Page 83 of Beyond the Hate

“Not tonight.” Eli rubs his hands together. “I’ve been playing poker with my brothers since they were old enough to hold cards.”

I narrow my eyes on him. “You’re on.”

Lily ushers us to the dining room where the poker table is set. She picks up a tray filled with whiskey shots and hands them out.

Maya holds up a hand. “No, thank you. I’m not drinking.”

I frown at her. “I told you it’s perfectly safe to consume one drink while you are trying to conceive.”

“Maybe I’m not trying anymore.”

Oh no. Is Caleb’s recovery backsliding? I thought he was on track since he’s been attending therapy.

“Why did you stop…” I trail off when I notice her smile. “You’re pregnant?”

She nods. “I wasn’t planning on telling anyone yet.”

I cringe. “I’m sorry.”

Caleb wraps an arm around her waist and draws her near. “There’s no reason to be sorry. Maya’s been feeling guilty for not telling everyone she’s pregnant. She wanted to wait until she’s in her second trimester but she felt bad about not telling everyone.”

“This is the best news ever.” Nova pushes Caleb out of the way to hug Maya. “Our babies are going to grow up together.”

Maya wipes at the tears leaking from her eyes. “It’s everything we ever wanted.”

Caleb growls. “No more crying.”

“I can’t help it, soldier.I’m just so happy.”

“Bunny,” he murmurs as he enfolds her in his arms and sways her from side to side.

“I’m happy, too.” Lily waves her hands in front of her face. “Another grandchild.”

“Don’t cry, sweet flower,” Jack murmurs before hauling her near.

She pushes him away. “We need to drink shots.”

“Hear! Hear!” Chloe and Sophia shout in unison.

Lily passes out the whiskey shots. “Lift your glasses. To smugglers, bootleggers, rumrunners.”

“And the mermaids who loved them!” We finish as one before downing the shots.

“I thought you didn’t believe in mermaids,” Eli says as he holds out a chair for me.

“It’s not a question of believing. Mermaids don’t exist.”

He shakes his head as he sits next to me. “And you call yourself a smuggler.”

“She is a smuggler,” Sophia says. “Remember the time she smuggled moonshine into the school assembly.”

Nova nods. “I remember. It was eleventh grade.”

“It was my first ever hangover,” Chloe says.

Maya groans. “I was sick to my stomach.”

Lily clicks her tongue. “All of you were sick. I had buckets set up all over the floor of the basement since none of you could aim to save your lives. I didn’t think I’d ever get rid of the smell in the basement.”

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