Page 145 of The Way We Score

Zane shrugs. “I don’t see why not.”

Rachel’s eyes widen, and her cheeks flush. “Oh, Clint! It’s like you read my mind!”

He takes her hand. “Let’s get it on the books. Come on.”

The two of them walk away, and I look down at my brother, exhaling a laugh. “You’re welcome.”

Zane only smiles, shaking his head. “I’ve got what I want. Signing a paper is only a technicality.”

The music starts up, a perkier song this time, and the baby starts to sway in my arms. My eyes widen, and I turn to Craig, pointing at the baby. “You’re seeing this, right?”

“That’s right, baby girl!” He walks over to take her from my arms, moving his hips and dancing to the song. “You’re going to be up on that bar with Uncle Craig before long.”

Gigi laughs, patting his shoulders with her fat hands, and he makes a happy face, rubbing his nose against hers. “That’s right. You’re just our little dancing girl.”

“I told Liv we should’ve named her Lola.”

We’re walking across the room to where Liv is holding a glass of champagne and chatting with Allie and Dylan when the door opens, and a face we haven’t seen in more than a year enters the room.

She’s dressed in jeans and a loose sweatshirt, and she’s holding a baby girl who looks about the same age as Gigi on her hip.

“Raven?” Dylan’s voice goes high. “Is that you?”

She runs over to her friend, pulling her into a hug.

“Dylan…” Her voice is hushed, and she seems embarrassed, like she might turn around and bolt out the door again. “I didn’t know… It’s not Thursday!”

“Oh, we’re celebrating Garrett’s promotion. He just joined the sheriff’s department.” She holds Raven’s hand, and she’s slowly leading her into the restaurant. “You dropped off the map! I thought something had happened to you!”

“Ahh…” She shifts the dark-haired little baby on her hip, and my eyes widen. “I should probably come back another time.”

I look at Jack and Zane, and they’re walking closer to where I’m standing as well. We’re the only ones who remember, because we’re the only three who are still around from when he was a baby.

“Who is this?” Dylan leans closer. “Aren’t you just a little cutie!”

“This is Haddy.” Raven’s eyes blink fast. “She, uh…”

“Raven?” Jack’s the first one of us to speak, stepping closer carefully. “Is this… Hendrix’s baby?”

Raven’s face flushes, and she visibly gulps air. “I can come back another time.”

“What?” Dylan’s voice goes high, and she looks from Liv to Raven. “Did everybody get pregnant at my wedding?”

“I have an implant.” Rachel holds up a hand from where she’s standing with Clint.

“IUD.” Allie holds up her hand.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to crash the party. I wanted to talk to you… I don’t know how to get in touch with him, and I thought… he should know.” Her chin drops, and she almost seems ashamed.

“Hendrix doesn’t know?” Dylan’s voice is gentle. “You did this all alone?”

“Technically. My sister was there.”

“But she’s only, how old is Amelia now? It doesn’t matter…” Dylan waves her hand, leaning closer. “Hi, Haddy! I’m your aunt Dylan!”

The baby rocks the same way Gigi does before leaning into her aunt’s arms. Dylan fawns happily, lifting her onto her shoulder and bouncing her side to side.

“It’s like she knows.” A tentative smile appears for the first time on Raven’s face since she walked through the door. “I wasn’t trying to hide her. I just had such terrible morning sickness—I was sick all nine months. I actually lost weight while I was pregnant.”

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