Maybe Matt's Miracle(54)

“Reagan, Reagan, Reagan,” the brothers begin to chat. Reagan is still struggling with Matt’s wrist, and he’s pretending to fight her off, but he’s laughing. Finally, he gives up and lets her take a bite, but just as she pulls back, he smashes her nose into the icing. She looks up, shocked.

“Oh, you did not just do that,” she says. Then she wipes a chunk of icing off her nose and holds it out, her palm pointed toward Matt. “You know what that means,” she warns, but she’s already crawling across his lap toward his face. He passes me his cupcake, or what’s left of it, shoves her off his legs, and jumps over the back of the couch. I startle, because Matt is suddenly all broad shoulders and flying limbs. She follows him and chases him around the kitchen island, laughing as he skids in his socks into the counter. He grabs his hip and calls for a time-out, but she’s not having it. “You’re such a big baby,” she sings.

Matt reaches behind him for a fresh cupcake and taunts her with it. “You want to wear this one?” He waggles his brows at her. “Bring it,” he challenges.

I cover my mouth to stifle a laugh. I have seen Matt in a lot of situations, but this playful banter and the way they’re chasing one another around makes me want to cover my head and duck and laugh out loud at the same time.

Reagan dives for him as he darts back toward the couch and the rest of us. She jumps onto his back and reaches toward his face. He grabs her wrist and holds it away from him, but then he gives up and brings her fingers to his lips, and licks the dollop of icing off it. He hums a little tune while she struggles. Finally, she goes limp on his back and lays her head on the back of his shoulder. His shoulders shake silently as he laughs.

Emily motions to me really quickly, and I pass her my uneaten cupcake. She stands up, and smashes Matt in the face with it as Reagan climbs down from his back. His eyes and mouth open up wide as she grinds it into his face, laughing like hell. Reagan gathers a handful of icing that falls onto his shirt, and she wipes it across his cheek.

“Oh, it’s on now,” he growls and spins around, bending at the waist so he can toss Emily over his shoulder.

Emily protests, smacking his back, but she’s suddenly serious, if the look on her face is any indication. “Put me down, Matt,” she cries.

Logan jumps to his feet, and he yells for Matt to put her down, too. Matt’s still laughing, though, and he has no idea how serious they are.

“Matt!” Paul yells. The room goes quiet, and Matt spins around with Emily still over his shoulder to face Paul. “Put her down before you hurt her,” he says calmly but forcefully.

Logan takes Emily from Matt and lowers her to her feet. “Sorry,” Emily says sheepishly.

“What’s wrong?” Matt asks. He’s suddenly serious, despite the icing that’s all over his face. Reagan is wearing some, too, and they all look ridiculous. “Did I hurt you?” he asks Emily.

Emily hangs her head a little and then looks up at Logan like she’s asking for permission. She signs and talks to him at the same time. “Should we tell them?” she asks. But she’s grinning. Logan smiles, too, and nods.

Emily takes a deep breath.

“You’re not sick, are you?” Matt asks, and I can see the love he has for both his brothers’ girls in his eyes. And, honestly, it makes me love him even more.

Emily shakes her head. She jerks a thumb toward Logan. “Your brother knocked me up,” she says.

The room goes silent. Completely silent. You could have heard a pin drop.

“What?” Matt asks, looking from Logan to Emily and back. He has icing all over himself yet he’s suddenly so serious. He points to Emily’s belly. “You’re pregnant?” he whispers.

Emily laughs and nods. “We’re pregnant!” she cries.

“So no more tossing her over any shoulders,” Logan warns, glaring at all his brothers. They’re getting to their feet, one by one. Suddenly, Matt jerks Emily toward him and wraps his arms around her.

“I’m so happy for you,” I hear him say softly as he swings her around. She giggles and holds him close to her, patting his back.

Matt sets her back from him and looks down at her belly. “You’re going to be the best mom ever, Em,” he says.

“I hope so,” she says quietly, laying a hand on her belly. The rest of the brothers come forward to congratulate them, and they rub Logan’s head and jab him in the side, while Emily gets lots of soft hugs. “Maybe she’ll be born perfect like her dad,” she says. She worries her lower lip.

“Or f*cking gifted like you,” Matt says vehemently.

Emily sniffs and smiles at him, a watery grin.

“There’s just one thing I want to know,” Matt says.

He wraps an arm around Emily’s shoulders and looks down at her. I flinch when I see what he’s about to do, but she does kind of deserve it. His hand inches toward the countertop and he snags a cupcake. “Is the baby going to like chocolate or vanilla?” He brings it up and crams it into Emily’s startled face.

She sucks in a jerky breath.

“Booyah!” Matt cries, and he runs away from Emily. Logan drags a finger down Emily’s face, scooping up some of the icing and brings it to his lips. He laughs.

“Good cupcakes, Sam,” Logan says.

Sam chuckles.