Page 77 of Found By You

“You busy tomorrow?” he asks. “The crib came. Could use a hand putting it together.”

Maci and Cassidy start making their way back to us.

“Maci’s got an appointment tomorrow, but we can stop by after.”

“Hey, Duke.” Cass smiles, grabbing Butch’s hand. “We’re going to do pictures before we eat. You, too, Duke. I want you and Maci with us,” she demands, dragging her fiancé along behind her.

Maci takes my hand. “We better follow before she comes back for us.”

I playfully smack her ass and earn myself a sexy laugh from her. “After you, gorgeous.”

We go through the motions of taking pictures, then eat. There’s a lot of mingling between my family, Cassidy’s family, and friends. The conversations between nearly fifty women in one place seem to go on forever. There’s a bunch of games and the number of gifts…

I didn’t realize how big a baby shower really is.

“So, have you settled on a name yet, Cass?” Lily asks. “And please, don’t say Blaze.”

Butch scowls.

Cassidy beams. “We did. Gage Anthony Montgomery.”

My mother claps. “Oh, I love it.”

“Blaze is cool, though,” I chime in, and Maci swats me on the arm.

Butch cocks a grin. “I tried to tell her. He’d be an even bigger badass than he already is with a name like Blaze.”

Cassidy rolls her eyes. “Don’t encourage him, Duke.”

“What about you, Maci?” Lily asks.

I squeeze her thigh as she sits next to me with her arm wrapped around my forearm, deepening her hold on me. “I’ve got a few I like,” she admits, “but only one’s been sticking out to me.”

My ears perk up. She hasn’t told me she settled on one. She’s bounced a few ideas off me, but I told her it’s whatever she wants. She’ll pick something perfect all on her own.

Cassidy sits up straighter. “Please, tell me. I’ve been begging you for months.”

“Okay, okay,” Maci starts, and everyone gives her their undivided attention. “Olivia Grace.”

My chest tightens.

Olivia Grace. You’ll be as beautiful as your mother.

Cassidy gasps, on the verge of tears. “It’s perfect.”

My mother fans her eyes. “Oh, boy. I’m losing it here, kids.”

Butch tilts his head. “That’s a good one. I mean, not as badass as Blaze…” he trails off with a chuckle when Cassidy begins full-blown crying over Maci’s announcement.

My angel sniffles beside me, and I turn my attention to her. “Aw, doll, don’t cry,” I say, hugging her tight to my side.

She blows out a shaky breath, dabbing under her eyes with a napkin. “Sorry. I’ve just never said it out loud like that before,” she whispers. “It’s so official, you know? She’ll be here in a few short weeks.”

I kiss her temple, my heart pounding at the thought. “She will be.”

With the party coming to an end, people disperse to say their long goodbyes and well wishes. Maci covers her mouth on a yawn as I rub her slightly swollen ankles. “You about ready, darlin’?” I ask. She nods, pulling her legs off my lap.

Standing with her, she says, “I’m just going to run in and use the bathroom quick.”

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