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“Is he in love with her?” Elizabeth asks. “Because he’s really weird around her.”

“Jake hasn’t had much in his life, and he thinks Bea is his.” Emerson shrugs. “She’s the only person he even listens to, and I think it’s more like a dog protecting his only beloved toy.”

“That’s not a no,” Elizabeth says.

“I’ve wondered myself whether he might love her,” Emerson says. “But if Jake Priest wants something, he takes it.” He sighs. “I think if Jakeisin love with Bea, he doesn’t know it himself.”

“Wait, do you really like her, Easton?” Elizabeth says. “Because part of me was wondering if maybe you were gay.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s so dumb that if a guy doesn’t have time to date or an active interest in someone in particular, every straight person they know assumes they’re secretly gay.”

“I mean, it’s not a big deal now,” Emerson says. “Most people who are out, they’re just out. Right?”

“I have no idea,” I say. “But that’s not why I haven’t dated much. I’m definitely not interested in guys, unless Bea’s secretly a guy.”

“This is so weird,” Elizabeth says. “Nine million girls out there and the only one you’ve ever liked is my sister-in-law? Is this a prank? Because if so, it’s a good one.”

I grab the door handle. “Thanks for the support,” I grumble. “I thought you’d be happy for me, but whatever.”

Elizabeth runs up and throws her arms around me. “I’m sorry.” She presses her head against my chest. “I am happy for you, E, I swear.”

I sigh slowly.

“Bea really is stunning, so I can see why you’d like her. I was just surprised.”

“And if it goes badly. . .”

“It would be a little weird for me, sure,” she says. “But it’s not like you two will fight at our baby shower, for instance. Right?”

I look down at her. “What are you saying?”

“I thought we weren’t telling people,” Emerson says. “I didn’t say a word to Bea, even though I was dying to when she started talking about those puppies.”

Elizabeth spins around and immediately starts wheedling. She’s got this down to an art. “I’m so sorry. It’s just, I was kind of moody with him just now, and I didn’t want him to leave mad.”

“You’re already using the baby to get out of sticky situations? Really?” Emerson asks.

“Do we know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?” I ask.

“Girl,” Elizabeth says.

“Boy,” Emerson says.

I frown. “Are you having twins?”

“We don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl yet,” Elizabeth says. “We decided to wait and be surprised, so we just have hunches.”

“That’s dumb,” I say. “It’s a surprise no matter when you find out.”

“You’re dumb,” Elizabeth says. “It’s disrespectful to say whatever you think.”

She’s so snarky, always. I imagine it’ll only get worse once she has a baby to protect. “Just for that,” I say. “I hope it’s a boy.”

“Rude,” she hisses. “You know how much I love watching babies trying to crawl in floofy little dresses.”

“It’s going to be aboy,” I shout as I head out the front door.

Mom’s going to crap a brick.

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