Page 36 of Other Side Of Never
He rolled his eyes and shook his head, but he had a smile on his face when he walked in.I considered that to be the first cleared hurdle.
Julian’s face lit up.“Hey, welcome,” he called out as he crossed over to us.“I’m glad you could make it.Help yourself to the buffet.”
“It looks good,” I exclaimed.
He smiled warmly.“It tastes better.”
Offering his hand to Kian, he gave him a nod.“It’s good to see you again, man.”
“Happy to be here,” Kian replied as he looked around.“Very nice.”
Julian hooked his hands on his hips and scanned the restaurant.“It’s a work in progress.We can only do so much while remaining open.”Pointing out one wall, he began to describe to Kian the plans he and his partner had for expansion.“Yesterday was our last day open until the end of renovations.”
Leaving them to it, I skipped over to greet my girls.
“I’d get up but I’m a fucking Weeble,” Harley complained, palming her rounded belly.
“You look beautiful, Harley,” I told her honestly, bending to kiss her cheek.
“I keep telling her,” Daire murmured beside her.
I grinned at him.“Happy birthday.”
He smiled easily, his eyes soft.“Whatever it takes to make her happy.”
“Ugh.”I pretended to gag which garnered a giggle from Harley and Noelle.
Noelle, at 6 months along with her second, was nearly as big as Harley.She smiled widely, “Hey, Bridge.Nice to see you’ve moved on from the priesthood.”
I rolled my eyes, but she wasn’t wrong.The priest that conducted Shae’s Nana’s funeral service looked like a fallen angel.Lucky for him, he was already married, or I might have lured him away from the church.Who knew a priest could be married if he joined the priesthood after his vows?
Giving a nod toward Kian, Noelle smirked.“Nice man candy.”
I glanced at Kian who stood smiling and talking animatedly with Julian.“We’re just friends,” I murmured, laughing as Noelle’s son Hunter toddled past, his big, grumpy bear of a daddy hot on his tail.
“Hi, I’m Dylan.”
I looked down at the curly-haired sprite at my feet and dropped to my haunches.“Hello, Dylan.”
“You want to meet mine big mommy?”
I smiled, my heart fairly bursting at Shae’s good fortune.“I sure do.Want to introduce me?”
She reached for my hand and led me to Shae.
Speaking of man candy, Gabe leaned back in his chair, long legs sprawled, tattooed arms crossed over his chest.Next to my sweet, blond, pony-tailed friend, the contrast between his bad boy and her girl-next-door was marked.I loved it.
“Hey, Gabe.”I smiled.
“Bridge.”He gave me a nod as he worked a toothpick back and forth in his mouth.
Dylan tugged my hand until I stood nearly toe-to-toe, towering over my bestie who was seated.
I grinned down at her.“So, this is how it feels to be tall.I don’t think I’ve ever seen the top of your head.”
Dylan looked up at me, waving her little hands animatedly with every syllable.“This mine big, big mommy.”
“Hey, Big Mama,” I teased.
