Page 74 of The Sweet Spot

Lindy

The new hockey coach, Deacon Kane?

Everly

What the hell?

Gracie

Oh my God. He’s who you were having sex with on the couch?

Maddox

Seriously didn’t need that visual.

Callen

I’m okay with it.

Gracie

Too far, Callen.

Callen

No such thing.

Maddox

Tell them or I will.

I look down at the screen, then kiss my husband before walking outside with a smile.

Brynlee

He’s the man I married.

Then I power my phone down and relax before the chaos ensues later.

In all fairness, they took the whole I got married without them thing pretty well.

I mean, I may have heard my fair share of jokes from Easton and Lindy about copying them, but they all came from a good place.

Now, as the sun sets and the kids run around in the grass, Deacon wraps his arms around me from behind and looks over at our guests, who are mostly sitting on the outdoor sectional, sipping wine and beer. Or in the twins’ case, water. “I guess that was the easy part,” I murmur, fortifying my nerves before I break the rest of my news to them.

Deacon presses his lips to my temple. “You could wait until you get the results back.”

“No. Our moms have managed to put a wedding together for us less than two weeks from now. I want to spend that time with the girls, finding dresses and picking flowers, and I don’t want to hide anything else from them. I might need them more than ever, depending on the results.” I close my eyes and soak in Deacon’s strength. “I love you.”

“You’re the strongest woman I know, Brynlee Kane. You’ve got this.”

“I haven’t changed my name yet,” I tease.

“But you will,” he assures me, and he’s right. I will.

We move over to where everyone is gathered.

This group of men and women, who in so many ways are every bit my family, some by blood but all by choice... These people mean the world to me.

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