding, the names of their children, and picking colleges for Claire. It scared her to the core.
Everyone else was digging into the amazing food except for Elli and Harper. They were taking care of the girls while everyone talked about the house, the Assassins’ winning streak, and then Claire’s winning weekend. Reese could tell that Claire was a little shy with everyone gushing over her but she could see it in her eyes that she loved the attention, and so did Reese. She loved that they cared so much about Claire. That they were proud of her the way she and Phillip were. She loved being with her family and like she knew they would, Claire and Phillip fit in like a piece to their big family. She was having a blast and thankfully, no one had said anything about them being together. Instead, they all enjoyed each other’s company. The guys joked and razzed each other, while the women talked mainly about the kids and Journey coming very soon.
Reese still hated that name but looking at her sister and Jakob, she decided that as long as they were happy, nothing else mattered. When Elli sat down, she leaned back in her seat, her face flushed. That was weird and, as Reese watched her, the more she knew something was up. Especially when Elli didn’t touch the plate that Shea had made for her.
“You’re not eating?” she asked to Elli.
Everyone stopped talking, turning to Elli. Her cheeks became rosy as she shook her head. “I’m not hungry right now.”
Shea smiled next to her, kissing her cheek before taking the piece of ham off her plate. “I sure am though,” he said before taking a huge bite out of the ham. “Piper, the food is great.”
Piper grinned and said thank you but Reese was staring Elli down because something was definitely up. Elli didn’t skip meals, except when she was… “Oh my God, you’re pregnant again!”
Elli paused as everyone whipped their head’s towards her. Shea kept eating, fighting the shit-eating grin that wanted to show as Elli bit into her lip. “I have no clue what you’re talking about,” Elli said, sipping a glass of water. Everyone else was drinking wine, which just gave further proof to Reese’s claim.
“You are! You never pass up a glass of Fallon’s wine!”
Elli threw her hands up. “Yeah, so what! I always am.”
“Oh my God, Elli!” Harper said, shock visible all over her face. “You didn’t tell me!”