All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.
This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.
The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.
AN: New chapter! Yay! Got some interesting things going on here and so excited for the upcoming chapters...I'll be skipping a year or so in Gabriel's life soon after Lyn and Collin's wedding. Oh, before I forget and get sued, the song brought up at the beginning of the chapter, 'You and Tequila', belongs to Kenny Chesney and whoever wrote it but for the sake of my story, that is the song Julie wrote and handed over to do the duet with Lian...so in other words, as per my story, Lian and Julie did this song together...it's one of my favorites. Look it up!
Gaby -Love you darling! Sorry this didn't make it up before midnight.
Ses -I miss you.
Chelsea, Moani, Lette, Giannaa, Thing4LovingLeah -you are all so amazing, leaving me wonderful reviews. Please keep 'em coming.
As always, enjoy what you read and please review.
Chapter Nineteen
May 3rd
Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
"And the winner for this year's Best Country Collaboration with Vocals is…"
As always, the tension in the air increased as the envelope was brought to the host and hostess in a silver platter, the bright stage lights making their wide smiles seem plastered across their faces.
"'You and Tequila' from Lian Young and His Kick-Ass Band CD –Livin' Loud!"
The applause was thunderous as the song played over the speakers, the flashing lights popping everywhere as cameras moved across the large auditorium filled seats, zooming in on Lian as he stood up and headed towards the stage.
"Great," Lyn leaned over to whisper into her sister's ear as she politely pretended to clap, "Last category of the night and we have to listen to him talk."
Julie kept her smile as she shifted in her seat to lower her head closer to her sister's ear, "Behave, Lyn. He's been a good friend lately."
Lyn wanted to tell her sister not to trust the guy but he'd made it to the podium, taking the Grammy award from the hostess before turning to face the audience as the applause and music died down.
"Thank you," a smile spread across his face, Lyn certain a camera had gotten a glimpse of her eyes rolling in response to the sigh behind her, "Although this isn't my first time being up here tonight, this is…the one that really matters."
His dark brown eyes searched the many faces until he found the one he was looking for, "A lot of talent went into the making of this one song…not to mention hours of hard work…most importantly, a tenuous understanding between myself and the song writer…whom I would like to give this award too because in all reality, it belongs to her. She did the hardest part –giving life to this song…I simply supplied a voice."
He watched her give a slight shake of her head but it was already too late to take any of his words back so "July Star…this is yours."
Julie closed her eyes as the applause swelled, Lyn and her mother nudging her on both sides to get her up, neither understanding her reluctance or the tight angry smile on her face.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up, working on giving the cameras a pleased smile as she made her way towards the stage.
Despite the bright smile, Lian was able to see the anger in those expressive eyes of hers as she took the gramophone trophy from his hands before turning to the audience, the applause dying down to let her speak.
Gripping the damn thing in her hands, she closed her eyes for a few seconds, trying to push back the hot anger swelling, hating Lian for putting her here –for shoving the damn song back at her this way.
Letting out a soft breath, she finally looked out at the audience, making eye contact with her mother as she spoke into the microphone, "I was once told by my mother…music is the language of the soul. Whether it be the sweet strains of a violin, the lilting notes of a piano or the soulful wailing of a saxophone, it tells so much more than what can be verbally expressed. Writing this song…it released pain my soul had been holding on to for too long."
She stopped to take a deep breath, turning to look at Lian standing a step or two behind her right shoulder before looking back at the audience, "Because I gave this song away…because he took on the pain and expressed it even though it wasn't his…this is his."
She turned to him, shoving the trophy into his stomach, his hands reaching up to grab it before it fell to the stage floor, "Consider it a gift."
With a smile at the audience as they applauded, she walked across the stage, the black silk dress she wore hugging her slim frame, the hem dancing around her legs as her long strides got her out of sight, Lian close behind her.
"July –"
"You're a jackass," Julie kept walking, the backstage people moving to let her pass by.
