Page 157 of Even Exchange

“Why?” She rolls her blue eyes. “Finding parking’s easy. Gas is cheap.”

“And it’ssexy!” Sage points out.

Abbs sends her an approving wink. “Exactly.”

“It’s alsodangerous,” Elijah says, brows raised. “And you know it rains in Florida. Like, a lot.”

“Okay?” Abbs shrugs. “Then I’ll borrow the truck.”

Elijah narrows his eyes. “Did you move here just to stress me out?”

Abbs strides over and wraps her arms around his waist. “I missed you too, Eli.”

Laughter erupts in the kitchen, and I glance over to the sight of Julian and Theo keeled over while Sophia flicks them off.

The front door opens, and my eyes dart to it, finding Noah clad in a Tampa Barracudas T-shirt, sweats, and a backwards ball cap. Relief floods through me. My lips quirk into a smile, and his gentle eyes find mine as my chest flutters.He’s finally here.

“Hey, you made it!” Elijah says to Noah.

“Hey,” Noah says, shutting the door. “Sorry, we have our first preseason game this week and practice took forever.”

“No worries,” Elijah says. “Pro ball trumps party.”

The others go back to their conversations, and Noah beelines my way. His gaze connects with mine as he plops onto the couch, throwing an arm behind me. “Hey,soffione,” he says, leaning in without hesitation. Our lips meet, and all the heaviness on my shoulders melts like butter.

“Hey, quarterback,” I say, and he scoots closer, putting a hand on my stomach. It flutters, and I can’t tell if it’s from butterflies or tiny toes.

“How’s baby girl?” he asks, rubbing gently, and I don’t ignore the way he leaves out the word “our.”

Another flutter.It’s definitely him.Placing my hand on his, I say, “She’s good.”

He grins at me. “And how’s Mommy?”

I bite my lower lip, clenching my thighs. “Better now that you’re here.” He leans in again, placing a firm kiss on my cheek.

Julian and Sage walk over, splitting to sit at opposite sides of the couch.

“Are you guys in a fight?” Theo asks, trailing after, looking between Sage and Julian.

“No, why?” Sage replies.

“You just made an active effort tonotsit next to each other,” Theo points out, and I bite my lip, holding in the information.

“Why are you so obsessed with me?” Julian asks. “Worry about yourself.”

“Yeah, and we don’t have to be attached at the hip,” Sage says.

“We literally got kicked out of a bar cause you fucked in a closet,” Elijah reminds them.

“What can I say?” Julian grins. “I love Halloween.”

Memories flash in my mind of the night Noah had to carry me home from the bar. My eyes find his, and he rubs a hand along my arm knowingly. If only I’d listened to him that night, maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation.

Guilt sinks deep in my stomach, and I place a hand over it.Hopefully she didn’t feel it.Never would I wish to change the miracle growing inside me. But I can’t deny I wish it was from the man beside me.

“I don’t know,” Theo says, tugging me out of my head. “Still seems sus.”

“They made a vow to stop screwing since they moved in together,” Sophia says as she and Abbs walk in and take a seat on the couch beside Sage.Apparently, so did Noah and I.We haven’t slept together since the twins’ birthday party. I didn’t know how to bring it up after I found out I was pregnant. Wasn’t sure if it was even safe. It is.But now I’m embarrassingly desperate for connection.

---