Page 151 of Through the Storm

“Hey, you okay?”

“Very. We were having a moment.”

He smiles. “I can tell.” His eyes flick to my glass, then back to me. He leans in, voice low and apologetic. “Just so you know… we’re out of the milk testing strips.”

I groan and drop my head back.

Declan frowns. “Milk testing strips?”

“They check if there’s alcohol in breast milk,” Ben explains. “So, tonight’s probably a pump-and-dump situation.”

I sigh dramatically. “I knew this brunch was too peaceful.”

“But,” he adds quickly, “you look really happy. I like seeing you like this.”

I glance around the table—at my friends’ chaos, and at the babystill smiling through all of it.

“I am. Worth it.”

“I’ll grab more strips for you,” Declan offers.

Ella clutches her chest. “My acts of service king.”

Declan rolls his eyes. “Alright, everyone up.”

As we stand, a little louder and wobblier than when we arrived, Ben slips an arm around my waist.

“Next time,” he murmurs, “we’ll plan ahead.”

I grin. “Next time, we Uber.”

Tyler snorts. “We’re happy to be your Ubers, ladies. But maybe a carpool situation.”

We spill out together, laughing and not driving and very much loved, and I think, not for the first time?—

Yeah.

This.

This is exactly how I hoped my life would be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

katy

BEN’S CREW

Gettingready for a football game with a baby is not for the faint of heart. Especially with one who’s not a big fan of sleeping very much.

I’m standing in front of the mirror with Mini-Ben strapped to my chest, completely obsessing over the fact that I’m wearing Ben’s jersey to one of his games. Another thing teenage Katy would’ve lost her mind about.

I also painted Ben’s number on my cheeks, and our son is wearing a tiny version of his jersey.

Which I absolutely cannot handle. It’s too cute. Ben also got him baby earmuffs to protect him from the stadium noise. They’re soft and they make him look like a tiny DJ. But he is… not a fan.

We might have to retreat to the box.

Ella is sprawled across the bed behind me, scrolling on her phone. “You look amazing,” she encourages. “And Mini-Ben looks adorable.”