"And you're impossible," Lian grabbed her arm, pulling her towards a door labeled 'Janitorial Closet', following in after her as he closed the door behind them, "Did you honestly thing I was going to take credit for a song that doesn't belong to me?"
"Were you not listening to me that day," Julie snatched her arm away from him, moving as far from him as she could, considering the small space, "I don't care. I don't want this song, don't want it attached to me, I don't want him kno –"
He waited for her to finish but when she crossed her arms over her stomach and kept her lips tightly pressed, he decided to finish, "You don't want him knowing he hurt you? You think he doesn't already know how bad he messed you up? That every time he hears you on the radio or sees you on television, he doesn't regret his careless words? Unless he's a heartless bastard, I'm sure he's more than aware of the blow he gave to your pride."
Julie's eyes snapped up to look into his, her face flushing slightly, "My heart."
"Your pride, July," he reached out to capture her chin in his hand as she looked away from him, his voice softening as soon as she looked up at him, "You loved him…the way one loves an idea or a possibility…but you weren't in love with him."
"There's a difference?"
He didn't rise to the sarcasm in her voice, his thumb tenderly brushing over her cheek, "Yes, there's a difference. To be in love…is to be willing to step off the edge into nothingness, trusting the other person to never let you hit bottom…but your pride's involved, when it's been hurt the way yours –and mine –has, you won't let yourself take that final step…too afraid this time around you won't survive…"
She swallowed with difficulty, her heart beating hard against her ribs as she caught on to what he was really saying, the promises in his dark eyes making her mouth go dry.
"You can hear it, can't you," Lian's words were a whisper as he moved closer, his fingers sliding over her jaw to gently grip the back of her neck and pull her closer, his forehead resting on hers, "It's telling you to run…to hide and never trust again…it sounds like your heart, doesn't it? Listen closely…and you'll recognize it for what it is…"
Pride…it was all pride, hurting and bruised, demanding she hide herself…that she keep her heart locked away where he couldn't find it and crush it…pride…
And fear.
Trying to breathe, she could feel the struggle as her lungs worked at taking in air, her hand trembling as she reached up to press it against his chest, not sure if it was to push him away…or pull him in closer.
Staring into her wide purple eyes, he could see the edge of the cliff rushing towards him, his own pride keeping him rooted on solid ground and his words locked inside –not because he was afraid of falling for her but because he didn't want to fall alone.
Seconds trickled into minutes as the silence thickened, their breathing becoming labored while they continued to stare into each other's eyes, neither saying anything to let the other know it was safe to cross the line.
As the world shrunk around them, the painful realization dawned on them –neither one was willing to take that final step first, their hearts beating a hard harmonizing rhythm as their eyes stayed locked on each other, regret tasting bitter in their mouths.
…they were at a stalemate with no way to break it.
Grammy Awards after-party
"Oh my God," Lyn's eyes grew wide as she covered her mouth, turning to look at her older sister as she pointed, "It's Usher! Firecracker, it's Usher!"
"I know," Julie reached out to bring her arm down, grateful for her sister's barely contained enthusiasm –it took her mind off her sad situation, "You need to chill out, Lyn."
"Oh my God, oh my God," Lyn couldn't help bouncing on the balls of her feet, their mother chuckling beside her as she sipped on a flute of champagne, her youngest daughter turning to fully face her sister, "You have got to introduce me to him. Please, please, please, please, please!"
"Lyn," Julie let out an exasperated sigh, already knowing she was going to give in to her –she always did, "I'm not exactly on speaking terms with the guy."
"I'm not asking you to introduce him as your very good friend," Lyn tucked her hands under her chin, giving her sister the quivering bottom lip and begging eyes, knowing it would get her what she wanted, the overhead light making her engagement ring sparkle.
"What about Collin," she asked in a last ditch effort –the whole date fiasco with Usher had been quite humiliating, after all.
