Page 97 of There Are No Words

“On the count of three,” Brady shouted, exchanging a look with Jack and Quinn, who were standing next to us.

Jack started counting. “One. . .”

“Two. . .” Quinn picked up.

And everyone shouted, “Three!”

Brady sliced into the cake, which had whipped cream frosting on the outside, and the inside was a yellow sponge cake layered with pink whipped cream. It was also filled with millions of tiny pink hard candies that flowed out when he cut into it.

The cannons, of course, shot off immediately, and we were showered with pink confetti.

“It’s a girl!” I yelled, stating the obvious. “If you bet it was going to be a girl, you won!”

“I knew it!” Vittoria yelled as the music was turned up again, and the sounds of so much joy filled the air around us.

Dad was the first to approach me. He gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations. I’m very happy for both of you.” Then he turned to Brady and squeezed his shoulder. “Good luck, son,” he said, promptly stepping back so we could be enveloped in a massive group hug by just about everyone celebrating with us.

Chapter Thirty

Allegra

A lazy dayat home with Brady was exactly what I needed.

Brady had just cleaned up from breakfast, and I was moving to the couch when he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my belly. Talking into my neck, Brady asked, “Where are you going?”

Tipsy ran up to me, jumping on my legs to get my attention. She was getting bigger already, her little droopy ears coming to attention on either side of her head. “Uhh. . . sitting down.” Although now that Tipsy wanted in on the action—she had a serious case of FOMO—I had a feeling I wouldn’t be doing any such thing.

“Okay,” he said and lay across the couch, his elbows resting on the cushion next to me. He rubbed my belly, and Baby gave a kick. “Hey, look at you go. You’re going to be a soccer player, aren’t you?” he talked to her about the sport for a few minutes.

Meanwhile, I closed my eyes, petting the soft spot on Tipsy’s head, who was on the other side of me, thanks to the little step ladder Brady had bought her so she wouldn’t have to jump.

When Brady moved on to talk to Baby about other things, like the pub and how he and I had met, my ears perked. “I never knew that’s how you learned about the available room I had.”

He nodded. “Yep. Gossip at the bar.”

Whoever it had been, I was glad. Look how things had turned out. “You know, I’ve been meaning to ask, why The Black Sheep?” I questioned, referring to the name of his pub.

He shrugged and looked up at me. “Because Outcast was taken,” he deadpanned.

I laughed. “I’m serious. Why not Moore or something else? Most Irish pubs have family names or something Irish.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. Can sheep not be Irish?” He smirked, and I leaned down, wanting to kiss him, but couldn’t make it all the way.

Brady met me, though, coming to sit up beside me, bringing his lips down on mine. “My turn, since we’re asking questions.”

I nodded. “Fair’s fair.”

“You never had a chart, or whatever, drawn up for us. At least not that I know of. Why not?” he asked as Tipsy climbed over me and started licking Brady’s face.

Thinking about his question, I smiled. I couldn’t believe he remembered that. I mean, I hadn’t forgotten, it just didn’t feel as important anymore. Not after I’d seen the nursery and what he’d done for me. “We’ll be fine. We don’t need to be charted. I know you’re it for me and whatever’s going to happen in our lives, I’m ready for it.”

Brady shifted so he was facing me and raised an eyebrow. “Really? Way to clue me in. I knew you were “trying” but here I’ve been waiting for you to stop trying and just realize we’re perfect for each other and I’m not going anywhere. You finally figured it out and didn’t tell me?” He looked so content, so happy, and it was then, in that very moment, I finally understood what he meant all those times when he’d said he was all in with me. I saw it. In. Every. Little. Thing. He. Did.

I also felt it.

And I shared the sentiment.

This time, I was able to successfully reach out and kiss him. Our lips met in the softest, most tender kiss we’d ever shared. It was easy to go from zero to sixty with this man, but it was also just as easy to enjoy the little moments, the little things, likea simple kiss. Not that I thought Brady and I would ever feel satiated when it came to our physical connection, but we had a new appreciation for going slow as we deepened our romantic and emotional connections—taking things nice and easy.

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