Fall Into Temptation (Blue Moon Book #2)(41)

She crossed her arms and let them sweat a little bit. “Evan, good job tonight. Aurora, we’ll talk about a later bedtime at another time. For now, I need you guys to get your shoes on.”

Evan looked down at his pajamas. “But, we’re dressed for bed.”

“We’re running over to Beckett’s for a few minutes.”

“Yay! Bucket!” Aurora charged up the stairs in her little pink elephant pajamas on a quest for shoes.

Her brother was not as easily convinced. “Why are we going to Beckett’s?”

“The Pierces are celebrating some good news and they invited us over.”

“Summer and Joey, too?” He tried to look disinterested.

“Yep. Both of them.”

“I guess we can go. For a little bit.” He started up the stairs and paused. “Are you mad that Roar didn’t go to bed?”

Gia shook her head. “You did a great job tonight — as long as you did your homework.” She gave him the evil eye until Evan nodded. “Good. You being so responsible really helps me out.”

“It’s not your job, you know.”

“What’s not my job?”

“Taking care of me. You don’t have to.”

“Of course I do, Evan. It’s illegal to let your kids live in cardboard boxes and fend for themselves. Trust me. I looked it up.”

Evan shook his head and pretended he wasn’t smiling. “You’re so weird.”

“Where do you think you get it, kid?” she called after him as he hustled up the stairs.

Evan changed out of his pajamas into jeans and a button down, confirming to Gia that he was suffering from a massive crush on both Summer and Joey. She hoped he wouldn’t be too devastated by Summer and Carter’s announcement.

Guilt drove her to let him have a soda — a decision she knew she’d regret — for the toast. Aurora toasted Summer with apple juice and bounced from Pierce brother to Pierce brother showing off the “efelants” on her pjs.

Beckett’s living room was overflowing with happiness and people. Gia ducked out into the hallway to catch her breath. It was a beautiful, overwhelming thing to see so many people so happy.

Summer stepped out of the kitchen, flushed and happy. She raised a finger to her lips and beckoned to Beckett’s rarely used parlor off the stairs.

Gia followed her in and Summer grabbed her hands.

“I just wanted to thank you for being here, Gia,” she said in a rush.

“Thank you for inviting us to be part of the celebration,” Gia said, squeezing Summer’s hands.

“I have an ulterior motive.” Summer’s cornflower eyes were wide.

“And what’s that?”

“I am scared to death,” she confessed. “I don’t know anything about parenting. I didn’t think it was possible, let alone probable. What am I going to do with twins?”

Gia put her hands on Summer’s shoulders and took a deep steadying breath. “Deep inhale,” she ordered. Summer took a gasping breath.

“Summer, you’ve had less than a day to digest this amazing news. You have nothing to worry about. You and Carter are good people. The best. You are responsible, healthy, fun, kind, generous, smart people. Your babies are the luckiest unplanned kids in the world.”

“See? This is why I need you. You’re going to be my new best friend, okay?” Summer said, her eyes still huge. “I need you to show me how to be a mom.”

Gia did laugh then. “I will be here to help in whatever way I can, but you’ve got this. You’re going to be amazing.”

“At best I hope to be mediocre to average and not emotionally scarring,” Summer said. “And with your help, I think I can get there. You’re an incredible mom. You have all this stuff figured out already. You can help me catch up.”

Gia was at a loss for words.

“I mean it,” Summer nodded earnestly. “You’re amazing. Your kids are amazing. And you’re doing this on your own. You make it look so easy.”

“Remind me to show you my bedroom soon,” Gia quipped. “But seriously, you can do this. You and Carter can absolutely do this and it’s going to be one of the most amazing things you share, in addition to a kick-ass marriage.”

“It is going to be kick-ass, isn’t it?” Summer glanced down at the sparkling promise Carter had put on her finger.

“It’s all going to be kick-ass.”

“And you’ll be there to help me?”

“I’ll be there,” Gia nodded. “How do you feel?”

“So very happy and grateful and scared.”

“Welcome to motherhood.”





16





Gia ushered the kids through the front door and dumped the groceries on the table. “Okay, you,” she pointed to Aurora. “Go change for your party. And you,” she pointed at Evan. “Go find Brian’s birthday card.”

She could barely recall the days when a Saturday meant relaxation. She’d gone from Saturday morning hangovers and brunch in college to pregnant and married in the blink of an eye.

Now her weekends were a blur of kid birthday parties, frantic trips down the grocery aisle, and yoga classes.