Page 66 of Close to Falling

“Well, yeah,” I say, looking away.

“B, it’s our baby. Of course, I’m fucking happy.”

“Really?” I say in a higher voice than normal. He grabs my face and plants an enormous kiss on my open mouth before he lets go and grins like a little boy.

“Yes, really, silly woman.”

I giggle. “This is nuts.”

“We have always been a little on the wild side,” he jokes.

“Yes, we have. For sure,” I say. He grabs my hand and tries to pull me up as he stands, too. “What are you doing?” I ask, laughing.

“I want to make more babies.”

“Um, it doesn’t work that way.” I chuckle as he wins, and I’m on my feet.

“Well, I want to try.”

“River,” I say, but I’m tossed over his shoulder and carried to the bedroom. He always gets what he wants, but I don’t care as he tells me how happy he is.

Chapter Twenty-Six

It’s Friday evening, and we’ve invited Landon and Sarah over for a movie.

“I think I can tell, sis,” Landon says, placing his hand on my white cotton-covered stomach. I’ve got black charcoal all over it as I stand by the fridge with a bottle of water. I’ve chopped my hair off, and half of it lays on the tops of my shoulders while the rest is thrown into a messy updo.

“It’s too early,” I reply, knocking his hand away.

“Nah, you’re getting bigger.”

“You know, brother,” I say after I take a sip, “I’m going to get bigger and bigger, and then you know what will happen?” I put the bottle back inside the fridge and turn to him with two closed fists in the air. “I’ll pop! Just like a bubble,” I say as I open my hands, wide-eyed and smiling cheeks.

“No need to be a smartass,” he says, deadpan, as he reaches for the fridge door and grabs him and River a beer.

“But I can’t help it around you two,” I say. “You make it so easy.” I grab some candy from an old Winnie the Pooh jar I bought at a yard sale and throw a few sour pieces into my mouth. Scrunching my face up as I walk into the living room, I sit down beside River.

“Why do you keep torturing yourself with those?” he asks.

“I’ve just always been a sucker for sour candy.” I smile.

“I know.” He puts his hand on my knee and grips tight. He moves up my thigh and squeezes, causing me to laugh because it tickles.

“Stop,” I say. “I’ve got to pee. Stop.” He finally does once I’m out of breath and feel like I’m dying. I jump up to run to the bathroom, almost not making it in time and sighing heavily when I do.

After I wash up, I walk back into the living room and join my family. Landon and Sarah are on the loveseat while River waits for me to sit down beside him. I hear Landon tell Sarah to get off her phone. She huffs. “One second. I have to send this email.”

“I’ve got charcoal all over this shirt,” I say as River wraps his arm around me.

“You have black smudges all over most of your shirts.”

“I need new clothes.”

“Okay, I’m pressingPlay,” Landon says. I look over at him and stick my tongue out. He rolls his eyes, and it’s like we are kids again. I won’t quit talking, and he wants to watch the movie. He takes Sarah’s phone from her hands and puts it behind them on the table. Kissing her mouth really quickly, he smiles and she sighs heavily, acting annoyed, but I see her lips lift. He pressesPlay, and the movie starts.

***

After the credits roll and we say goodbye to Sarah and Landon, I straighten the couch pillows and turn off the lights. River has already made his way to our room, and I roll my eyes as I pick up two beer bottles left on the table. Boys never clean up after themselves. I toss the bottles and head toward our room.

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