"I'm not going to make out with the guy," Lyn rolled her eyes as she let out a huff of frustration, "I just want a picture with him."
"What," Julie's eyes widened in surprised dismay, "I told you not to bring a camera."
"Yeah, well, I did," Lyn opened her pale pink clutch purse, handing her sister a small hot pink digital camera before grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the small group Usher was part of, "Consider this my engagement gift."
"I'm buying you the dress," Julie hissed, looking over her shoulder to make sure their mother was following –she had a highly amused smile on her face but she was following right behind them.
Lyn's antics never failed to amuse their mother…or her, for that matter.
"Sorry to interrupt," Julie smiled at the three other people before looking at the "King" of R&B, "Usher."
"July," her name came out in a tight voice as he gave her a polite smile, shifting his weight as he looked at the petite blond beside her.
"This is my sister Madelyn –"
"I'm your biggest fan," Lyn interrupted with an excited smile, thrusting her hand out to him, "I love your music and have all of your CDs."
"Do you now," Usher's tight smile loosened up a bit as he continued to hold her hand.
"Yes," Lyn nodded enthusiastically, biting her bottom lip before giving him a shy smile, "Could I get a picture with you?"
"Sure," Usher pulled her to stand at his side, his arm moving to rest across her shoulders as he smiled at her mother, "Do you want your friend to join us?"
"Oh," Lyn moved to grab her mother's hand, "This is my mom."
"Get out," Usher gave the petite brunette the once over, her dark green dress hugging curves that belied two grown daughters, "There's no way this is your mother."
Jiao laughed as she let Lyn position her at Usher's other side, "Thank you for the compliment but yes, they are my daughters."
"Firecracker," Lyn looked over at her sister as she pointed the camera at them, "You need to be in the picture too."
"I'd rather not," Julie shook her head, letting out a sigh and Lyn's pout –she sure hoped Collin wasn't a pushover or Lyn was going to walk all over him, "There's no one else to take the picture, Lyn."
"I'll take the picture," a familiar voice offered from behind her, causing a shiver to run down her back as she turned to look up into dark brown eyes, his hand warm and rough against hers as he took the small camera from her, "This way, you can have a family photo with Usher."
Lyn let out a squeal, moving forward to grab her sister's hand and pull her to stand beside her, all four of them smiling as Lian pointed the camera at them.
"There," Lian lowered the digital camera, handing it to Lyn as soon as she held out her hand, a soft chuckle getting lost in the noise of the party as she squeaked in excitement.
"I got a picture with Usher," Lyn grinned as she showed the picture to her sister as if she hadn't been right beside her, "Seth is so totally gonna die!"
"Seth," Lian arched an eyebrow, realizing for the first time that July had never once mentioned his cousin's actual name.
"Seth is…" Lyn caught her sister's slight shake, smoothly changing directions, "A friend of Collin's –he's got a huge man-crush on Usher."
Julie laughed, never having thought of it that way –only her sister would have come up with something so ridiculously accurate.
"So," Usher reached out to touch Lyn's arm, giving her one of his famous heart-stopping smiles when she looked up at him, "I've got a party at a club to go to…want to come along?"
"No, she doesn't," Julie answered as she gave him a cold look, the disdain in his eyes for her words causing anger to boil in her gut, "I'm sure your sister can answer for herself."
Lyn laughed as she moved a step back, raising her left hand to brush a stray strand of hair from her face, the diamonds on her ring glittering under the lights, "I'm your biggest fan and all but I totally cheered y sister on when she kneed you in the balls for being a handsy bastard."
The look of shock on his face was classic, Julie almost bending over laughing as he turned on his heel and walked away, their mother shaking her head as she gave her youngest daughter a stern look –attempted to give her a stern look, "I really wish you would watch your language, Madelyn."
"Hey," Lyn shrugged as she slipped the camera into her clutch purse, smoothing a hand over the pale pink silk of her 1940s style dress, "Talk to Collin."
