Page 66 of Delayed Penalty

She blushes, a tiny smile playing on her lips and for a moment, I think she might actually invite me with her.

An hour later,Avery is showered and ready for my family to get here and I’ve made the apartment even more clean than the day I moved in, but it’s worth it to have Avery more relaxed and excited to meet everyone.

I’m actually nervous, but it’s not because I’m afraid of their reaction, I’m nervous my mom is going to try to move in with us once she knows she’s about to be a grandma. The knock on the door snaps me out of it, as Avery’s eyes fall on the door from her spot at my island, and I smile.

“You ready for crazy town?” I smirk as I walk to the door.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she says, and with that, I open the door.

I’m immediately thrown into a hug by my mom, my sisters stealing me next, before finally I get to see my dad who pulls me into a big bear hug I missed more than I realized. I didn’t know how much I needed my family and wanted to be around them now that I’m about to be a dad, but having them here feels like everything.

“I missed you so much, son,” my dad says as he releases me, taking a step into my apartment. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, but come on in, I have someone I want you to meet,” I say, turning around the corner to head into the kitchen.

“Oh?” my mom questions with a smile as she turns the corner, her eyes widening with excitement when she sees Avery. Her gaze bouncing between Avery and I, each time her smile getting wider and her eyes welling with tears. “Avery?”

Standing up, Avery goes to give my mom a hug, stopping and hugging each of my sisters and dad right after. They may have only met one time one Christmas, but they hit it off so well they hated me for nearly a year after we broke up, but that’s just because I told them I broke up with her.

As soon as they are done hugging, I see my mom’s eyes fall onto Avery’s stomach, where her left hand is resting gently. Her swollen belly so petite, but so obviously holding a baby inside. Then, my mom’s gaze shifts to Avery’s finger, wearing my grandmother's ring.

Looking back at me, pure love and adoration in her eyes, and I know without saying a word that she knows exactly what she just walked into.

Not only is she going to be a grandma, but she also has a brand-new daughter-in-law, one she has always dreamed of having.

“Is there something you want to share?” she asks, her eyes never leaving Avery.

My sisters’ and dad’s eyes bounce to me, to my mom, then finally landing on Avery until they all realize it at once, based on the immediate wide eyes on each of their faces.

Wrapping my arm around her, I pull Avery toward me, unable to stop myself from smiling. “What should we start with first? Uh, you guys remember Avery, right?”

“Harris, we aren’t stupid. Of course, we remember Avery,” Lyla says.

“Can you skip to the actual news?” my mom asks, her hands rubbing together with excitement.

“Well, uh, we got married a couple of weeks ago… and as you can see, she’s pregnant.”

My sisters and mom immediately turn into drunk woo girls, their cheers of excitement at once turning into hugs, while jumping up and down, and my dad pulls me into a hug telling me how proud he is to be my dad.

“Harris!” my mom says when she pulls me into a hug. “You know, we would have been more than happy to help you plan a wedding, right?”

“Obviously, Mama,” I say, looking down at my mom who has so much hope and excitement in her eyes, something I promised Avery we would see because at the end of the day, my parents love their family. “There’s a lot of information you’re missing, and we will definitely tell you everything, but just know we did what we felt was necessary to make sure everyone’s protected.”

Her eyes narrow but she just nods. “Why don’t I go in the kitchen and start whipping up some dinner and you can fill us inon what we missed. If you don’t make me mad at you, I’ll make brownies after.”

“You piss her off and I’ll blame you for not getting dessert.” Emmie smirks as she takes a seat at the island.

“Me too. I need all the carbs for this dang gremlin inside of me,” Avery says.

“Well, you two can have some, regardless. Harrison has to earn it.”

“You meanto tell me that your ex is trying to ruin your life?” my mom asks as she mixes the Parmesan cheese into Alfredo sauce.

All it took was Avery mentioning her need for all the carbs for my mom to decide to make homemade Alfredo and garlic bread. She definitely didn’t make it for me—her son who is obsessed with Alfredo—but truthfully, I’m happy she’s making it for Avery.

Avery, the woman carrying my child. The woman wearing my grandmother’s ring.

But most importantly?

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