Just as I take a seat, Banner and Penn walk onto the back patio.
Penn is a former pitcher for the Chicago Bobbies. He’s been through hell and back to better his life. Being out here in California and working with Ryot and Banner, he’s truly been able to find solace and peace.
“Banner Bisley,” Lottie shouts from where the girls are sitting. “Where is my cousin?”
And yeah, he’s been supposedly trying to date Lottie and Kelsey’s cousin, Kenzie, but all I know about that situation is that things aren’t going the way he wants them to.
Banner pauses and sighs heavily. “I knew I shouldn’t have come.”
“Looks like you need a Bloody Mary,” JP says, standing from his chair. “I’ll get you one.”
“Thanks,” Banner says, walking over with JP. I feel like I should warn him, but I also don’t want to hear it from JP either.
“Grab some food, man,” Huxley says to Penn. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks,” Penn says, looking almost shy as he picks up a plate.
Huxley glances at me, and while we’re to ourselves, he says, “I’m really happy for you, Breaker. All teasing aside, I think she’s perfect for you.”
“Thank you.” I glance over at her again. “I’m getting sort of itchy about making the next move, you know?”
“Why?” Huxley asks. “Just enjoy the moment.”
“I keep telling myself that, but I don’t know. We got together the day she broke up with Brian, and she hasn’t really had time to mourn that relationship. I guess I’m just worried about what might happen if one day she wakes up and realizes that she made a mistake.”
“Not going to happen,” Huxley says. “You two are meant to be together. She knows that. Stop worrying and just have fun, man.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I say just as Penn sits down.
“I thought we weren’t ever allowed to tell Huxley he’s right. Something about an ego inflating?”
“And who told you that?” Huxley turns on Ryot, who has a taco halfway to his mouth.
“Not me. Talk to your brother.”
I hold up my hands. “That would be the other brother. I’d never say something like that and get uninvited from Sunday brunch, which by the way, what’s with the pink-and-blue balloons and décor?” I ask. “Trying to spice up Sunday brunch?”
“What?” Kelsey says, interrupting all of us and standing from where the girls are huddled. Her eyes connect with Huxley and then back at Lottie.
“Uh, everything okay, babe?” JP asks.
“No,” Kelsey says. “Everything is not okay.” And then she dissolves into tears, causing JP to drop all Bloody Mary ingredients and rush to her side.
“Kelsey, what’s going on?”
Huxley stands from the table as well, and because I don’t know what’s happening, I stand too. Lia looks back at me, confused. I’m perplexed as well, and then Lottie starts crying.
Uhh . . .
Huxley pulls her into a hug immediately, coddling into his chest. I just stand there, unsure of what to do.
After a few seconds, I ask, “Is there something I can do? Someone I can call?”
Lottie lifts away from Huxley, and they both exchange a glance before turning toward us and saying, “Welcome to our gender reveal party.”
“Gender . . . as in . . . as in you’re having a baby?” I ask, shocked.
“We are,” Lottie says as she presses her hand to her stomach. “And Kelsey is mad because I didn’t tell her until now.”
“That’s not why I’m mad,” Kelsey says while wiping her eyes. “I’m not mad at all.”
JP kisses Kelsey’s hand and then says, “She’s happy because we’re pregnant too.”
Uh, say what?
Lottie lets out a deathly scream before they both run into each other’s arms and cry together, their husbands just staring at them.
I walk up to each of my brothers and offer them a hug. “Well, that would explain the blue-and-pink décor,” I say when I release Huxley.
“It was Lottie’s idea,” he says and then pulls JP into a hug. “Fuck, congrats, man.”
“Congrats to you,” he says while they pull away.
“Jesus, I can’t believe you two are going to be dads. I don’t know if I should be happy or worried.”
“Maybe a bit of both,” JP says. “Because I’m scared shitless.”
Huxley scratches the side of his face and whispers, “So am I.”
I laugh out loud and clap them both on the back. “Listen, if I know one thing for sure, it’s that you two were amazing big brothers, so I know you’re going to be amazing dads too.”
“Shit, that’s touching,” Ryot says and then pushes Banner. “How come you never say that kind of crap to me?”
Banner, who’s holding a Bloody Mary, says, “If you were a good big brother, then I would . . .”
“Ouch.” Penn chuckles. “That’s got to hurt.”
“Not a good big brother?” Ryot asks. “Who helped you get out of your . . . predicament—”
“Secret predicament,” Banner says through clenched teeth.
“Well . . .” Ryot asks.
Banner rolls his eyes. “Fine, you’re a good big brother. Best in all the land.”
Ryot brings his hand to his chest. “That’s so touching, thank you.”
“Wow, you can really feel the love,” Penn says, causing us all to chuckle.
After another round of congratulations and tons of hugs, Huxley and Lottie stand by the pool, ready to tell us the sex of the baby. It took Kelsey a second not to be mad at her sister for not telling her sooner, but I think the whole thing was diabolical, and I liked it. Baby reveal AND gender reveal. Now that’s the way to do it.
“Are you ready for the grand reveal?” Lottie asks.
Arm around Lia, I hold her close as we all say yes.
“Huxley, you do the honors.” Lottie holds her phone out, and I have no idea what’s happening, but Huxley presses a button on the phone, and the pool lights up in all different colors. Instrumental music plays in the background, making a grand show of it, and then the lights start blinking. Lottie clutches Huxley tightly.
They flash blue.
Then pink.
Then blue.
Then pink and pink . . . and pink again just as the music crescendos and everything stops.
“It’s a girl!” Lottie shouts and throws her arms around Huxley. He holds her tightly, kissing the top of her head, and . . . Jesus Christ . . . is that a tear in his eye?
No, it can’t be.
Is it?
And then, lo and behold, he reaches up and rubs his eye.
Oh my God, Huxley Cane is crying.
“Is that what I think it is?” Lia says quietly.
“If you think Huxley is crying, then you’re right.”
“Wow, never thought I’d see the day.”
“I don’t think anyone did.”
But hell, look at him. Look at Lottie and their excitement. It’s palpable. I can only hope that one day Lia and I will be in the same position. It would be the best future possible.
“Do you think we got to take home croissants because we’re an item now?” Lia asks as I brush her hair out of her face while we lie in bed.