Page 138 of Bae

I made a sound of deep appreciation and grabbed it to take a bite. “Mmm, so good.” I groaned.

He laughed.

Trent and I had grown close over the past year. His quiet, understanding nature was a relief in the somewhat chaotic world we lived in. I never had to explain myself to him; it was as if he had this intuitive sense within him that tapped into whatever a person was feeling and he just knew. When Romeo was traveling, it was usually Trent I saw the most.

He was always my brother, but now he was more. Next to Ivy, Trent was my best friend. He’d become my confidant and someone I always looked forward to seeing.

“Whatcha got?” I asked him as I crunched. I leaned over and peered into the giant waffle cone bowl in his hand.

It was filled with some kind of cheesecake-flavored mousse with fresh berries and a honey sauce drizzle.

“This stuff is the shit,” he said, shoveling it into his mouth. I swore nothing else would fit in there, but then he took a bite of the bowl.

“Valerie outdid herself.” I agreed, focused on the pickle. It was really delicious.

He snorted, and it made me smile. “You think?”

“You know what’s behind that giant white curtain over there?” I asked, motioning toward the huge display.

“Maybe.” He shoved more food in his mouth, then paused in chewing. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Some brother you are,” I muttered fondly.

He was laughing when Drew walked up and casually leaned down to take a huge bite out of the side of the bowl.

“Good thing I love ya, Forrester,” Trent told him. “‘Cause if I didn’t, I’d kick your ass.”

“Bring it, frat boy.” Drew challenged and stole a berry to pop into his mouth.

“Quit hogging my sister!” Braeden hollered and injected himself under the umbrella. His arms wrapped around me from behind, and he kissed my cheek.

“It’s a wonder you can even still do that!” I cracked, gesturing to his arms.

“You are looking mighty large today, tutor girl.”

I slapped him in the head with my pickle.

“Ew! Pickle juice!” He jumped back and wiped at his face.

“What the hell are you doing to my wife?” Romeo demanded, his well-muscled arms wrapping around my shoulders and pulling me against him.

“He called me fat.” I sniffed.

“I did not! I said you’re large. There’s a difference!” Braeden defended.

Trent and Drew snickered and continued to fight over the bowl of food. Why Drew didn’t just go get his own I would never understand.

“You’re not fat, baby,” Romeo told me. “There’s just more of you to love right now.”

“I’m gigantic, and we all know it,” I declared.

Romeo patted my belly, and right on cue, the baby kicked his hand.

“That’smybaby,” Romeo announced like that was all the explanation needed for the sheer size of me. He was very full of himself. Frankly, I think he enjoyed the fact I was blown up like a house. The bigger I got, the more pride he swelled with. Add in the fact that every time he touched my belly or spoke to our child, he was greeted with some kind of movement. It was a wonder his head wasn’t as big as me.

“Daddy!” Nova yelled and came running up behind B.

He turned and caught her as she vaulted herself at him, and he held her over his head to make her laugh. “What are you doing, angel?” he asked.

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