Page 79 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron
"I don't even know how I ended up in this mess," Byron muttered.
"You never do," Ana replied sweetly, always needing to have the last word.
Eventually, the conversation turned to kids.
"I swear," Ana said, squinting at a toddler biting a paper plate, "Every child I see these days is born looking like a tax auditor. All serious and judge-y."
"I blame the tablets," Byron called. "And kale."
"No, you're just boring," Ana shot back. "Let them climb trees, eat dirt, and beat the hell out of each other like we did. Builds character."
“So," she turned back to Cadi, "any plans for more?"
Cadi hesitated a breath too long. Just a flicker, but Ana caught it like a hawk.
"Oh my God," she said lowly, eyes narrowing. "You're pregnant."
Cadi nearly choked on her lemonade. "Ana-"
Ana's grin was slow and wicked. "I bloody knew it. You've got that look."
"What look?" Cadi demanded, exasperated and a little pink.
"That slightly panicked, slightly glow-y look. And I've known you long enough to know when you're hiding something."
"Not a word," Cadi hissed, eyes darting toward Gray. "I haven't even told him yet."
Ana's hands flew to her mouth. "This is delicious."
"Shut up."
"I'm so proud."
"Shut up, Ana."
"Glorious, fertile Cadi-"
"Ana!"
Later, as twilight set in and fairy lights blinked on across the garden, Byron came up behind Ana and wrapped an arm around her.
"You good?" he asked, low against her ear.
She nodded. But her hand drifted to her belly, her expression giving away the tension which was like a living thing within her.
"The scan's next week," she said. "I've just got this bad feeling, Byron. The anaesthetic took so long. I'm scared."
He kissed the top of her head. "It will be fine. And we'll deal with it if it is not. Whatever it is."
She didn't speak for a long time.
Then, "You're not allowed to let any more women touch your arse."
"I'll get it insured," he deadpanned, "Ya know, you are back to the possessive, foul-mouthed harridan I used to know in school. I am finding it hot."
"Oooh, such big words, B. And this 'harridan' will key your car if you don't announce our relationship status soon."
To which, Byron picked up his phone with a smile and announced it to the whole world without even a by-your-leave to his long-suffering agent.
