A Long Time Coming (Cane Brothers, #3)(132)

Uh, say what?

Lottie lets out a deathly scream before they both run into each other’s arms and cry together, their husbands just staring at them.

I walk up to each of my brothers and offer them a hug. “Well, that would explain the blue-and-pink décor,” I say when I release Huxley.

“It was Lottie’s idea,” he says and then pulls JP into a hug. “Fuck, congrats, man.”

“Congrats to you,” he says while they pull away.

“Jesus, I can’t believe you two are going to be dads. I don’t know if I should be happy or worried.”

“Maybe a bit of both,” JP says. “Because I’m scared shitless.”

Huxley scratches the side of his face and whispers, “So am I.”

I laugh out loud and clap them both on the back. “Listen, if I know one thing for sure, it’s that you two were amazing big brothers, so I know you’re going to be amazing dads too.”

“Shit, that’s touching,” Ryot says and then pushes Banner. “How come you never say that kind of crap to me?”

Banner, who’s holding a Bloody Mary, says, “If you were a good big brother, then I would . . .”

“Ouch.” Penn chuckles. “That’s got to hurt.”

“Not a good big brother?” Ryot asks. “Who helped you get out of your . . . predicament—”

“Secret predicament,” Banner says through clenched teeth.

“Well . . .” Ryot asks.

Banner rolls his eyes. “Fine, you’re a good big brother. Best in all the land.”

Ryot brings his hand to his chest. “That’s so touching, thank you.”

“Wow, you can really feel the love,” Penn says, causing us all to chuckle.

After another round of congratulations and tons of hugs, Huxley and Lottie stand by the pool, ready to tell us the sex of the baby. It took Kelsey a second not to be mad at her sister for not telling her sooner, but I think the whole thing was diabolical, and I liked it. Baby reveal AND gender reveal. Now that’s the way to do it.

“Are you ready for the grand reveal?” Lottie asks.

Arm around Lia, I hold her close as we all say yes.

“Huxley, you do the honors.” Lottie holds her phone out, and I have no idea what’s happening, but Huxley presses a button on the phone, and the pool lights up in all different colors. Instrumental music plays in the background, making a grand show of it, and then the lights start blinking. Lottie clutches Huxley tightly.

They flash blue.

Then pink.

Then blue.

Then pink and pink . . . and pink again just as the music crescendos and everything stops.

“It’s a girl!” Lottie shouts and throws her arms around Huxley. He holds her tightly, kissing the top of her head, and . . . Jesus Christ . . . is that a tear in his eye?

No, it can’t be.

Is it?

And then, lo and behold, he reaches up and rubs his eye.

Oh my God, Huxley Cane is crying.

“Is that what I think it is?” Lia says quietly.

“If you think Huxley is crying, then you’re right.”

“Wow, never thought I’d see the day.”

“I don’t think anyone did.”

But hell, look at him. Look at Lottie and their excitement. It’s palpable. I can only hope that one day Lia and I will be in the same position. It would be the best future possible.





“Do you think we got to take home croissants because we’re an item now?” Lia asks as I brush her hair out of her face while we lie in bed.

Once we got home from the brunch, which lasted another three hours after the baby reveal, we went straight to my apartment, where I slowly peeled off Lia’s clothes and made love to her. That’s how I see it—making love—because that’s how I fucking feel about her.

“That’s a great observation because Penn and Banner didn’t get to take any home.”

“Oh my God, do you really think it’s a couples’ thing? Are we in some sort of unofficial croissant club now?”

“From Scrabble club to croissant club, look how far we’ve come.”

She chuckles. “Today was kind of crazy, all the announcements, all the questions.”

Lying on my side so I can look at her beautiful face, I smooth my hand over her hip as I ask, “Did they ask about me?”

“Oh yeah. A lot.”

“What kind of questions?”

“The basics. If we kissed, because they knew I was waiting for that, and I told them we kissed under the fireworks at Disneyland. They, of course, all thought you are the better Cane brother.”

“Really?” I ask, a smile on my face.

“Yeah, but then I told them how you’re just okay in bed, and they changed their minds.”

I tickle her side, causing her to laugh as I say, “You did not say that.”

“No, I didn’t. I told them the truth, that you have the biggest dick I’ve ever seen and that it’s almost too big, which makes sex not fun.”

“Fucking liar.” I tickle her again.

“Fine, fine. I told them easily the best sex I’ve ever had.” Pleased, I lean down and press a light kiss to her lips.