Then my stomach grumbled, and I knew the answer.
It was the parasites that Cajun infected me with.
I should have known that someone named Gator would plant a damn litter in my uterus, clearly mistaking my womb for the Louisiana bayou. If I ever saw that fucker again, I was going to rip his balls from his body and serve them up in a damn gumbo!
My stomach growled, a low rumble that sounded suspiciously like a miniature monster truck rally.
They were getting hungry again.
Apparently, growing three tiny human beings required a heck of a lot of sustenance. The image of Gator flashed through my mind and his perpetually grinning face, his ridiculously thick eyebrows, his... everything.
Rage, incandescent and pure, bloomed in my chest.
When I saw him again, his testicles would be the main course of a very special gumbo.
A revenge gumbo. With extra hot peppers.
Ooh! Serrano peppers!
I sighed, rubbing my temples.
First, I needed to figure out how to explain three unexpected additions to my sister. Then, I’d move onto Gator. Justice, and a fantastic batch of gumbo, awaited that fucker.
But in the meantime, I really, really needed a burger.
A really, really big fat juicy burger.
“Oh, there you are,” my sister said, smiling down at me as I glared up at her. “I know you’re pissed but, Dev, we needto talk about this calmly before you go off half-cocked and do something you’ll regret.”
Henley’s voice was annoyingly level-headed, the exact opposite of how I felt.
I glared at her, my eyes narrowing. “Fuck calm, Hen! Look at the state of me! I feel like death warmed over, and it’s all because of Gator and his damn Cajun sperm!” I gestured wildly, my hands emphasizing my frustration. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him. One night, one stupid night, and now I’m growing a football team in here!” I thumped my stomach for emphasis, feeling a mix of anger and disbelief.
Henley’s eyes widened, and she took a step back, her hands raised in a placating gesture. “Okay, okay, I get it. This is a shock, and it’s not ideal. But we can figure this out together. We’re sisters, and I’m here for you.” Her voice softened, and I could see the concern in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, I ran my hands through my hair, trying to calm myself. Sitting on my couch, I hunched over and whispered, “I can’t do this, Henley. I never wanted to be a mom. I’m not like you. I don’t have a husband. Hell, I don’t even have a boyfriend. I live in a one-bedroom apartment. Now I’m going to have to find a house. I don’t want to buy a house!”
Kneeling before me, my sister grabbed my hands and smiled. “Dev, you’re panicking. Take a deep breath for me. You are the strongest person I know. You took care of me after Mom and Dad died. You held my head above water before my website took off. You’ve been by my side every step of the way. And you won’t be alone. Scribe and I will help you. As for the house, we’ve got time. I’ll call Lacey after the wedding and have her start looking for something cute that fits your personality. We’ve got time, Dev. It’s going to be okay. Now, why don’t you go get dressed and we can ride to the wedding together?”
“I can’t go. He will be there. If I see his smug Cajun face, I’m liable to kill him and then you will have three more babies to raise. You go on. I’m just gonna curl up on the couch and watch someGame of Thrones.”
“Want me to bring you back a piece of cake?”
“A big one.”
Chapter Thirty
Georgie
They were married.
Jack had a new wife, and Josie had a mother and three new sisters.
Standing off to the side, I watched as Josephine danced with her father and LeeAnn danced with her daughters. It was a beautiful ceremony. Not that I knew anything good or bad about weddings. All I knew was that as of an hour ago, Priest pronounced Jack and LeeAnn man and wife and the real party started. Kids were running around, and the guests were smiling. I even spotted my granny talking with Mrs. Cohen, heads close together, as they both glared at something. Following their line of sight, I frowned.
There, on the dance floor, was Romeo dancing with Fiona.
Scowling, I crossed my arms as the Casanova fucker made my little sister smile. Shaking my head, I turned to step outside. The cool night breeze was a welcome balm to the storm brewing inside me. The laughter and music spilled out from the reception, a symphony of happiness that made my annoyance feel all the more misplaced.
