Page 64 of Resolution
“No. I just need that. I’m ready to go otherwise.”
He kisses me lightly on the lips before leaving the room. I use this time to gather the salads I’ve prepared for the barbeque at Riggs’. We’ll be staying through the fireworks tonight, so I also gather my sweatshirt and travel blankets from the hall closet.
When Enzo returns, he drops to one knee, and with a formal accent, he presents the shoe. “I believe you’re looking for this?”
“Why, thank you, goofball,” I tease. He slides it on my foot and stands to kiss me once more.
“Don’t get any ideas, buddy. We have to leave in a few minutes or we’ll be late picking up the kids from Devin’s.”
“I know, beautiful. I’m just making the most of our time alone together. In a matter of weeks…” He places his hands around my ginormous belly. “We won’t be alone much more.”
“Somehow, I’m sure you’ll figure out a way.”
As we pull up to Riggs’ place, the driveway is packed. SUVs and trucks line the driveway, letting us know it will be a crowded house. Enzo assured me there’d be kids here, but once we get inside, I realize it’s mainly couples and a few younger children. We were guaranteed this is the place to be for fireworks, so hopefully the kids will entertain themselves. Since Soren agreed to come with us, at least Maddie will be entertained.
Riggs has a slip-n-slide set up on one side of his house. Though, at the moment, there are many more grown men than children using it, which is quite comical. Immediately, Dec and Frankie take off in that direction. Soren and Maddie head with lawn chairs in tow to a shaded area, where they will likely hang out until it’s time to eat.
After we greet Riggs and his wife Stella and visit for a while, Enzo insists I sit in the shade and put my feet up. I don’t put up a fight. Being on my feet is killing me at the moment. Between the heat and being a hundred years pregnant with twins, I feel as if I’m about to pop. I still have a few weeks until my due date. But I’ve always delivered a week earlier than expected, so I’ll take the reprieve when I can. The pressure on my lower back and abdomen is crazy with two in there. But as my doctor told me a few days ago, I am not dilated at all, so who knows how much longer these two will want to incubate in there.
We find a spot on the back deck where I can take in all the action. We’re next to Drew Warren and his date for the afternoon, Hannah. I spent some time with Drew at our wedding. He’s quite the character and never fails to make me laugh.
“So, how much longer before those two make their debut?” Drew asks as he points to my belly.
“Not soon enough,” I groan as one of them makes a painful jab to my ribs and decides to hang out there for a while. I gasp and rub my hand, trying to get them to move. But no such luck.
Drew reaches into the cooler beside him. He pulls out a bottle of beer and wipes it down with the towel next to him. Then he hands it to me. “Here.”
“Warren, she’s pregnant. She can’t have that,” Enzo snaps.
Drew sighs and shakes his head. “No shit, sherlock. I meant for her to put it on her rib cage. I’ll bet you five bucks it makes the baby move.”
“Seriously?” Hannah asks.
With a knowing look in my direction, Drew juts out his chin as he passes the bottle to me. “Trust me.”
“What makes you so knowledgeable about kids?” Enzo inquires with a cocked eyebrow in Drew’s direction. “Last I checked, you’re still single and don’t have any of your own.”
Drew rolls his eyes. “Well, my sister had four. Every time the little booger wanted to stay in her ribs, she’d insist on getting a bottle of beer. We used to tease her on hot days when we came to her house to visit. There would always be a cold beer nearby, for just these emergencies. She claimed it worked fast and stayed cold longer than an icepack.”
Hell, I’ll give it a try. I place the bottle sideways, along my rib cage and sure enough, it makes the squirming baby move from my ribs. Ahhh, relief. “Drew, I think I love you.”
“Hey, now,” Enzo comes to the defense and gives me the most pathetic look ever, as if he wants to mark his claim.
“Oh, stop.” I swat my arm in his direction. “You know I love you the most, but Drew might just have become my new best friend.”How did I not know about this beer bottle trick?I settle into my chair and relax even further. This is pure heaven.
“You just make sure you always keep a few cold ones in the fridge. You’ll be her knight in shining armor soon enough, Harps,” Drew teases.
“Don’t worry, Enzo. You already are,” I tease in a dreamy voice, which makes his dimple pop as he smiles. My skin tingles as electric currents run up my spine from that look alone. Will I ever get immune to his sexiness?
By the time we’re ready for fireworks, I’ve gone to the bathroom more times than I can count. The kids keep teasing me, but I kindly remind them they are to blame for this new problem as well. Having five kids will do that to a woman.
We’ve gathered near the edge of the clearing Riggs has set up to shoot off fireworks. As the first explosions ignite, the babies inside me jump. I reach over and grab Frankie’s hand to place it on my belly. When the next firework goes off, the babies don’t disappoint.
“They’re moving like crazy!” Frankie exclaims. “Come feel this, guys.”
Within seconds, I have about five hands placed on my belly. As soon as another explosion is heard, the babies move around like they’re dancing at a disco.
“I don’t think they like the fireworks,” Declan announces.
