Play for Keeps (The Devil's Share #6)(16)

Son-of-a-gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou

Smith stopped singing and flushed the toilet. Dash pursed his lips and sighed. Then reached down and grabbed a bottle of tequila. “It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten in any real trouble.”

“I think we’re due.”

He held his bottle up for me to toast him. “Bottoms up.”





Chapter Fourteen





Harlow

“Have you guys talked about names yet?” I made myself a second gin and tonic. We’d been camped out in Dylan’s living room for about eight hours now, and I was starting to go stir-crazy already. I was getting the urge to run laps outside.

“No, not really. Smith just now found out that we are having a girl.” Dylan put her hands on her belly. “His mom’s name was Evangeline. I thought it would be cool to name her after her grandmother. But I haven’t mentioned it to him yet.”

Bryan smiled. “I think that’s sweet, it’s a really pretty name.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of a mouthful for a kid. I was thinking we could call her Evie for short.” Dylan adjusted on her bed. “Isn’t it midnight snack time?”

Lexi threw her head back laughing. “Is it? I thought midnight snack time was a no-no.” She wagged her finger at Dylan. “Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I guess eating at the ‘worst time’ is more than okay?”

Dill waved her hand in the air. “Yeah, yeah. I’m a hypocrite. Just make me some chocolate chip cookies. There is some cookie dough hidden in the veggie drawer.”

I got up. “I’ll do it.” I literally couldn’t sit on that couch any longer. I tended to get antsy really easily. I set my phone and my drink on the counter and pre-heated the oven then took the dough out of the vegetable drawer and wrinkled my nose. “This looks like a rat has been gnawing on it. Dill, have you been eating cookie dough every night?”

She pushed herself up and peered into the kitchen. “No. Raw eggs aren’t good for you, especially when you’re pregnant. I hadn’t even opened that one yet.”

All eyes turned to Lexi. “Really?” She rolled hers. “I may have found the cookie dough earlier when I was making grilled cheeses for everyone.”

I cut off the end that Lexi had been picking off of and tossed it to her. She ate it. “What else can’t you do when you’re pregnant?” No raw cookie dough? Seemed brutal.

Lexi started ticking things off on her fingers. “You can’t drink, or take hot baths, you can’t get tattoos, you can’t have sex in the hot tub, you aren’t really supposed to have sushi or lunch meat. I’ve heard some odd rumors about cheap mac and cheese. Oh, and skydiving, bungee jumping. Meth.”

I nodded my head. “Good thing you mentioned meth, that would have been a terrible mistake.”

Bryan got up and came to help me. “Why do you ask? You and Luke trying for a baby?”

“Trying? No.” I rolled the dough in my hands into a ball and set it on the cookie sheet. “But we aren’t being careful and I think he’d be pretty pumped if it happened. Luke loves babies.”

Lexi picked a sleeping Halen up off the floor and placed her in the Pack ‘N Play. “Lukey is great with kids, he’s a natural. He’ll make an incredible father.”

“I know. And if it happens then it happens and of course I’d be happy. But the label is taking a lot of my time right now.” Lex was right, Luke was born to be a dad. I bumped my shoulder into Bryan’s. “What about you and Jacks? Ready to give Landry a younger sibling?”

Bryan took the cookie sheet and placed it in the oven. “Nope.” Then she poured herself another glass of wine. We all just kind of went silent. We looked around the room, confused. “What?”

I laughed. “That’s it? Just, nope. We’ve been pretty much pouring our hearts out here about motherhood and you’re just ending the baby discussion at nope?”

She took a sip. “The thought of starting over with an infant just seems really daunting. I mean, Landry can bathe herself and she sleeps through the night. I get tired just watching Lexi chase Halen around. And I really enjoy sex in the hot tub.”

Dylan held her phone up. “Hey, Smith is FaceTiming me.” She swiped to accept the call and all we heard was laughter. “Babe?”

“Hey, cher. How are my girls?”

My eyes went wide. His accent sounded thick as hell, and his words were slurred. More than anything else though, he sounded relaxed and happy. Which was pretty unlike him, especially when he was away from Dill.

“We’re good. What are you guys up to? Are you, what, are you in a tattoo parlor?” Dylan was squinting, apparently trying to guess their location from the background of the phone call.

“Yeah. Luke won a bunch of money on the slot machines. So we decided to spend it on new tattoos. Hey, don’t, I’m still talking, wait—”

“Hellllloooooooooo, ladies. Y’all missing us yet?” Jacks’ voice filled the room. “Where’s my girl?”

Dylan tapped the screen, making the camera turn around so he could see Bryan.

“Hey, love. You getting tatted up?”

I snorted at how at ease B was. Jacks was crazy drunk, and she didn’t seem to care one bit.