Page 141 of A Very Merry Enemy
Jake
Lucas with you?
Mawmaw
Ooooohhh!
I blush and swallow hard.
“Oh, no, they’re giving you a hard time already?” Lucas asks. “You know how they are, so it’s kinda your fault.”
“True,” I tell him.
Holiday
Yep!
Claire
Is that wedding bells I hear?
Holiday
I can absolutely leave this chat.
I’m bombarded with severalnot an optionandnoreplies.
We pull into the hospital parking lot, and Lucas finds a spot close to the entrance. We practically run inside, following signs to the maternity ward. I haven’t known Emma for too long, but she became a fast friend, and I care about her well-being. Plus, this is Lucas’s niece and nephew being born, which is a big deal.
The waiting room is already packed. Hudson’s parents, Emma and Claire’s dad, Jake, Claire, and Mawmaw are all present. It feels like half the town is here.
Mawmaw sees us first. “There you are! Got here in record time. I hope you weren’t speeding. You know the troopers are out this time of year.”
“You both showered,” Jake says conveniently. I see several pairs of eyes go to mine and Lucas’s hair.
“Yes? And? Is that not allowed?” I ask, challenging him.
“Together?” Jake adds, giving Lucas a hard time.
Mawmaw speaks up. “Hudson’s with Emma now. Doctor said it could still be a few hours.”
“Or it could be any minute,” Dad adds. “Twins don’t follow a schedule.”
“How would you know?” Lucas asks him.
“I’m Santa. I know everything.” He blinks at him.
We find seats at the end of the row, and Lucas drapes his arm across the back of my chair. Everyone notices but no one says anything directly. Bella slides into the chair next to me with a knowing smile.
“You both look guilty as sin,” she whispers.
“Shut. Up,” I tell her. “You’re annoying.”
“I know,” she says. “I’m like an annoying little sister. Which is great, because when you’d babysit me and Wendy, we’d pretend like you were our meaner older sister.”
I turn to her. “Oh really? I let you do whatever you wanted.”
She chuckles. “You’re right.”
