Page 39 of Redemption

“So Winters.” Luke crossed his arms, tucking his beer bottle against his elbow. “Anything new going on in your life, buddy?”

“The only thing new I can think of is the bottle of beer I’m about to find. Anyone need anything?”

With two nos and one yeah, Winters sauntered away, stopping to kiss Mia on the cheek, and hit the cooler that was sitting by a table.

“That was an obvious ask,” Ryder said. “And if Mia is and he didn’t say, not cool, man. Not cool.”

Rocco looked from Luke to Ryder and back. “What?”

“You don’t know why the hell we’re standing here like dumbasses?” Luke barely tilted his head, clearing his throat as though that slight noise might be a finger-pointing toward Mia who now had her back toward them.

Rocco’s gaze ran back and forth, going wide and then narrowing back toward the women. “What?”

His voice was louder, maybe too loud, and Ryder’s eyes bugged as he shook his head enough to tell Rocco to shut up.

“Dude.” Luke took a step back, giving Rocco the same headshake.

Rocco glanced over again, but this time, something dawned on his face, and he smiled, his eyebrows lifting slightly. “How about that?”

That wasn’t the tone of voice that Ryder would’ve expected, but each to their own when it came to kids. “So you think?”

Rocco nodded. “Yeah, I think.”

“Do we say something?” Luke mumbled.

Rocco shrugged, not nearly as confused about Mia’s stomach as he and Luke had been, but maybe that was because they had two kids. “She looks like she’s doing okay.”

Both Ryder and Luke took a drink of their beers, having no idea what okay might look like. Mia looked fine except for her stomach not looking the way it used to.

“I always thought pregnant people had these rounder stomachs,” Luke finally said.

Ryder’s face twisted slightly as he thought about this, and maybe that was it. Maybe he and Luke had just never been around a pregnant woman who didn’t have her shirt on. “Yeah, I’ve never been around anybody in the sprouting stage.”

“Same.” Luke nodded. “If that wasn’t obvious.”

“Sprouting?” Rocco choked on his beer. “What the shit are you talking about? Cat. Nicola. Beth. Sugar.”

“I don’t think we went swimming with them when they sprouted.”

“Christ, you guys need to get out more.” Rocco laughed louder.

The back door opened and slapped shut and brought a smile to Ryder’s face. He and Luke turned to see Victoria walking off the deck steps.

“Hey!” Winters laughed from near the coolers. “Come on down.”

Victoria joined Caterina and Maddy, circling around Mia, none of the women seemingly noticing Mia’s stomach, and walked down to join them along with Winters.

“Let’s find out,” Rocco said.

“Dude.” Luke elbowed him. “Don’t do anything—”

“Who’s ready for the water? Winters, want to toss the ladies off the boardwalk?” Rocco asked. “Or we could go do margaritas? Anyone up for tequila shooters? Mia?”

Ryder froze in the sand and would bet money Luke was equally as stuck.

Suddenly, Winters laughed. Then Mia. Ryder cautiously glanced at her, as Victoria stepped next to him.

“Hey, you.” She leaned against his arm. “I came to watch the excitement.”

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