Seconds went by.
Minutes.
Hours?
Who knew?
It was a moment that didn’t need definition, that just was — perfection as I felt her body tense then ease under mine, as I followed and experienced such completion at our joining that I knew I could follow her into heaven and know—
—I’d done good.
I’d done good by her.
By me.
And I’d accomplished what I’d been set on Earth to do.
Love Andi.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Andi
”DUDE!” TEX STOOD FROM THE TABLE and stretched. “You look like you got some last night. Well done, Andi. Always get yours, that’s what I say.”
“Oh is it?” Mo countered from her end of the table. “Is that what you always say, baby?”
“I sense a fight.” I held up my hands. “Don’t put me in the middle of your drama. I’m too small.”
“Please.” Sergio snorted and met us with a bowl of popcorn. “You pack a punch and stole Tex’s gun right out of his hands.”
“Oh?” Mo’s eyebrows shot up. “Baby, you didn’t tell me that. Had something in your eye, did ya?”
Tex shot me a glare. “Whatever happened to you being my bitch, and I’m your bro, and you don’t go blabbing to my wife?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Sergio grinned and tossed a piece of popcorn into his mouth. “I was unaware of the rules.”
“Rules.” Mo flashed a smile. “Who likes those?”
“Nixon.” Trace waltzed into the room. “Dibs on popcorn — oh, you know what would be great?”
All eyes fell to her. For the past week, since my return from the hospital Trace had been eating peanut butter like it was going out of style and chomping down on every piece of fruit in the house; she was constantly eating, and I do mean constantly. It was weird, though a bit hilarious, considering Sergio had finally sent his housekeeper out to get groceries on account that Trace and Bee had eaten everyone out of—
“Holy crap!” I jumped out of my chair and covered my mouth with my hands. “Trace!”
She frowned, reaching a fist into the popcorn and stuffing it into her mouth.
I shook my head. “You’re pregnant.”
She paled.
Tex burst out laughing. “Nixon, you dirty dog…”
“Huh?” Nixon walked into the kitchen, a gun in hand
Seriously, did the guy ever turn it off? Or put it away? Probably why Trace was preggers. I smirked at my own joke.
“Why am I dirty?”
“Trace!” Mo pointed an accusing finger in Trace’s direction. “You got your wife pregnant. Well done, evil twin. Well done.”
Nixon’s face broke out into a smile. “Oh…” He winked at Tex. “…that.”
Popcorn fell out of Trace’s hand as she started counting on her fingers.
“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.”