“Surprise,” Lucy says quietly. “Happy baby shower.”
I’m shocked. Stunned. Can’t even form a coherent thought. Slowly, when the gears in my brain start shifting again, I realize Drew knew about this. This is why he didn’t want to start up the sexy train in the driveway. And OH MY GOSH THEY HEARD ME! They all heard me crying about how Drew doesn’t want me because I’m a whale.
Now, tears are flooding down my face, and I have no idea if they are from joy or embarrassment or relief. I just know they won’t stop. Lucy sees my expression and takes a step toward me, but I surprise her when I quickly turn to Drew. He’s standing at the door, a crooked, apologetic smile on his beautiful face. He raises unenthusiastic jazz hands.
“Surprise,” he says flatly.
I blink a few times, and then my smile blooms, and all I want is to be in Drew’s arms. I nearly tackle him when I wrap my arms around his waist. I feel his chuckle and then his breath on my ear.
“No part of me thinks you’re a whale. And believe me, I’d take you back to my room right now if there was not an entire room full of people watching us.”
Heat and desire swirl in my chest, and for a split second I consider kicking everyone out. BE GONE! ALL OF YOU!
“We can still hear you! Do your dirty talk later,” Cooper says, breaking the ice and making the whole room laugh. “I’m ready for cake.”
“Well, you pulled it off, man,” Cooper says, clapping me on the back.
We’re standing off to the side of the room, and I can’t take my eyes off of Jessie. She’s by the door, wearing the “Baby Mama” sash Lucy made for her and thanking guests on their way out. I haven’t been able to stop watching her and her beaming smile all day. I’m addicted to it now, already planning hundreds of ways I can keep it on her face for the rest of her life.
When I don’t respond to Cooper, he says in a mocking tone, “No, Cooper, it was you and Lucy who did the heavy lifting! I couldn’t have pulled it off without you two!”
I begrudgingly pull my gaze from Jessie. “Sorry. I was distracted.”
Cooper’s brows rise, saying he already knew that. “Yeah, I gathered as much.” He grunts a laugh. “You’ve got it bad. I’ve never seen such a pathetic shmuck.”
“Really? I have—about two months ago when you were marrying my sister after like two days of dating.”
“It was a month, thank you very much, and I looked hot while smoldering at Lucy. You look dumb.” He makes the most ridiculous puppy eyes, hanging his tongue out and panting.
I shake my head. “I do not look like that.”
Lucy pops up beside me and laughs way too hard for my liking. “Are we impersonating Drew?! Here, let me try!” I can’t even describe the idiotic face she makes. It’s twisted and upsetting, and I just hope to God I don’t actually look like that.
“Alright, get out. Both of you. Out of my house.” I point toward the front door, prepared to pick them both up and deposit them on the sidewalk if I have to.
Lucy props her hands on her hips. “Yeah right! Jessie hasn’t even seen the main surprise yet, and since I was the one to stay up until midnight last night making it happen, I deserve to see the big reveal.”
Oh geez, I forgot about that. Now my heart is beating so hard I can feel it in my fingers, because knowing Jessie, she could either really love what I’m about to show her or really hate it. I’m prepared for her to take one look and bust a hole through the wall in her need to leave as quickly as possible.
“Hey, preggo!” my sister yells after Jessie closes the door behind the last guest. “Drew has one final present to show you.” Lucy singsongs the words and then shoves me into the middle of the room near Jessie like she’s offering me up to a lion. I flash her a look of warning over my shoulder.
Jessie’s eyes sparkle with amusement as she slowly moves closer to me. “Is it just me or did she make that sound really dirty?”
“It’s going to sound worse when I tell you to follow me upstairs.”
“Ooo.” She grins and lifts her eyebrows. “Lead the way.”
“Ewww. Is this how it’s going to be from now on? I don’t know that I like it,” says Lucy, following behind us up the stairs. “I haven’t had enough time to adjust. One minute you hate Drew, and the next you’re trying to get him to do unspeakable things with you at your baby shower.”
“I didn’t know there was a baby shower inside, okay?! Leave me alone. Besides, you and Cooper are way worse,” says Jessie.
“I agree,” I say as we reach the top of the steps. “I don’t think I’ve even seen you guys sit in your own chairs yet. It’s really gross.”
Jessie makes an over-the-top gagging face. “Maybe we all need some PDA rules in place.”
“I’ll never agree to the terms,” says Cooper, hooking a finger through one of Lucy’s belt loops so she can’t race past and beat us to the reveal like she’s intending. Lucy pouts and Cooper gives me a Go ahead nod.
And now, my palms are sweating worse than they did before my first kiss (Melissa, I still feel bad about that awful kiss, I’m sorry). I try to get rid of the sheen on my palms by wiping them on my jeans, but Jessie notices and gives me a wry smile.