Dean (Face-Off 6)

“No, that was too far,” Austin says. “Even for you. Everyone watching could tell it was personal.”

“I tried to play it off like it wasn’t,” Dad says. “But you know, with modern technology, people zoomed in the videos to read your lips.”

“They don’t know he was talking about Kat,” Austin says.

“Eventually, someone will figure it out,” I interject. “My stomach will get too big to hide it.”

“Is Dean going to marry you?” Duke says with venom in his tone. “The least he can do is make an honest woman out of you.”

You’re an idiot, Denny. Honest woman? Who says that? I’m not some woman from one of your old Western movies.”

“You know what I mean,” he shouts. “And leave The Duke out of this.”

“Don’t raise your voice with me, Dennis McAllister Baldwin.”

Using his full name gets an instant response from him.

“Don’t call me that.”

His middle name is my mother’s maiden name. She said she wanted her son to have a part of who she used to be, and I thought that was pretty damn cool. So, guess what my baby’s middle name will be?

“It’s the name your mother and I gave you,” Dad says.

“Oh, dear Lord,” I whisper. “Does everything have to be an argument in this house? All you guys do is fight about something. Can we just take a minute to be thankful that we have each other? That we’re all here right now under one roof for once. And in the middle of the hockey season, of all things.”

“Speaking of hockey,” Dad says. “The Flyers are on in an hour. I was thinking we could all watch the game together.”

I smile at his offer. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“I’ll order the pizza,” Austin says, reaching into his pocket for his cell phone.

“I’ll get the beer,” Duke says, turning on his heel. “I’ll need a lot of it to watch this shit,” he mutters under his breath.

“I heard you, jerk.”

He snickers and then leaves the living room.

“We’ll keep the couches warm,” Theo jokes, kicking his long legs up on the coffee table.

Tavis nods to add his agreement.

“I’ll… umm…” Dad looks lost. Austin and Duke left him with nothing to do. “I guess I’ll get the TV ready.”

“Okay, Dad.” I smile. “You do that. I have to run to the bathroom.”

He nods. “Your mother practically lived in there when she was carrying each of you.”

“You can teach the baby your famous slapshot.”

Dad chuckles. “I’m sure Dean wants to do that.”

“He learned it from you.”

He hugs me, holding me until I feel like I’m going to pee myself. Damn pregnancy side effects have ruined the moment but not the night because I plan to enjoy the time I have left with my family.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Dean