"That poor boy," Jiao shook her head, long blue-black hair rippling down her back, "He's got his hands full with you."
Lyn let out a rich laugh, taking a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, "He likes it that way. Oh, speaking of bastards –"
Julie winced as she saw her younger sister turn towards Lian, "Lyn, it's not necessary –"
"Sure it is, Firecracker," Lyn placed her free hand on her hip, the dangling diamond earrings she was wearing dancing as she turned to look at her sister, "He's gotta know you've got someone to stand up for you."
"I stand up for myself quite well, thank you very much."
"Really," Lyn arched an eyebrow as a tall redhead weaved around the crowd towards them, "From what I've been reading, you've been giving in more than standing up."
Julie's face flushed, her breath escaping her in a stuttering rush as Jiao stepped forward, giving Lyn a disapproving look, "That was unnecessary and cruel, Madelyn."
"I'm sorry," Lyn reached out to grab her sister's hand, sincere regret in what she had said in her purple eyes, "I'm so sorry, Firecracker, it's just…I don't trust him."
She gave Lian a narrow-eyed look, her eyebrow arching when he looked right back at her, "He's got something up his sleeve…but I tell you right now –you make my sister cry, ever, and I will hunt you down…and when I find you, no one else will."
"Lyn," Julie tugged at her sister's hand, surprised at the vehemence in her voice –she had never heard her sweet tender-hearted sister talk like that before.
"Planning on sinking me to the bottom of the ocean," Lian asked with a teasing smile, slightly awed when she didn't melt under its influence –here was a girl not at all affected by his charming ways.
Lyn's full lips tilted into a slightly frightening smile, "That's one possibility…of many."
"Sorry to interrupt," Natalie gave Julie a smile before looking at Lian then at Julie's mother and sister, "Just came to remind you of our celebration over at the Fairmont. You two brought in more Grammys combined than anyone else in this business, so I'd really like to see you there –we'll be having karaoke since you both seem to enjoy it so much."
Lian looked over at Julie, both of them smiling at the testy tone to her words, the memory of that night still fresh on both their minds despite the alcohol involved.
"We'll be there," Julie looked away from him, willing her heart to behave, "And Lyn enjoys karaoke just as much as I do."
"Oh, yes," Lyn nodded her head as she placed the half-empty glass on a passing tray, "Celine Dion's 'Because You Loved Me' is totally my song."
"Oh God," Julie and Jiao groaned in unison, their voices harmonizing as Lyn gave them a beatific smile.
Friday, second weekend of May
Seattle University Campus
The volleyball arched high up in the air, sand shifting under his feet as he positioned himself, squatting slightly, his muscles tight and ready to spring.
When the ball reached the point in the air he wanted it at, he sprung up, smacking his open hand hard against it to spike it over the net.
Two of the five players on the opposite teams dived into the sand without success, the ball sending a spray of fine sand flying into their sweaty faces.
"Awesome spike, Embry," Krista –a tall brunette he had met at the library a year or so ago –held up her hand for a high five, Embry freely giving it as they all rotated places which placed him on the right back corner.
"Your turn to serve," Mason –his perverted freak of a roommate –tossed him the ball before turning his attention towards the opposite team.
The blonde on his left –Krista's sorority sister he avoided like the plague –gave him a flirty smile he didn't return.
Spinning the ball in his hand a couple of times, he visually gouged the spaces between the players on the other side of the sand volleyball pit.
Stretching out his arm as he set the shot, he tightened his jaw before tossing the ball up into the air, hitting it hard and sending it flying.
He didn't see whether the other team managed to return the serve as his entire world shifted focus at the sound of a high sweet voice calling out his name.
"Mou!"
A grin spread across his face as he turned to look down the sidewalk, his Princess running towards him with Leah walking several feet behind her, baby Tyra snuggled into one of those baby wrapper things slung over her mother's shoulder.
"I'm out," he called over his shoulder as he jogged across the grass, swinging her up into his arms as soon as they reached each other.
