Page 115 of Rebel Heart
“That’s still happening. But we’re doing it next Sunday.”
I smiled at him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Jules. Now, go enjoy your party.”
The squeal of excitement that escaped was bordering on extreme, but I didn’t care. After having a less thandesirable response to the news of my pregnancy, this baby shower felt like a dream come true. And I was so grateful to each and every person in this room, especially the man standing beside me, for making it happen.
FIVE WEEKS LATER
I heard them before I saw them.
The door opening and slamming shut was the first indicator. The second was the stomping feet that climbed the stairs and entered the living space. And finally, it was the sound of those deep voices that floated into the kitchen, where I’d been busy nearly all day long.
A moment later, Tate stepped into the kitchen and declared, “I’m not sure it’s worth going back out.”
My body tensed, worry creeping in. “What? Why not?”
“Are the conditions bad?” Rhea asked.
Cooper entered the kitchen, moved toward his wife, and explained, “The conditions are great, actually.”
Skye looked back at him and wondered, “So, what’s the problem?”
Beau came over to where I was working, slid an arm around the back of my waist, and kissed my cheek. “I don’t think there’s any problem.”
Liam laughed. “Of course, you don’t. Because you totally kicked our asses out there.”
“How about it?” Wyatt huffed.
Marco moved to take his daughter out of Ivy’s hands, kissed both of them on the cheek, and grumbled, “Damn, I never thought we were that lousy at snowboarding.”
The tension eased out of my body, and a smile spread across my face. “Using all those skills you’ve got to destroy the confidence the rest of these guys have?”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Honestly, I’m not that great at snowboarding. I’d consider myself mediocre.”
Ivy burst out laughing. “So, what does that make the rest of them?”
Beau realized his mistake and tried to backpedal. “Well, I mean, I’m just saying that?—”
“It’s okay, man,” Wyatt insisted. “Maybe this is just the motivation we need.”
“On second thought, perhaps we should go back out.” Tate picked up one of the sandwiches we’d prepared for everyone while the guys were out.
Layla sidled up to Liam, kissed his cheek, and joined the conversation. “That’s good. Because I need a nap this afternoon, and I don’t think it’s going to happen if you all stay here after you have lunch.”
My sister-in-law was officially in her first trimester, her and Liam revealing the news of her pregnancy to us on Christmas Day. I remembered the exhaustion I’d felt all those months ago and understood her need for a nap, even if we were technically on vacation.
It was the annual Westwood’s ski trip, and everyone was here. Not only my siblings and their spouses, but the children were here, too. Plus, my parents and grandparents had come along, but they were currently out of the chalet preparing over at the lodge for the celebration we intended to have tonight for Beau’s birthday. I, of course, had spent the better part of the morning baking everything we’d need for tonight’s party. I’d spend the afternoon—after the men returned to the slopes—working on decorating the cakes and cookies. The rest of the women would help me as they could between needing naps and wrangling children.
Beau was aware we were celebrating him tonight, and he thought it was completely unnecessary. But he quickly learned, after a stern conversation with his mother-in-law, that he had no way out of it.
It had been months since they’d all made the change, and my heart still beat a little harder every time I thought about how well my family was loving my husband now, showing him what it was supposed to be like.
“You know, now that I think about it, I’ve always wanted to spend some time in the terrain park doing those tricks,” Marco confessed.
“Me, too,” Cooper added. “What do you say about some lessons after lunch, Beau?”
The other men nodded their agreement and interest, but before Beau could answer, Ava said, “Can all of you just remember that you’re either already fathers or soon-to-be fathers?”
