Page 258 of Where We Stay

She knows.

And somehow, for once in her life, she keeps her mouth shut.

Dean clears his throat. “Alright.”

Everyone turns toward him.

Logan points across the table. “That tone means something.”

“I knew it,” Rory says, narrowing her eyes at her brother.

“You know nothing,” Dean tells her before looking at me. “You ready?”

I nod, and he squeezes my hand.

“We’ve got some news,” Dean announces.

His mom immediately looks between us while his dad smiles slowly. Knox lowers his beer, and Jerry doesn’t take his eyes off me.

I draw in a breath. “We’re having a baby.”

The room falls silent for half a second before everything happens at once.

Dean’s mom gasps, Rory’s hands fly to her mouth, and Logan shouts, “No fucking way.”

Dean’s dad starts laughing.

Knox’s face breaks into the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.

Jerry just stares at me.

“FINALLY!” Aspen screams.

The table erupts.

Rory reaches me first and wraps me in a careful hug. “Oh my God. You’re pregnant?”

“I sure am.” I laugh, hugging her back. “You’re going to be an aunt again.”

“You have no idea how excited I am.” Her eyes shine as she pulls away. “Another baby to spoil and hand back whenever it cries.”

“Rude,” Dean mutters.

“Accurate,” Rory shoots back, wiping quickly beneath her eyes. “Okay, someone else go before I start crying.”

Dean raises a brow. “You lasted about twelve seconds.”

“Shut up.”

Knox stands and pulls me into a careful hug. “Congratulations, Blair Bear.”

“Thank you.”

He steps back, glancing between Dean and me. “That kid doesn’t stand a chance of being normal.”

Dean points at him. “You’re not allowed to babysit.”

“I wasn’t offering.”