Page 72 of Inked Craving

“Soon. Although I thought maybe we could finish the expansion first.”

Annabelle shook her head. “No, we need to focus on you.”

“I feel like all we’ve been doing is focusing on me.”

She frowned. “Not really. We’ve all had things going on in our lives at the same time. It’s what we’re good at. So, we will plan your wedding at the same time as we plan the welcome-home party for Eliza and Beckett in a few months.”

I let out a happy sigh. “I cannot wait to meet their new child.”

“I can’t either. You know they’re excited. They’ve been going through a lot for this to happen, but here we are, starting our new lives. One day at a time.”

I hugged my sister tight and then turned to see Eliza moving towards me.

“I heard my name. Something good?” she asked, eyes glittering.

I squeezed her and kissed her hard on the cheek. “Everything’s great. We were just talking about the party we’re going to throw you.”

“I’m so nervous,” Eliza whispered.

“You are going to be a wonderful mother.”

Her eyes filled, and my heart swelled, thinking about our future. “Really?”

“If I can do it, you can do it. If I can be a mom, anyone can.”

Eliza snorted. “I don’t quite think that’s how it works. However, we can talk about all of that soon. First, let’s talk about the wedding.”

I laughed. “I was so not even ready for that. You would think I would have been because that used to be all I could think about. Yet I’m happy with the way things are. You know? Maybe we can just do a Justice of the Peace thing.”

“You will not, young lady. You are not depriving me of a wedding,” my mom said as she held Emery, and I rolled my eyes.

“She’s right. You don’t get to deprive Mom of that,” Benjamin called from the other room. Brenna leaned into his side, and she gave me a little wave before turning to talk to one of Eliza’s brothers.

“Your brothers sure do keep visiting often,” I said, knowing there was something going on there.

Eliza sighed. “They keep coming up to check on me. It’s like they don’t have enough going on in their lives down south.”

“Meaning they have too much going on in Texas?”

“Don’t even get me started. Let’s just say, things are a little complicated when it comes to the Wilder brothers.”

I snorted and then leaned into Lee again as he held me close. “Hello there, darling.”

“Have you seen Archer?” I asked softly, and Lee’s eyes shuttered.

“No. He texted Beckett and said he was going to try to make it, but something came up.”

I frowned, worry settling over me. “He never misses things like this.”

“I hope he’s okay,” Annabelle said as she played with her wine glass. “I’m really worried about him.”

“I just wish he would tell us what’s going on,” Eliza added.

I bit my lip. “Maybe it’s nothing. We’re just reading too much into it. He’s busy. He’s a married man now.”

Only we all looked at one another, an unspoken conversation happening between us. Because something was wrong with our brother, and we didn’t know what it was. And now that I was trying my best not to focus on myself, maybe I would finally figure out what that was.

Lee kissed my temple. “Come on, let’s go steal our daughter away from her grandmother just for a minute.”

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