Page 162 of Lemon Crush

August shrugged helplessly. “I ate a lot and had tons of sex. I thought that’s all it was. Italian food and orgasms.”

“I have a few pregnant clients who are almost our age. And women are safely having children in their forties all the time now,” I said with as much confidence as I could muster. “What we’re going to do now is adapt your yoga lessons, watch your blood pressure and make sure you’re eating better and getting enough rest.”

With her health issues, she’d have to be on top of things, but… “August Retta Hudson, you’re growing my niece or nephew inside you.” Excitement exploded through me. “You’re having a baby.”

She put her hands on her stomach hesitantly. “Do you think Wade will be upset? He’s been talking about all the traveling he wants us to do, and some of it is probably going to have to be put on hold now.”

“Are you actively trying to see the downside here?” I demanded.

Chick nodded. “She’s very good at doom-spiraling.”

I got to my feet and put my hands on my hips. “I’m now declaring this a spiral-free zone. You’re going to be an amazing mother, August. And it’s finally going to be my turn to be the fun Auntie. I’ll spoil that child within an inch of its life and then send it home to you to deal with the aftermath. Karma is real and payback’s name is Aunt Bernadette.”

“And Uncle Chick.”

She was starting to smile at us. “Auntie Beebee.”

“Beebee?”

“We’ve decided that’s your Grandma name,” Chick informed me helpfully. “You didn’t like Granny or MeMaw or Nanny, and August already calls you B, so we workshopped a compromise.”

I tilted my head. Sammy could shout that in the grocery store and people might think it was my name because I clearly wasn’t old enough to be her grandmother. “Sold. Beebee it is.”

A thought struck me and I placed a hand on my chest, where it felt like I’d just been punched. “Your child and my grandchild are going to be the same age.”

“Actually, your grandkid is older.”

“Not helpful,” I barked at Chick, staring into the middle-aged abyss. “This is really messing with my chi.”

August had the audacity to laugh. “I’m very sorry my pregnancy is making you feel old, B, but?—”

“Pregnancy?”

Oops. Wade was home.

Chick got up and slid his arm through mine, backing us both up as my brother strode toward his new wife. He slipped his hands under her arms and pulled her to a standing position with impressive ease.

“Gus?” He cupped her face, searching her eyes.

She smiled up at him, her cheeks wet and her expression glowing with love and possibly hormones. “We’re having a baby, Wade.”

He didn’t ask questions or go through any of the stages of denial the rest of us had. He simply dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms. “We’re having a baby.”

The moment felt too intimate to witness. My oldest friend and my brother were so in love it was palpable. Sometimes it physically hurt to be in the same room with them.

I used to want that.

Don’t get me wrong, no one was happier than I was that they’d both finally gotten their heads out of their asses. But I was only human.

“If we were better friends, we would leave,” I told Chick quietly, openly staring at the Hallmark moment unfurling before us.

“They’re right in front of my apartment and I don’t have a car or a satisfying personal life. I’m staying.”

I snickered. “Well, if you are, so am I. Anyway, I’m invested now. I’m also thinking of selling my house and getting an apartment because even though they’re gone, months of waking up to a baby crying in the middle of the night has really ruined the vibe. Oops. I think she heard that.”

August was laughing against Wade’s mouth, and she turned her head to take us both in. “How do you two feel about korma?”

“We’ll order in to celebrate,” Wade said instantly, following her lead. “I don’t want you cooking tonight.”

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