“I keep telling myself that, but I don’t know. We got together the day she broke up with Brian, and she hasn’t really had time to mourn that relationship. I guess I’m just worried about what might happen if one day she wakes up and realizes that she made a mistake.”
“Not going to happen,” Huxley says. “You two are meant to be together. She knows that. Stop worrying and just have fun, man.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I say just as Penn sits down.
“I thought we weren’t ever allowed to tell Huxley he’s right. Something about an ego inflating?”
“And who told you that?” Huxley turns on Ryot, who has a taco halfway to his mouth.
“Not me. Talk to your brother.”
I hold up my hands. “That would be the other brother. I’d never say something like that and get uninvited from Sunday brunch, which by the way, what’s with the pink-and-blue balloons and décor?” I ask. “Trying to spice up Sunday brunch?”
“What?” Kelsey says, interrupting all of us and standing from where the girls are huddled. Her eyes connect with Huxley and then back at Lottie.
“Uh, everything okay, babe?” JP asks.
“No,” Kelsey says. “Everything is not okay.” And then she dissolves into tears, causing JP to drop all Bloody Mary ingredients and rush to her side.
“Kelsey, what’s going on?”
Huxley stands from the table as well, and because I don’t know what’s happening, I stand too. Lia looks back at me, confused. I’m perplexed as well, and then Lottie starts crying.
Uhh . . .
Huxley pulls her into a hug immediately, coddling into his chest. I just stand there, unsure of what to do.
After a few seconds, I ask, “Is there something I can do? Someone I can call?”
Lottie lifts away from Huxley, and they both exchange a glance before turning toward us and saying, “Welcome to our gender reveal party.”
“Gender . . . as in . . . as in you’re having a baby?” I ask, shocked.
“We are,” Lottie says as she presses her hand to her stomach. “And Kelsey is mad because I didn’t tell her until now.”
“That’s not why I’m mad,” Kelsey says while wiping her eyes. “I’m not mad at all.”
JP kisses Kelsey’s hand and then says, “She’s happy because we’re pregnant too.”
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.