Craving Cecilia (The Aces' Sons 6)

“I thought you’d grow up,” I joked back, smiling. His good mood was infectious and I couldn’t keep up the attitude I’d been throwing his way.

“I did,” he said, kissing the side of my head, “but some things never change.”

I leaned into him and watched as my mom flipped off a car as it drove through the crosswalk.

“Thank God,” I said, wrapping my arm around his waist. “I love you.”

“Love you, too, baby.”

Epilogue

Cecilia

“Do you remember when she threw up in that potted plant?” Trix asked, lounging back in a small, plastic pool that had seen better days. “She tried to say it was food poisoning.”

“How many times did she try to blame it on a hangover?” Rose asked.

“More times than she should’ve,” Molly said in exasperation. “Who tries to convince people they are drinking to excess when they’re pregnant?”

“You realize this is my baby shower, right?” Heather said, throwing her arms up in the air. I grinned at her as she waddled toward us, her round belly highlighted by the bikini she was wearing. “I’m the guest of honor. Stop giving me shit. You know I was trying to figure out a way to tell Tommy before I told any of you.”

“Normal people don’t wait to tell their partner until they’re too big to hide it,” Trix said with a laugh.

“Only Tommy would be dense enough not to figure it out when his wife is puking five times a day and doesn’t have a period,” Rose joked.

“Only you would wear a thong bikini when you’re pregnant,” Lily said, shaking her head as Heather walked over to the table covered with party favor-sized sunblock and personal fans. Lily misted herself with a spray bottle of water and rubbed her own bare, rounded belly.

“You can borrow it if you want,” Heather said easily.

“My boobs would never fit,” Lily replied. “By the time I give birth, they’re going to be the size of watermelons.”

“Enjoy them while they last,” I said, glancing down at my own string bikini. My boobs were still larger than normal, especially around the time Olive needed to eat, but they were nowhere near as big as when I’d been pregnant, or right after Olive was born.

“It takes all shapes and sizes,” my mom called out from the towel where she was sunbathing. “This was really the best idea for a baby shower, you know? Just booze and sunshine and cake and presents. Every party should be like this.”

“Every party is like this,” my Aunt Callie countered. “Except for the cake and presents.”

“I agree,” Lily said to my mom. She pointed at me. “You and Rose need to take notes for mine.”

“I love that you guys are so impressed by my poor party planning skills,” Heather’s sister Mel replied. “Maybe I should start my own company.”

“Babies and Booze,” my mom said.

“Drink and Deliver,” Rose said.

“Ain’t no party like a drunk baby party,” I said with a chuckle.

“You guys are horrible,” Molly said, fighting a smile. “Seriously.”

“Don’t worry,” Rose replied. “The girls are in the house, so we’re not setting a bad example.”

“As if this conversation is what’s going to set them on a bad path,” Brenna joked dryly.

“Speaking of going down the wrong path,” Mel said, looking around the group. “Who wants a drink?”

“Margarita,” my mom called out waving her hand.

“Me, too, please,” Molly added.

“Me three,” Trix said.

Everyone called out their orders, but when Rose spoke, the entire group went silent.

“Do you have some bottled water?” Rose said nonchalantly.

Heather stopped rubbing sunblock on her leg. “You want water?”

“Why aren’t you getting a margarita?” Molly asked suspiciously.

Trix splashed water at Rose with her foot. “You too good for tequila now?”

I looked over at my sister, who was wearing a huge, cheesy grin, then at Aunt Callie, who was fighting a smile.

“I only joke about drinking while pregnant,” Rose said finally, her expression so happy that it took my breath away.

“Oh, my god!” Molly yelled, scrambling out of her lawn chair to rush toward Rose. “You’re pregnant!”