Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“A part of me wants to drive up and scream from the mountains that we’re having a little girl, and the other part wants to keep it all to myself. Who do you want to tell first?”
Laughing, Brystol said, “Same. But maybe we should invite our parents to dinner and tell them first.”
I let out a sigh. “Thank God you didn’t want one of those gender reveal parties.”
She smiled. “Simple is better.”
Kissing the back of her hand, I replied, “Agreed. In the meantime, I’m starving too.”
“I’m kind of craving a hamburger.”
“Hamburger, it is.”
“Does everything look okay?” Brystol asked for the hundredth time.
“Babe, take a deep breath. Everything looks beautiful. Everyone will be thrilled, and this evening will be magical.”
“You’re right,” she replied, before kissing me quickly. “You’re absolutely right. I need to just calm down.”
“Should I put Tay on?”
Brystol laughed. “I listened to her earlier in the storage room at the store, while doing inventory.”
“You didn’t lift anything, did you?” I asked.
“No, Dad, I didn’t.”
The doorbell rang, and we both turned to face the front of the house.
“Here we go,” Brystol said on an exhale.
“Do you want me to answer it, or you?”
Wringing her hands together, she shook her head. “Let’s open it together.”
“Are we going for a 1950’s vibe?”
She let out a nervous laugh while hitting me in the stomach.
I took her hand, and we headed to the door. When I opened it, I saw both sets of our parents standing there.
“Hey, Mom, Dad,” I said and kissed my mother on the cheek when she walked by. “Nancy, Drake, how are you both?” I kissed Brystol’s mom as well.
“Hi, Rachel and Nick!” Brystol said, giving both my parents a hug and kiss, followed by her parents. “Thank you for coming over for dinner.”
My mother and Nancy both smiled, and I knew they were dying on the inside to find out the baby’s gender.
“I’m starving!” Drake said as he made his way toward the kitchen. “Tell me you have beer, Gavin.”
“He’s my son, Drake,” my father stated, following right behind. “He’ll have beer.”
“Wine?” Nancy asked Brystol.
“In the wine fridge,” she replied.
The four of them set off.
“Well,” Brystol said, folding her arms over her chest and tilting her head. “I see where we rank in the grand scheme of things.”
I placed my arm around her shoulders and said, “Booze first, then food, then life-altering news.”
Turning to look at me, a wicked spark filled her eyes. “I’m half-tempted not to tell them.”
My head fell back on a laugh. “Please, you’re chomping at the bit to tell them.”
Sighing, she replied, “I am. Damn it.”
“Come on, let’s join ’em.”
She tugged on my hand. “You’re not going to drink, are you?”
I blinked several times. “We have both sets of parents here, Bry. Please tell me you’re not about to ask me not to drink.”
She huffed. “If I can’t drink, you shouldn’t be allowed, either.”
Moving my lips to her ear, I lowered my voice. “Both. Sets. Of. Parents. That’s four people asking me when I’m gonna ask you to marry me. The last time your father inquired when I was going to—and I quote—‘get around to asking’, he inferred he knew people in the Mafia. What in the hell was that supposed to mean?”
She waved off my concern. “He doesn’t know anyone in the Mafia. Now my mother, on the other hand…”
I was sure my eyes went as wide as saucers. “Dear God…I’m already afraid of her. Don’t put things like that in my head.”
“Gavin! Do we have cause for champagne tonight?” Nancy called out.
Stopping in my tracks, I pointed at Brystol. “You see? It hasn’t even been five minutes! Don’t worry, I’m not going to drink beer. I’m gonna make me a whiskey.”
Brystol covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
Suddenly, my mother was at my side. “Are we celebrating something else this evening and you didn’t tell me?”
Slowly turning to face her, I forced a smile. “We’re only celebrating the baby’s gender.”
A look of disappointment crossed her face. “I see. You know, you’re halfway through this pregnancy.”
Brystol choked on a cough in a sad attempt to cover her laugh.
“Mom, not now.”
“I’m just saying. Wouldn’t you two like to be married before the baby arrives?”
I looked at Brystol, who simply smiled.
“You’re not going to help?”
“Nope!” she replied. “I am, however, going to go pour you a double.”
When Brystol headed to the kitchen, I turned to my mother. “Did you make the arrangements?”
She looked offended. “Of course I did.”
I kissed her on the cheek. “You’re the best mother a guy could ever want.”
When I stepped back, she patted my cheek and whispered, “I saw the ring. It’s beautiful.”
I smiled, but inside, my heart was breaking. “Denny helped me pick it out.”
“And he’ll be smiling down on you when you ask her. They both will.”
I quickly hugged her. “Thanks, Mom. And tell Nancy she’s one hell of a good actress!”