“Dominic,” Damien’s voice chirped. “What’s up, man?”
I loved how Damien spoke like he hadn’t spoken to Dominic in a long time even though they spoke every day. He always got really excited, just like Dominic did—it was beautiful to watch.
“Watching the DVD of Kane’s baby. Look,” Dominic said and stood up from his seated position. He tapped on the screen of his phone and aimed it at the sixty-inch plasma screen in front of us.
“Can you see?” Dominic asked.
How could he not?
The screen was sixty bloody inches wide.
Not a second later Damien said, “It’s a boy!”
Us females groaned, while the males cheered.
“He’s right,” Kane smirked. “Us men know what we’re talking about.”
I rolled my eyes. “She will not like being called a lad you know.”
“Let me see Aideen,” Damien asked Dominic.
Dominic pointed his phone at me so I smiled and waved. “Heya, cutie.”
Kane put his arm around my shoulder and tugged me into him. “Really?”
I laughed and so did the girls.
“Do you remember on movin’ day you said Damien could be your f—”
“Friend,” I cut Bronagh off. “Me best friend.”
Keela snickered to herself and it caused me to glare at her.
“Right,” Bronagh laughed. “Your friend.”
I shook my head at her and looked at Kane when I felt his eyes on me.
“Don’t look at me like that, I didn’t say anythin’ about him. I swear.”
Kane didn’t believe me, I could tell by the look on his face.
“Stand up, friend,” Damien laughed. “I want to see you. Do you have a baby bump yet?”
I nodded and leaned onto Kane’s arm as I got up off the chair. I flattened my t-shirt to my stomach, but it was black so didn’t really look like I had a bump from the front. I lifted my t-shirt up, tucked it under my breasts and turned to the side.
“Can you see?” I asked Damien.
He whistled. “You’ve gotten so much bigger since a few weeks ago.”
I frowned. “I know. I gain like four pounds a week. You and your brothers apparently produce hungry children.”
The brothers high-fived which just caused me to shake my head.
“Okay, he’s seen your stomach. You can you pull your t-shirt down now,” Kane’s voice grunted.
I looked at the girls before I looked at him and saw all of them smirk and grin to themselves like a bunch of weirdos. I looked at Kane who was glaring at his brothers who were all openly looking at me with sneaky smiles that I knew were just to piss Kane off.
“I want to feel it,” Dominic said and stepped forward, flattening his hand over my bare belly. “Wow. It’s really hard, now.”
I nodded and pulled a face at Dominic’s phone because it was directly in my face. Damien laughed as he got an up close and personal view of my face.
I laughed when Kane got to his feet and Dominic jumped back. “I’m just playing,” he swore.
Kane glared at him, the muscles in his jaw working.
I sighed, “You really aren’t going to let them feel their niece as she grows?”
Kane didn’t look at me, as he said, “No, that’s just for me.”
The girls awed while the brothers cursed and argued they would feel my belly whenever they wanted because it was their right as uncles. That made me chuckle.
“Just pull your tee down, babydoll.”
To avoid an argument, and because I strangely liked him wanting me covered up in front of people, I pulled my top down and sat back down in my seat. I leaned into him when he sat down.
“Are you two dating?” Damien asked.
I looked at the phone, even though Kane’s gaze was on me. “We’re friends.”
“Friends or friends?” Damien asked making Dominic snort.
I blinked. “Is there a difference?”
“Yes,” everyone in the room said in unison.
I looked around at them, and then looked at Kane. “Are we friends or friends?” I asked.
He smirked. “I’m aiming for friends.”
Why did they keep saying it so weird?
“Okay, we’re friends then.”
Bronagh hooted while everyone else laughed.
I frowned and looked at Kane. “What is so funny? What am I missin’?”
He smiled and kissed my cheek. “I’ll tell you later.”
“This is weird,” Damien muttered. “I’m not used to seeing them so... civil.”
“It’s been like this for a while now,” Alannah said then shrunk into Bronagh’s side when Dominic turned his phone in her direction so Damien could see her.
“Hey, Lana,” he said, his voice a little tight.
Alannah cleared her throat and nodded. “Damien.”
I could feel the sudden awkwardness in the room.
“How are you?” Damien asked.
Alannah flushed a little. “I’m good, thanks. You?”
Damien was silent for a moment and said, “I’m okay.”
Things were silent again until Alannah stood up and said, “I’ve got to get goin’. Call you later, Bronagh.”
Bronagh sighed, “Alannah.”
Alannah was already out of the sitting room and halfway down the stairs of the house though. From the sounds of things, she was running down the steps at full speed.