Page 57 of My Only

We both turned toward the familiar voice calling his name.

Approaching us was Bryant Greene, one arm wrapped protectively around a stunning, pregnant woman who walked beside him. Her belly was round but not too big, just enough to steal the show. She was radiant, with her long, perfectly rolled locs, glowing in that effortless way that made people stop and look.

My smile grew the closer they got, my eyes drawn instinctively to the small swell of her stomach.

“Mr. Greene,” Hassani greeted, reaching out to shake his hand.

“Bryant,” Bryant corrected, gripping Hassani’s hand firmly. “I keep telling you, everyone else can call me Mr. Greene, but you?” He pointed at Hassani. “Just Bryant.”

Then his gaze shifted to me, his smile widening.

He pointed toward me before looking back at Hassani. “Mrs. Franklin?”

“Yes.” Hassani gave a proud smile, slipping an arm around my waist. “This is my wife, Mrs. Ayla Franklin.”

Bryant took my hand with an easy confidence, his grip gentle but firm. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Franklin.”

“Likewise,” I replied, charmed by his presence.

“And this…” Bryant said, his voice warm, “is my wife, Mrs. Zoe Greene.”

“It’s so good to meet you two,” Zoe said, shaking my hand, then Hassani’s. “Hassani, your quick doodle set the foundation for all of this. I hope you know that.”

“Oh, God.” Hassani chuckled, shaking his head. “From what Bryant told us; we wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you.”

“And that is a fact,” Bryant agreed, grinning. “I married a genius.”

“Well, we got that in common,” Hassani joked, holding out a fist to Bryant, who bumped it with his own.

Zoe and I giggled.

“Well,” I said, tilting my head, “who do I thank for inviting us to such an amazing place for a work event?”

“Isn’t it stunning?” Bryant asked, his eyes sweeping the space again.

“It’s beyond breathtaking,” I admitted.

“That would be Mrs. Greene and her genius mind again,” he said proudly, resting a hand over Zoe’s belly. “It was her idea to host it here.”

I warmed at the sight of how affectionate he was toward her, how he couldn’t seem to keep his hands too far from her growing belly.

“A genius, indeed.” I smiled. “Do you know what you two are having?”

“A boy.” Zoe grinned, playfully rolling her eyes. “And I haven’t been able to hear straight since we found out—this guy’s been talking my ear off about it?—”

“Hey, Mrs. Greene!” Bryant cut in, pulling her close to press a kiss against her temple. “You’ve better watch it.”

I giggled at the way they bickered like a couple deeply in love.

“How about you two?” Zoe asked next. “Any children?”

I felt Hassani’s gaze shift toward me, and instinctively, I glanced at him before refocusing on Bryant and Zoe.

“Not yet,” I answered, my voice steady. “But soon.”

“Yeah,” Hassani echoed, just a beat behind me.

I don’t know why I said that. Why we said that.

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