“I’m just saying,” she whispers. “He hasn’t left her side.”
“She’s about to pop. Her brother and Kenra probably asked for help.”
“True. I didn’t think about that.”
Piling into the kitchen, I hug everyone hello as Cameron goes over the tasks for tomorrow.
Everyone is assigned a job, and I flip the others off when I’m stuck with peeling potatoes.
“One day, I’m going to knock all your socks off with a Riley family recipe.”
Several eyes widen, teasing glints flicking along the others, and I stutter.
“I meant… I was only saying I can cook something he—” Grins pull along their faces, so I laugh. “Oh, fuck you guys.”
Noah squeezes my thigh under the table, but I don’t look at him.
I’ll blush like a mad man if I do, and he knows it.
“Well, we’ll see just how good the man’s family recipes are cause he’s on turkey.”
“What?!” Brady whips around, half a breadstick hanging from his mouth. “I wanted the turkey.”
“You got the ham,” Cam argues.
Brady nods and turns back to the open fridge.
We chat a little more, enjoying the fact that we have nowhere to be and no need to rush around.
A little while later, Mase takes the others home, since it’s dark out now and they didn’t want to walk the half mile in the cold with Payton.
Once Mase gets back, Brady looks around, realizing the third piece of their puzzle is missing. “Where’s Chase?”
“He went to bed an hour ago,” Mason tells them, pushing to his feet. “Speaking of bed. I’m beat.”
Everyone nods in agreement, and we make our way to our rooms, but not before Mason pins Noah with a glare. “You’re in the guest room, fucker.”
“That’s what he’s trying to do.” Brady rocks in his chair, eyeing us.
Noah simply laughs. “My bags are already in the extra room. Thanks for letting me stay.”
“Um, it’s my house too, and so not up to them.”
With a smirk, Noah says, “Yeah, it is.”
I give him the evil eye and Mason pushes on my head, clamping a hand on Noah’s shoulder, as he repeats his earlier comment. “Good fucking answer.”
“Go to bed already,” I tease, relaxing into the space beside Noah.
Several of us settle into the living room for a movie and not an hour after we’ve split for bed, does Mason’s shouts wake up the entire house.
“Payton’s in labor, and she’s scared!”
Just like that, to the hospital we go.
“Does it always take this long to have a baby?” Cameron stands, stretching her neck.
“I don’t know.” I shrug, lifting my head off of Brady’s shoulder. “When’s the last time Parker came out with an update?”
“About an hour ago?”
“Here he comes now.” Nate nods his chin toward the double doors as they begin to open, Payton’s brother on the other side.
He shakes his head. “Nothing yet. They gave her something to speed things along, and she’s crying a bit now.” A pained expression blankets his face. “They wanted to check her so she kicked me out, but she wouldn’t let go of Kenra’s hand.”
I nod, rubbing my eyes.
“This baby is already stubborn and he ain’t even born.” Lolli grins.
Parker scoffs a laugh. “Right?”
Cam sits back down, knocking her knee into mine. “You heard from Noah?”
“Not since I sent him to the house. Is Trey there yet?”
She nods, showing me a picture he sent her of them sitting by our fire pit on the back patio.
I chuckle, shaking my head.
After the first eight hours, I sent Noah to the house. He tried to refuse, but I insisted. Especially since Trey was driving in alone. He needed someone there to welcome him and who better than his friend?
“Where’s Mason?” I look around.
“He was just here…”
“He snuck in the door when that doc walked out.” Chase looks up from his phone, his attention going right back. That’s about the most he’s said today.
Parker sighs, frowning. “Course he did. I’m gonna use the restroom and go back in.”
Five minutes later, when Parker’s headed back through the double doors, Mason comes bounding out from the other side.
“Baby’s coming!” he shouts, clapping his hands.
“What?!” Parker’s eyes widen, and he starts jogging down the hall as we all jump from our seats.