Page 105 of Zone Protection

“Hey, who was that?” I walk into the room and hug him.

“Mornin’, darlin’.” He kisses the top of my head. “That was Pitz. He just got to the airport in Detroit, and he’ll leave soon. I spoke with Beck this morning, and he, Charlie, Casey, and Callaway are heading down in a few hours. Beck said if he wakes Charlie up now, she might cut him. And I’m not sure if it was a joke or not.”

“I should probably text the girls then to get an ETA, huh?” I walk back to the bedroom and send out a text to Livi, Mia, andPeyton.

They all respond immediately, which is surprising since it’s so early. They’ll make their way down after eleven a.m.

Archie comes back into the room, looking down at his phone. “My mama wants us to come up to the house. She gave me instructions to not dillydally or fool around.” He gives me an annoyed look.

“We’d better get moving then,” I say, laughing.

Once we get to the main house, Alicia takes us up to the nursery. She must have grabbed the box with the onesie in it from the car because it’s sitting on the changing table. I kind of forgot about it just because I was so tired when we got back. Sitting next to it are two white T-shirts and two baseball hats. One saysMommy, and the other saysDaddy.

Does she just have this stuff lying around?

“Okay, I need you two to change into these T-shirts and holler when you’re ready.” Then she bustles out of the room.

Archie grabs both shirts from the table and hands me mine. “Do you know what this is about?”

“It might be the Pinterest idea she had, but I’m not sure.”

Once we’re dressed, Archie yells out to his mom.

After about twenty pictures, she lets us see the photos. I have to admit, it’s so freaking cute. I love it. It’s a picture of Archie and me, our backs facing the camera. Our hats are on backward, also facing the camera, and we’re each holding a shoulder of the onesie we got from the Cowboys, with his name and number.

Archie, well, he’s eating it up, and he quickly posts it on his social media. The caption is simple though. It says,My life, my love.

Gah, this man. I just love him.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

ARCHIE

I’m runningon adrenaline at this point. I don’t know what day it is or what time it is. I’m just going where I’m told to go.

We went to the courthouse this morning to get the marriage license, and luckily, the judge found out I was there and signed it for us on the spot. His son was a year younger, and we had played football together in high school. Then he wanted my autograph and a few pics before we left.

Our friends arrived a few hours ago, and my mama had a whole spread set out for a little barbeque. Her friends brought baby gifts, as did Charlie, so it’s turned into a little baby shower/pre-wedding bash today.

My friends, as I knew they would, seem to love Emma. I can tell she feels comfortable with them and is enjoying having them here. It was a good call, inviting everyone up. And my brothers are here too. Although Austin had to leave early for a baseball game.

Ace and Aston have been flirting with Mia and Peyton shamelessly. I think they think they really have a chance with those two. Cocky little fuckers. I love ’em.

Aiden has been hanging out with Bo and Casey mostly. He’s met Casey a few times, but this is the first time he’s getting to meet Bo. They’re sort of alike, now that I think about it.

Emma’s friends pulled me aside earlier with a plan. I’m not sure if Emma will like it or hate it, but they really want to pull this off, so like the good sport that I am, I agreed. I ordered a car to pick up the girls and booked a block of rooms in downtown Dallas since it will be late by the time we’re done. The girls will all head out first, and me and the guys will show up a bit later—minus my brothers because where we’re going, they need to be twenty-one to enter.

The car arrives, and Emma has no idea what they’re doing, but she seems to be having fun. Charlie is going with them even though Beck wants her to stay with us. Because where we’re going, Beck is likely to go apeshit if some guy starts rubbing up on his girl. And I don’t blame him. The difference between us though, I’m putting a ring on it. Tonight. And she’s having my baby, so I’m not too worried about it.

When my truck pulls up to the club where the girls are thirty minutes later, Casey looks out the window and shakes his head.

“Uh-uh. I’m not going in there. Is that where the girls are? Beck, you’re okay with Charlie being in there?” His voice squeaks, and his eyebrows shoot to his hairline.

“Fuck no, but I’m here now, so it doesn’t really matter.”

“Be a good sport, King. This is about my girl. Don’t ruin it for her.”

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