She beamed at him as her small hand touched his cheek, scrunching her turn-up nose, "You're sweaty."
Embry chuckled as she wiped her hand on her pink jeans, "We've been playing for several hours."
Leah chuckled, having finally reached them, "Sand volleyball is how you celebrate the end of your college career?"
Embry's smile spread into a grin, "Nah, just letting off steam before my last final not that I don't love it but what's with the surprise visit?"
A soft whimper from inside the bright printed wrapper had Leah gently move her baby out, cradling her in her arm as the infant's big dark eyes studied her surroundings, "With all our kids, we thought it would be easier to spend the weekend here for your graduation –Mattie offered us her place so Zaky is over the moon right now with Abby."
"They have a very big house," Emmie tugged Embry's chin around to have him look at her, "With a pool in the back and swings."
Embry chuckled as he leaned forward to touch his nose to hers before turning to look at Leah, "Mattie told me they bought the house in hopes of filling it up with children…guess they're getting their wish this weekend."
Leah laughed, keeping her hand firmly on Tyra's tummy as she arched her back against her mother's chest, "She and Lance are going through the process of becoming foster parents."
"Yeah," Embry nodded with a smile as the volleyball bounced pass them, Mason running around Leah and grabbing the ball before joining them, giving Leah a big grin, "Hey there, hot mama."
"Back off," Embry's words were quiet but stern; his dark eyes let Mason know he was out of line.
Lifting his shoulders in shrug, he slapped the side of the ball, "Sorry, man. I wasn't aware you had a baby mama."
Embry's eyebrows lowered into a vee, "She's my boss's wife."
"Daddy's your boss?"
He couldn't help laughing at the way his Princess' eyebrows rose up in surprise, her blue eyes wide as she waited for him to answer.
"Yep," Embry reached up to gently tweak her nose before tucking her soft hair behind her small ear as Leah chuckled.
"Hey," Krista jogged up to them, reaching out to take the ball out of Mason's hands, "Are you playing or not?"
"Yeah, sure," Mason gave Leah one more smile before heading back to the volleyball pit, Krista turning dark green eyes to Embry, "You done for the day?"
"Yeah," Embry's words choked off slightly as Emmie tightened her arms around his neck, her big eyes locked on Krista's face, "I'm going to give them a tour of the campus."
"Cool," Krista gave them all a smile before following after Mason, "See you tomorrow at the KeyArena then."
"Sure," Embry raised his hand to wave at her but Emmie reached out and snagged one of his fingers and gave it a shake, a cheeky smile on her face when he turned his eyes towards her.
"Can we see the room with the books?"
"You mean the library," Embry captured her small hand in his, lifting it up to kiss her small fingers, her giggles a precious gift in return.
Leah shifted Tyra in her arms, her tiny hands kneading her shoulder as she rubbed her face against her chest in search of food, "I'll need a quiet corner to feed Tyra."
"Lots of those," Embry walked towards the center of the campus, Leah's long legs keeping in stride with his own, "I'll show Emmie around the library while you feed Tyra."
"Mou."
"Yes Princess?"
He looked at her as she looked over his shoulder towards the players left at the volleyball pit, "Do you think she's pretty?"
Leah chuckled as Embry let out a laugh, amused at his Princess' constantly asked question whenever he came in contact with the opposite sex, no matter the age.
And as always, his answer made her eyes twinkle as she gave him a big smile, her small arms hugging his neck as she pressed her cheek to his.
"Not as pretty as you."
Saturday, 2:45PM
Emmie applauded with all her might when they called out Mou's name, letting out a happy squeal when Daddy lifted her up to sit on his big shoulders, able to see better as the old guy with the funny hat on his head handed something to Mou as they shook hands.
"Look, Daddy," she reached down to tug at her father's hair, pointing towards the stage, "Mou's getting two of them!"
Rick laughed as he kept a firm grip on her small legs, "That's because he worked hard for two different degrees."
