Page 285 of Wild Card

“Right now, the baby. When we get home, I’ll explain to you in detail how?—”

A whistle cuts through the air and Ford motions to the dugout.

“We’re missing the game because you’re being an overprotective idiot.”

“You have to pee, don’t wait.”

“Do you have to be sooooooo observant?”

He ignores me, steering me past the bleachers to a waiting chair with a bird’s eye view of the field. April, Bex, Rowan, Harley, and Jewls are all seated in similar outdoor camping chairs, gabbing away.

“You didn’t.”

“Bleachers are dangerous. You have your own section.” He kisses me quick but hard before jogging back to the team.

He receives attention from every woman in the vicinity and I can’t blame them.

My husband is gorgeous.

Another boy hits a line drive, giving Wyatt the opportunity to race to home plate. We all go wild, Bex screaming the loudest.

I dance in a circle, cheering until a soft hand clutches my arm.

“Maybe you should sit.” April’s gaze travels sideways.

I grumble, easing into the chair. “Not sure how to handle four more months of this.”

“Ditto, sister,” Rowan commiserates, her husband being equally as maddening.

“Maybe you’ll go early,” Harley suggests with a sly smile.

Mom comes running up, completely frazzled. “Did I miss anything?”

“Wyatt’s on fire, the team is kicking ass, and these six-year-olds are being groomed for the Cy Young award.” Jewls adjusts her sunglasses. “Otherwise, it’s a glorious summer morning at the ballpark.”

“The Cy Young award is for pitchers,” Bex corrects her.

“Well, whatever little ballplayers get.”

“Where have you been?” I ask Mom.

“Rosie and I were at the Whitmans’ decorating.” She glances around nervously and my senses kick in. Grandma said she and Grandpa had plans this morning, which is why they aren’t here.

“That wasn’t necessary. We had it covered.”

She avoids my statement, picking at her shorts.

“Did Talon rope you into decorating in order to keep me from helping?”

“No!” she’s too quick to answer.

April picks up on the anxious spirit and gives a little clap. “Who’s up for shopping tomorrow? Now that we know it’s a boy, we can get the nursery ordered.”

Talon warned me this was coming. April and Mark were ecstatic to find out the sex and April went into full planning mode. She insisted on gifting the nursery furniture. If she wanted to buy her first grandchild’s furniture, who was I to steal her joy?

“That sounds lovely, April.”

She beams. “I’m glad you found out the sex. Even though furniture is typically gender neutral, you can consider themes now.”

---