Page 64 of Uxpectedly Ever After

"It's okay," she says, surprising me. "Everyone was going to find out soon anyway."

I kiss her then, keeping it brief but loaded with everything I feel—love, gratitude, and the absolute conviction that she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

When we break apart, the party surges back to life. Morgan and Vetter are already scheming up a bachelor party that sounds like it’ll end with needing bail money, and Navy and Brenna have Clover cornered—no doubt grilling her about wedding colors or who’s getting invited. It’s a crazy, perfect snapshot of our life right now.

I head to the bar for water—gotta keep my pregnant fiancée hydrated—and find Reed loitering there.

“Three weeks, huh?” he says, clapping my shoulder. “That’s fast.”

“Time’s ticking, and Clover’s belly isn’t getting any smaller,” I reply, shrugging. “We figure we might as well lock it down before she can’t waddle down the aisle.”

He laughs, raising his beer. “Congrats again, man. Seriously.”

"Thanks." I glance across the room, where Clover is laughing at something Brenna said. "You'll be there, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

As the bartender hands me Clover's water, I notice movement by the kitchen door—Kasen and Wren, locked in what appears to be a heated conversation. She's gesturing animatedly while he stands with his arms crossed scowling at her.

"Your beer’s not bad, James," I can just barely hear Wren saying. "But your distribution strategy is stuck in the last decade. Don’t blame me for taking advantage."

"Not all of us need gimmicks to sell our product," Kasen fires back. "Some of us still believe in quality over flashy packaging."

Neither notices me watching until I clear my throat, and Wren immediately steps back, smoothing down her jeans as though that’ll hide how tense she is.

"I should go," she says. "Congrats on the re-opening.”

She gives me a tight smile and slips past us, leaving Kasen glaring after her.

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You want to explain what that was about?"

"You want to explain why I shouldn’t punch you again for fucking my sister?" he asks, and I roll my eyes.

“How long are you gonna hold that against me?”

He just glares and drinks his beer instead of answering.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

Clover joins us, wrapping an arm around my waist. "What's my brother looking so murder-y about?"

I hand her the water and pull her closer, my hand curving protectively over her belly. "We were just talking about how life throws the best curveballs when you least expect them."

"Speak for yourself," Kasen grumbles, but there's less heat in it now. His eyes drift to the door, where Wren is talking to Navy. "Some curveballs are just meant to strike you out."

"Says the man who swings at everything," Clover teases, bumping her shoulder against his. She’s got no clue what we’re talking about, but I have a feeling Kase’s going to have his own reckoning soon.

The rest of the night is a blur of well-wishes, beer, and Navy’s increasingly over-the-top wedding plans. Kasen’s got his brewery back, Clover’s glowing, and I’ve got my arm around my pregnant fiancée, who’s carrying my son. Hard to beat that for a Friday night.

Later, I'm driving us home and Clover reaches over to grab my hand, her smaller fingers linking with mine.

"That wasn't half bad," she says with a tired smile. "Even with my brother acting like an idiot around Wren."

"Are you kidding? That was the best part," I say, giving her hand a squeeze. "Watching those two idiots orbit around each other all night. I bet they bang it out within a month.'"

She rolls her eyes but snickers. “You’re such an ass.”

"Yeah, but I'm your ass."

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