Lorrie jumped to her feet, clapping her hands together as she watched their youngest boy. He could see the excitement in her blue eyes and he didn’t have to ask what she was hoping Zane would say.
“We’ve got some news, too,” Kaleb said, getting to his feet and moving over to where Zoey was sitting, currently beside Beau.
You could’ve heard a pin drop.
“You first,” Zoey told Zane.
Zane glanced down at V, who was grinning from ear to ear. “We’re havin’ a baby,” he announced proudly.
After that announcement, Curtis wasn’t sure a marching band could’ve been heard over the shrieks and cheers. Getting to his feet, he made his way over to Zane after everyone else had offered their congratulations.
He held out his hand to his youngest son, doing his damnedest not to shed a tear. He’d never live it down, but sometimes, even he was overwhelmed by emotions. Now that his boys were grown and starting families of their own, he found his emotions were getting the best of him more and more often.
“Boy,” he said, taking Zane’s hand and jerking him forward. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Zane said, hugging him in turn.
Curtis stepped back, watching Zane momentarily and then looking over at V. She was laughing at something Zoey said, but she must’ve felt his eyes on her because she turned to face him. When she did, he held out his arms and she walked into them.
He whispered his congrats and she offered him a “Thanks, Dad,” in return. Curtis liked that his daughters-in-law had resorted to calling him Dad.
“Now for your news,” Travis said to Kaleb, dropping to the arm of the sofa beside Gage.
“It’s gonna be hard to top that one,” Kaleb said, grinning. “But we’re havin’ another baby.”
More shrieks and applause echoed in the room, and Curtis wasn’t sure he’d ever seen more happiness in one place.
chapter TWENTY-SIX
Sawyer had resumed his spot beside Kennedy on the couch after the ruckus died down. Some.
He continued to watch his brothers while he held her hand in his. Enjoying her touch, he tried to hold back his own excitement. One of these days, he hoped he and Kennedy would be making that announcement. Then again, he would probably need to propose to her first.
All in due time, he reminded himself.
But he couldn’t deny that he was happy for his brothers. More babies on the way. Just what they needed.
“So, when are y’all gonna have a baby?” Zane was the one who asked the question and Sawyer followed his gaze to see that it landed on Ethan and Beau. Kennedy squeezed his hand.
“We’ve been tryin’,” Beau said sarcastically, grinning up at Zane.
“Funny man,” Zane retorted. “There’s always adoption.”
Beau looked at Ethan, but neither man said anything more. Sawyer wondered what the look that passed between them meant. As much as he wanted to know, he didn’t ask.
“We’ve been thinkin’ about it,” Beau admitted. “But we’ve decided we’re not ready yet.”
“Fair enough,” Zane replied, surprisingly leaving it as is. “What about y’all?” Zane’s question was directed at Braydon and Jessie.
“We’re gonna get married first,” Jessie told him, but Sawyer noticed she didn’t look over at Braydon.
Something else he noticed was the way Brendon’s gaze slid over to Cheyenne, right before he got up and headed back into the kitchen. Sawyer leaned over to Kennedy and excused himself, before following him.
“You okay?” he asked Brendon when they were in the kitchen, no other ears listening in on them.
“Fine. Why?” he barked.
“Man, I’m not here to bite your head off,” Sawyer stated defensively.
“I didn’t figure you were,” Brendon said snippily. “I just figured you were here to tell me your thoughts. Aren’t you always the one to come in and clean up the messes? Well, have a fucking field day. I’m a fucking mess. Time to clean that shit up.”
Sawyer didn’t respond to Brendon’s tirade. He wasn’t about to get into an argument with his brother. Not here. Not now.
Hell, maybe not ever, if Brendon wanted to be such a dickhead. If Brendon had only realized that Sawyer hadn’t asked to be the one everyone leaned on all the goddamn time. He hadn’t wanted to keep Ethan’s secret. He would’ve preferred to let the world know Ethan’s business so that they could right the wrongs that had been done to his younger brother. He’d spent years keeping his mouth shut. But no, he was the one that his brothers turned to when they needed someone to lean on.