Page 127 of Summertime Friends

When they reach where we are standing on the dock, Beatrix and I hug.

“It’s great to see you.” She tells me as she rubs her stomach, her giant diamond blinding me.

“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to your wedding,” I apologize. I planned to go, even RSVP’d yes at first. Unfortunately, something with work came up, and I didn’t go.

“You invited her?” Liam turns toward George.

“Needed to give the one person who would object the option to object,” George jokes. Beatrix rolls her eyes at him with a huff.

“We understand,” she assures me.

“Wait.” I watch her keep rubbing her stomach. “Are you—”

“Pregnant? Yes. We’re expecting a baby girl at theend of this year.”

“Shut up. Seriously? Congrats!” I give both of them a hug, turning to Liam. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was your surprise.”

“I thought that was going to be a dog.”

“A dog?” Liam asks.

“I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about getting one.”

“We can chat about that later.”

“Sorry to disappoint, States,” George uses my words from our night in Lagos.

“This is nowhere near disappointing. You are going to be a dad, George.”

“A girl dad, too.” He smiles, but his smile becomes more prominent when he turns to Beatrix.

***

We docked in the playpen.

Sitting around the stern of the boat, Callum and George try to teach us how to play Ring of Fire when we realize it’s their version of Kings. The skyline fills out the horizon behind us. Our music is fighting against other music coming at us from all directions. The combination is a mashup not even The Chainsmokers would use.

The water around us is calm except for the small waves when someone cannonballs in around us. Its’ surface reflects the blue skies, making Lake Michigan appear bluer than it is, almost matching Liam’s eyes.

When I joined them at the back, he pulled me into his lap and wrapped his arms around my waist.

I thought it would be awkward around Natalie, but it hasn’t. She almost appears happy for us.

“So you two are doing this, yeah?” Beatrix asks Liam and I.

I glance up at him, catching the sparkle in the corner of his eye. His smile stretches from cheek to cheek as he answers, “Yeah.”

“Good. Now pay up.” She reaches her hand out to her husband, George—I still can’t believe they are married and expecting. I keep finding my eyes lingering on her small baby bump and thinking about how they will be great parents. This little girl doesn’t even know what awaits her when she tries to date.

I laugh softly, thinking about George talking to whoever she tries to bring home.

George rolls his eyes, drags out his wallet, and gives her two bills. Beatrix tucks them into the string of her bikini top.

“What are you laughing about?” Liam asks me.

“Oh, nothing.” I laugh again.

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