Page 125 of Hot Mess Express
Eight more years?
Easy as Patsy’s pies.
Before heading back home, we stop at our spot on the corner to get ourselves a pair of smoothies with extra protein. Cuddled up next to each other at the front window, we watch people walk by, going about their day.
Until my phone buzzes with a video call. “Look sharp,” I warn Bridger before lifting the screen. Juni’s cheery face fills it. “How’s my weary Road Trip Barbie doing this fine mornin’?”
“Can’t talk long,” she says, “but I just wanted to tell you—Oh, hey, Bridge!”
He swallows his mouthful and chokes out: “Hey, June!”
“Did you guys just finish up your jog? I don’t do that anymore. Realized it just isn’t for me. Also …” She inclines the phone down slightly, revealing a smooth round hump in her blouse, where her hand gently rests. “Bun-In-The-Oven Barbie is having a little girl!”
“Look at you!” I shout through the phone, ecstatic. Bridger’s eyes twinkle as he gazes at her belly, grinning, likely proud of his buddy Pete becoming a father soon. “She’s gonna be one spoiled girl between us all, I’m tellin’ you. I’m gonna shower that girl with so many dang gifts …”
“Don’t you dare!” She giggles as she brings the phone backto her face. “Did you get the wedding invite? We picked a date. It was a headache. Pete has so much extended family, it was a nightmare getting everyone lined up.”
“Sure did,” I confirm. “And you ought to feel special, because your wedding falls on the same weekend Spruce Fellowship turns fifty-seven years old.”
“Oh, no!” Juni covers her mouth.
“But don’t worry. Trey’s holding the ceremony a day later just for you.”
“Now I feel guilty.”
“He’s proud to do that. Cody can’t miss his buddy’s wedding! And Kansas isn’t too awful far,” I point out with a playful smirk at Bridger, who returns my look with a contented smile of his own. “So he and Cody and the rest of us will all be up there for it. I can’t wait to see my Juni girl get married.”
Her eyes sink with teary happiness. “After all this time. Who’d have thought?”
“I did,” I assure her, feeling emotional suddenly. “You always deserved a prince by your side.”
“That’s so sweet. I mean, I wouldn’t call him a prince, exactly. But oh, you should meet his family. They aredarling. They took me right in without any reservation at all. His mom made me a cake for my birthday! I didn’t have the heart to tell her it wasn’t my birthday. I don’t know what Pete told her. It was confusing. But I ate the whole dang thing out of guilt. Well,wedid,” she amends as she pats her belly again. “Didn’t we, sweetheart?”
Another face squeezes into the screen. “Hey, guys! Did she tell you?” comes Pete, completely shattering the sentimental mood. “I’m gonna have myself a daddy’s little girl!”
Bridger throws an arm around me, bringing himself closer. “I always knew you’d be a girl dad,” he tells Pete with a smile. “I bet your next one will be a girl, too. I’d put money on it.”
Juni’s face comes back into focus. “Next one?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Pete says right back to his pal. “One at a time, one at a time. I’ve only now gotten my parents comfortable with the idea of a pregnant fiancée …”
Juni leans forward so far, her lips nearly kiss the screen. “She wasn’t planned,” she whispers, pointing at her belly.
“Our timing is terrible,” agrees Pete, bringing his face next to hers. “She’ll probably be delivering on our honeymoon. Due date’s barely a month after. Are we sure we really wanna do this?” he asks suddenly, turning to Juni. “It ain’t too late to postpone.”
“Are you crazy? Your family’s schedules probably won’t align again until next summer or next year or maybe not until the year 3000. We’ll never get married if we postpone.”
Pete winces at her, then kisses her cheek. “Of course, honey.”
“I love when you call me honey.” She gives him a peck right back. “Oh, you smell good. Is that your aftershave? Or—”
Then suddenly they’re making out.
The phone drops somewhere. Neither of them seem to notice.
A spanking sound pops the speaker on my phone.
Pete’s whimper. Juni muttering something that sounds like, “Good boy.” Then Pete mumbling, “Looks like Indiana Jones just found himself a new treasure.” Another smacking noise. Or maybe they’ve gone back to making out. Then a gasp.
