Page 23 of Can We Try?

Lachlan lifts her into his arms. “Well, you’re getting a new baby cousin.”

“Another one?” she gasps.

“Yep.”

“Yay!” she cheers, wiggles to be let down, and races off to the living room. She announces very loudly to her sister and Lilly about their new baby cousin.

Lachlan moves to stand next to me and bends his lips to my ear. “You doing okay, Momma? Need anything?”

I turn to look at him over my shoulder. “I’m good. Thank you.”

“We’ll leave when you’re ready.”

“We just got here.” I furrow my brow. Surely, he doesn’t want to just drop the news and leave.

“I know. I also know you worked today, and we had a pretty emotional appointment, so when you’re ready, say the word.” With that, he walks back to the other side of the island.

“Forrest, come here, man. You’ve got to see this.” His words have all heads turning toward him. “Look, you can actually buy the doppler to listen to the heartbeat anytime you want.”

“What? No way. Why did I not know this?” Forrest turns his eyes to his wife. “Did you know about this?”

Briar chuckles. “No, but that’s cool. I’m sure they’re crazy expensive.”

“No. Look, I bought this one, great reviews, and all that. It was only one hundred and thirty dollars.”

“Only.” Monroe giggles.

“Hey, this is daily listening to my kid. You can’t put a price on that.”

“What he said. Send me the link. I’m in.”

“Forrest.” Briar shakes her head. “I’m already halfway through my pregnancy.”

He shrugs. “We can use it for the next one, or pass it on once our little one is here.”

“Next one?” Brogan asks her sister.

Briar places her hand on her baby bump. “We haven’t discussed anything past this one, but my husband seems to think that he needs to keep me knocked up.”

“Brogan, baby, you think we should get one just to have it when we’re ready?” Maddox asks his wife.

“Kind of what I was thinking,” Legend chimes in.

“I’m going to need one too,” Roman agrees.

“Guys, we’re not even pregnant.” Emerson shakes her head, amusement all over her face.

“Just being prepared, baby girl,” Roman tells his wife, before going to his phone. All of them are tapping at their screens, all of them except for Lachlan. He’s standing tall, proud as a peacock that he brought this world-changing news to his best friends.

“They really are something,” Brogan muses.

“We got lucky,” Briar comments.

“So damn lucky,” Monroe agrees.

“We’d definitely be lost without them,” Emerson adds.

“Lachlan has been great so far. I’m glad it’s him. I mean, if this had to happen, I’m glad it’s with a man who cares and wants to be a part of his child’s life.”

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