Page 52 of Delayed Penalty

Especially Sawyer, I’m almost positive that girl will shit a brick the second I introduce my pregnant wife—even if it’s way more complicated than that.

Hell, maybe I should’ve had someone record this.

“Do you two want to go snag that table over there, the big one in the corner while I go grab some drinks?”

“Yeah,” Kelly says. “Would you grab me a beer? Anything in a bottle.”

“Not a problem,” I say, turning to Avery. “Is lemonade okay? With extra, extra lemon, of course?”

Avery smiles—her real, true smile that she doesn’t hand out all willy-nilly—and I can’t help but give myself an imaginary high-five for being on the receiving end of that smile.

Who would’ve guessed that remembering a girl’s drink would be enough for a smile like that?

“Thanks, Harris,” she says, smiling as she heads to grab the table with her sister.

I’ve been wondering why I feel so nervous, why I feel so anxious about this whole situation with Avery. But as I watch her walk away with her sister, I realize it’s because whether I’m ready to admit it or not, I don’t want a single part of this marriage to be fake. I don’t even want to pretend it is, but I don’t know how to convince her. Until I figure that part out, I’m just going to take it slow and hope she comes to terms with it all on her own.

Grabbing a couple of pitchers of beer and a lemonade for Avery, I make my way back over to the table right as most of my friends are walking over. Trevor and Ellie somehow snuck past me and are already sitting at the table. Setting the drinks down, I pass Avery her lemonade and immediately see Sawyer and Rex smirk at each other before she turns to me and winks.

She’s way too fucking intuitive.

“Ruin my surprise and I promise I’ll make it my life’s mission to make sure they never stock margarita salt here again,” I say quietly as I take the seat in between Sawyer and Avery.

Sawyer just giggles, a giddy, excited giggle and I knew I was right—she’s loving this.

“I thought you said Stella was coming?” Trevor says, thankfully changing the subject.

“She’s here,” Rex grumbles. “She’s just out talking to herlovelyboyfriend. Which probably means she’s standing there talking to him while he’s on his phone, but who am I to judge.”

“Ooh, by the sounds of that, is it safe to assume we aren’t his biggest fan?” I ask.

“Not by a long shot. He didn’t even take his eyes off his phone to shake my hand,” Rex adds.

“Yeah, I have to agree with Rex on this one, but she seems happy enough.”

“Happy enough is bullshit,” Miles says, his eyes on the entrance. “If happy enough was actually enough, I’d have stopped fucking around ages ago.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t exactly feel like bringing it up when he’s around so I’m just hoping to get Stella to come over for dinnerwithoutStewart,” Rex says.

“As much as I’d love to hear you bitch about them for the rest of the night, I’m way more interested in why Harris dragged us all out to the bar. Not that I’m complaining when it’s an open bar,” Cassie says as she snuggles up next to Max. I’m sure Max is getting a kick out of Rex’s discomfort, but Cassie is right.

It’s time to tell them our news.

“Uh, yeah, about that,” I say, looking down at Avery who’s now blushing. “As most of you know, Avery and I used to date. Well,afterher engagement ended, we hung out… and well, one thing led to another… and now, come January there will be one more baby added to our group.”

The excitement is everything I wanted from them and more. As soon as the words are out Sawyer immediately yells out that she called it and I can’t help but laugh. Everyone got loud with excitement, jumping up to give hugs and congratulate us, and I can’t help but look down at Avery and notice her absolutely glowing from the attention, from the love.

I was nervous it would be too much, my friends can come on a little strong but it’s all because they treat everyone like family, but Gwen is already asking a million questions and Avery is soaking it all in.

I look over at Kelly, who’s sitting next to Ellie, and I can see how happy she looks watching her sister and I just hope this happiness has something to do with me. I want to bring her thislevel of happiness—the sort of happiness she’s always brought me.

Except for when she cheated.

But I don’t even want to think about that anymore. It doesn’t seem relevant after everything else we’ve been through. We all make mistakes, I made the mistake of not fighting for her. Of seeing those pictures of her and Peter and bowing out—granted, a lot of that had to do with his threats to ruin both of our careers. I should’ve at least talked to her about it.

I will, soon.

“Um, is there more to the story or are my eyes deceiving me?” Gwen asks quietly, her eyes down on Avery’s as she grabs her lemonade, diamond on full display.

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