Tied With Me (With Me In Seattle)(38)

“When is Natalie due?” Nic asks.

“Not until this fall,” Sam responds. “Her belly is so cute. Nat is beautiful pregnant.”

“Nat is just always beautiful,” Meg adds.

“So is it going to be a pool party?” Will asks. “We can set up the pool volleyball.”

“Yep, pool party,” Sam confirms. “The parents are keeping all the kids, so it’ll just be the siblings.”

“Can you get Saturday off from the shop?” I murmur down at Nic.

“Oh, you have to come!” Meg agrees.

Nic blushes and bites her lip. “I think I can get coverage for the day.”

“Excellent.” I kiss her cheek and glance up to find Will staring at me with raised eyebrows.

“Would you be willing to bring some cupcakes?” Sam asks excitedly.

“Sure.” Nic shrugs. “I’ve been thinking about coming up with some new flavors, too. Maybe I can do something brand new, just for her.”

“That would be awesome,” Meg exclaims. “She’s a photographer. Can you decorate them fun and stuff?”

“Absolutely.” Nic nods enthusiastically. “I already have some ideas.”

“Great, I’ll let Luke know that we have the cake covered.” Sam pulls her phone out of her bra and quickly taps out a text message.

“You don’t have to do that,” I assure Nic, frowning at Meg and Sam. “I want you to take the day off and enjoy yourself. You don’t have to work.”

“Oh! No, really,” Meg agrees. “I don’t want you to work either. I just know that they’ll be delicious.”

“It’s fine,” Nic assures Meg and looks up at me. “I don’t mind at all. It’s fun.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She nods happily and squeezes my knee again.

“Good, because I’ve already confirmed with Luke.” Sam smiles innocently.

“Okay, now I want cupcakes.” Will stands and walks into the kitchen to grab the box full of Nic’s cakes and returns to the table.

“Mmm…” Sam sighs as she bites into a strawberry cupcake. “Seriously so good. Can I have a bite of your carrot?” she asks Leo.

“Can I have a bite of yours?” Leo asks.

“Fuck no.”

“Then, no, I’m not sharing either.” He laughs and takes a big bite of the cake. Everyone but Nic is enjoying her efforts.

“You’re not having one?” Meg asks before I can.

Nic shakes her head and smiles. “Nah, not tonight.”

“You’re missing out.” Leo grins and winks at Nic. “They’re delicious.”

“Dear God, woman,” Will moans and reaches for a third. “Run away with me.”

“You say that to all the girls.” Nic laughs. “But I’m glad you like them.”

“You caught a good one.” Will winks at me. “She can stay.”

I smile and nod at my brother.

Fuck yes, she can stay.

***

“Talk,” Will commands as we sit at the bar of his playroom. He has a full wet bar with tall stools.

Sam and Nic are chatting animatedly on a nearby couch. Meg and Leo have their heads together across the room, Meg with her guitar and Leo with a notebook and pencil, talking music.

“Since when do you have a piano?” I ask, pointing to the upright in the corner near where Meg and Leo are working.

“Leo plays, and he and Meg use it when they’re writing,” Will replies with a smile. “It makes her happy.”

I smirk, but can’t help but envy my brother just a little. He found a woman who loves him deeply. Meg doesn’t give a shit about his celebrity. Hell, she almost loves him despite it, and that’s something that we all worried about when it came to Will finding a woman. With his celebrity status, finding a true-hearted woman could have been a challenge.

But Meg fits him. She doesn’t take his shit and supports him wholly. She also continues to pursue her own nursing career, even though she certainly could quit her job and be a housewife.

Just mentioning the idea to Meg might get you stabbed in the face.

And that just makes me love her more.

“Hey, Nic, can you come here, please?” Leo asks.

My eyes narrow as he crooks his finger at Nic, and she grins and walks over to join the rocker and Meg.