Page 38 of Break

Nolan and Landon have barely left my side since the house started filling up and Brenton is running around helping, making sure his parents and everyone else are comfortable and with drinks and snacks in their hands at all times.

No less than ten times has he told me to sit my ass down and eat and drink water so that my legs don’t swell. I haven’t been dealing with any other issues outside of that. My blood pressure has been perfect, so has all of my blood work and urine, so I told him to go have a good time and not to worry about me.

He shook his head at me and is now helping Logan and Blake grill the food out back.

“He’s a great guy,” Nolan murmurs in my ear and I nod slowly.

“Yeah… Too bad he’s more likely to want to fuck you instead of me.”

He chokes on his beer and narrows his eyes at me, sending me a disbelieving look. “Don’t be so crude, little Marie. I still know all of your tickle spots.” I step away from him and hide behind Landon, laughing hysterically.

“Don’t you dare, Nolan Reed! I will kick your ass!” I yell and everyone around us chuckles as they move their nosy gazes towards us and our antics.

James smiles softly and makes his way to us, wrapping me up in his familiar arms, but he quickly lets go and steps away. “Hey.”

I smile up at him. “Thanks for coming.”

He nods and steps back clapping Nolan and Landon on their backs. “Of course, I wouldn't miss this for the world.” He winks and sips from his beer, “The girls look happy.”

I glance over at them and see they’ve now conned Mrs. Evans into their little group of secrets and I roll my eyes. “I think they’re planning on putting together some sort of registry, conning everyone to buy me everything they think I’ll need. They’re expensive girls and very convincing.”

James shrugs, smirking at them. “We all have the money for it and we all love you.”

I snort and glance around at the crowd of people, I guess he’s right. “Yeah, I love all you assholes, too.”

Landon and Nolan squeal and wrap me up in their arms and I groan as they slowly spin me around and then take me towards the couch. “All right, time for you to sit and relax. We’ll eat, play some games… then it’s time to open your presents!”

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I wave off the last person to leave as I relax on the couch and close my eyes as I lean back. My whole body feels like I was hit by a bus.

“Holy crap, I’m exhausted,” Alyssa moans from beside me and I snort at her.

“Too much sleuthing today? Wear yourself out?”

“Shut your face, M.”

Caroline chuckles from the floor and continues organizing all of the gifts. I have enough gift cards to last me ten years, it feels like… I’m too afraid to check the amounts.

James had tiny jerseys made with his number and name on the back, in four different sizes from newborn to size small, a gift certificate to a day spa, a gift card to Target, and another to the local baby store. Knowing him, there’s enough money on both of those to last a lifetime.

Everyone else added random toys, books, and gender-neutral clothes.

Landon and Nolan were incredible and we got to play a game with the cupcakes. They were all passed out and the ones that had candy in the middle were the ones with the correct genders…

One blue and one pink. One of each.

I cried, and so did the girls.

Everyone was so excited and then Alyssa and Caroline went around with their phones as they probably conned everyone into sending money to some secret account to pay for everything we need.

I just let them do their thing. They’re excited, how could I tell them no?

A lot of the guys stayed late and helped clean up the house. We also now have a full fridge full of leftovers, and Nolan took the rest of the beer and booze home with him.

Morgan and his wife were having a screaming match in the front yard for half of the duration of the party, so the girls helped entertain their three kids in the backyard… I wish I knew what I could do to help. By the time Morgan came back in to eat some food, his wife was gone and everyone blew out a breath of relief.

He was mostly silent after that and just sat around watching his kids and thinking too hard, it seemed. Every time I tried to talk to him, he would wave me away and distract me by placing his toddler in my lap, which worked.

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