It’s not smart to argue, so I grumble again.
“I can’t wait until Grace is pregnant. You’ll see that your little remarks aren’t very cute.”
“I can’t wait either, and I’ll gladly eat my words when she’s as round as you and waddling like a duck.”
“OOOWWWW!” I scream at the pain of her nails pinching harder.
She starts to laugh loud, bending and holding her stomach. Then she starts to snort.
Seeing her hold her stomach, full of a life she’s craved for so long, hits me hard. I tug her gently back into me, laying my chin on the top of her head. “I love you so much, Bizzy, and I’m so happy for you and Shaw.”
She hugs me back and raises her face to mine. “I love you too, Nicky.”
“So now that you’ve exposed my secret and you don’t hate me, can I ask a favor?”
“Yes.”
“Can you help me speed up brunch, so I can steal my wife back to the hotel and get started on making babies and seeing Grace waddle like a duck?”
“Ugh! Don’t be so crass. There are some things people don’t need to know.”
I wiggle my eyebrows, sending her into another round of giggles.
“Yeah, I’ll help you. Let’s go wrangle up this group, so we can have the world’s quickest brunch.”
“And that is why you’re my best friend.”
“You’ve got your own wife now. Think you can let go of mine?” Shaw’s irritated voice comes from behind me, and I purposely pick her up and step out of his reach.
Right then, a jab kicks my stomach. “What the hell was that?” I put her down gently and glare at her with fear.
“The baby kicked you.” Bizzy rubs where her stomach is visibly rolling. Shaw is at her side in an instant, his hand taking the place of hers.
“That’s right, baby girl, you have permission to beat up on Nick anytime you want.” Shaw talks to her stomach, and she gasps, her mouth dropping open.
“Shaw!”
My knees start shaking as I realize what he let slip. “Girl? Baby girl?”
“It was supposed to be a surprise!” Bizzy shrieks.
“Baby girl?” I repeat stupidly.
“Yes, we’re having a girl,” Shaw confirms proudly. His face glows as he continues to palm her stomach.
“Nick, you can’t tell anyone else. We wanted to surprise everyone,” Bizzy begs.
“So I wasn’t the only one hiding something?” I cock an eyebrow at her.
“Who’s hiding what?” Mathis comes out, takes one look at Bizzy and Shaw, then says, “Oh, the baby girl.”
“You knew, too?” Bizzy’s face starts to turn pink.
“I saw the sonogram, Bizzy. I’m a doctor.”
“Oh yeah.” She bites on her lip. “That makes sense.”
“Where’s Grace?” I scan over his shoulder and see her walking toward us. She comes to me and nuzzles into my side, wrapping her arms around my waist.