Page 81 of Baby By my Best Friend's Daddy

Celine rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and a collar around my neck like a dog because he wanted to control everything about me. Trust me, we’reallbetter off without him in my life.”

Jade came into the room and set two plates down at the table for the kids. Ben got up from next to me, and Warner squirmed off his mother’s lap, hurrying to the table.

“Slowly, War,” Ava warned. “Until you keep those shoes on, you’re going to slip on your socks.”

Warner ignored her and climbed onto the chair.

“I have news,” Jade said, sitting down. “Aaron and I promised we wouldn’t say anything for a while still, but I don’t want to hide it from you girls anymore.”

“She’s pregnant,” Ben said, talking around the bread in his mouth.

“Thanks for that, buddy,” Jade said, shaking her head.

He shrugged. “Now Dad can’t say you told anyone. I did.”

She laughed. “Sweet of you.”

He glanced sidelong. “I got your back, Jack.”

We all laughed.

“I can’t believe it!” Ava cried out. “It’s just making me broody now. How far along are you?”

“Only ten weeks, but I don’t want to keep it a secret anymore! We can’t wait.”

“You’ll be sorry in six months’ time,” I grumbled.

Celine giggled. “You’re just grumpy because you can’t pull off a crop top right now.” Celine stretched her own crop-top-clad body out to emphasize her point.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. It’s not all the other stuff,” I said with a laugh.

“Is Aaron excited?” I asked.

“Ecstatic,” Jade said with a warm smile. “I didn’t think he’d want to walk this road again, but he can’t get enough of baby catalogs, making up the nursery, painting, you name it.”

“He’s lost his mind,” Ben commented from the side.

Ava giggled. “I see you have a running commentary.”

“Always,” Jade said and glanced at Ben. “But I don’t mind.”

She looked so damn happy; my heart burst with happiness for her. This was what lay ahead for me too. Not only the kids and the happy, busy family but friends who would be there for me no matter what.

Over the past eight months, Ava and Jade had really made a point of reaching out and drawing me in. After Landon had made it clear he didn’t think I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t worry about not fitting in, but if I did, the girls made me feel amazing.

Ava and Celine were sisters-in-law, so she was with us all the time too.

“Aaron barely goes to the Cavaliers HQ anymore now that I’m pregnant,” Jade said.

“Yeah, Landon has been hanging back too,” I said.

“Noah doesn’t go either, and we don’t have one on the way… yet. What do you think it’s about?”

“I think they’re just sick of the tradition and the legacy and all therules,” Celine chimed in. “I know I am.”

I nodded, thinking about it. The guys had been hanging out together a lot more. We’d been spending time at each other’s houses, having barbeques, game nights, and movie nights for the kids. I preferred it that way. I didn’t like the idea of the guys going out drinking and the women staying home with the kids. It was an archaic concept where the families were so divided.

Brad spent a lot of time with us, too. I liked that he hung around, even if he wasn’t a part of the Mom Clan, as he liked to call us.

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