Page 112 of Stay for Me
Everyone laughs, except for Declan, whose eyes look haunted as he watches his wife. “It was hell, Bean. Absolute hell.”
She brushes her fingers along his cheek and smiles. “I know, but it brought us to heaven.”
Jacob leans in. “Sydney almost died. They found some issues, and it was . . . well, it was the scariest thing I’ve ever watched my brother go through.”
It’s clear that Declan still struggles with it. “I’m glad you’re all here and safe now.”
“Me too,” Sydney says. “However, Jacob, you’re stupid, and until you actually have a baby on the way, you can’t possibly know what you would do.”
“Ellie, did you find out?” I ask.
“Nope. Connor and I wanted to be surprised.”
“They’re also stupid, but I love them,” Syd notes. “I needed to plan. I had clothes to buy, and I couldn’t handle not knowing.”
I laugh. “I was the same. As soon as I could find out, I needed to know. I don’t do well with surprises.”
Sydney gives me a beer-bottle salute and then leans back in her chair.
All of us laugh and Devney clears her throat. “Sean may not want to know, but I plan to find out the sex of the baby.”
“Wait, you’re going to find out?” Jacob asks in disbelief.
“Yes, Sean doesn’t have to know, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m not.”
Sydney nods. “That’s right.”
“Stay out of it, Bean,” Declan warns and then turns to his brother. “I give it three days after Devney finds out before you’re begging for her to tell you.”
Sean flips him off. “Wanna bet on it?”
Connor laughs. “I got twenty on Sean begging too. He’ll never last.”
“Knock it off,” Syd chides. “I have faith in Sean. Devney is going to hide all the baby stuff she buys at our house and I’ll make sure Sean can’t get access.”
“Like you could stop me from getting in?” Declan challenges.
“Wanna bet on that, pumpkin?”
He groans, and his head falls back. “Why do I even try?”
“I’m not really sure.”
Ellie grips Sydney’s hand. “This is going to be great, we’ll all know and be able to buy stuff, but Sean won’t.”
This family takes way too much joy in bickering with each other, and it’s entirely too entertaining to watch.
“I love our bonfire nights.” Sydney sinks into the chair, taking a long pull on her beer before tipping the neck toward the flames.
“Why is that?” Connor asks.
Syd looks around with a smile. “Because I never thought this would be our lives. I hoped, of course, that maybe we’d all be happy, but I didn’t think it would be together like this. All four Arrowood brothers here and in love with the best women in the world. I feel like Mama A would be so happy.”
Jacob’s hand engulfs mine. “She would be happy with who we chose.”
I tangle my fingers in his. “I’m glad she would.”
He lifts our hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