Emmie clapped her hands, wiggling on her father's shoulders as Mou headed to the other side, moving her hands over her head when he looked their way.
At first, she wasn't sure if he could see her but then she felt his smile as he waved back, her Daddy looking up at her as she wiggled with joy, "Want to get down, agapimeni?"
"Na-ah," she shook her head, placing her small hands on either side of his face as she leaned over to look at him upside down, "He smiled at me!"
Rick laughed, recalling his teenage sister's reactions whenever she got a smile from her crush –she always seemed to be walking on air, "How can you tell? He's too far away."
"I felt it," Emmie reached down to pat his chest, "Right here –in my heart."
Rick smiled at her, capturing her small hand and pressing a kiss on her palm, "Did you feel that in your heart too?"
"Uh-uh," Emmie nodded, giving him an awkward upside down kiss on his nose, "Did you feel that?"
Rick gave his little girl a big smile, "All the way down to my toes."
Emmie giggled, straightening up and watching for a few minutes as the man kept giving out the papers.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Emmie."
"I want to go to 'niversity."
Rick tilted his head to look at her, "What do you want to study?"
"Flowers," she said without hesitation, her little face serious as she gave a decisive nod, "And bugs. And dirt."
Rick chuckled as he lifted her off his shoulders, sitting her on his forearm as he straightened the puffy skirt of her dress, "That's a lot of areas."
"How many de-grees would I get?"
"Let's see," Rick's mouth twisted in concentration as he reached up to straighten her headband, the small cluster f flowers positioned behind her right ear, "Studying plants would get you a degree in botany."
"Bo-ta-ny."
Rick grinned as his four year old worked her mouth around the new word.
"Studying bugs means an entomology degree."
Emmie's eyes grew wide as she studied his face, the concentration on thinking the big word over showing on her pretty round face.
"Go on," Rick chucked her chin, watching as a shy smile tugged at her rosebud mouth, "Give it a try. En –to –mo –logy."
"En…" Emmie's eyebrows lowered as she turned it over in her head again, "To –mology. En-tomology."
"Good," Rick gave her a hug as applause and cheers erupted a few feet away from them.
"What degree is dirt?"
He chuckled as he turned his attention back to his daughter, giving Leah a wink as she smiled at their conversation, Tyra kicking her socked feet as she waved her arms, the little wrist rattles keeping her intrigued.
"That would be a mineralogy degree."
Another burst of applause and cheers as another name was called, Emmie sticking her finger into her mouth, lifting her feet to rest on his thigh, tapping the toes of her shiny black shoes as she thought it over.
"Daddy?"
"Yes moro."
She looked up at him with guileless blue eyes, "How can I get all three?"
Rick stroked a finger over her smooth round cheek, "By studying very hard. School is a lot of fun because you'll always learn new things. As long as you remember where you want to go and what you want to do, you'll get what you want."
Emmie wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head against his stomach with a sigh, "I'm gonna study and do all my homework and learn lots of stuff. I'm gonna be very smart."
Rick chuckled as people began standing up, the noise level rising –graduation was over with.
Kissing the top of her head, he smiled into her blue eyes, "You already are, baby."
"Your house is amazing," Kim smiled at their hostess as she set a tray of empty glasses on the cabana bar, her green eyes bright as she smiled back at her.
"Thank you," Mattie turned the glasses over as Daisy set another tray beside her, moving around the bar to start mixing the drinks, "It took us a while to find this place. Lance wanted something outside of the city limits and I wanted space."
"It seems very big for just the three of you," Rachel shifted in her seat, leaning into Paul's side as she crossed her legs, his fingers stroking her bare arm.
"We're in the last stages of being certified foster parents," Mattie took the frothy drinks as Daisy handed them to her, setting them on the tray, "We want to take in siblings so that means two or more children at any one time."
"How soon after certification will you be getting kids," Leah shifted Tyra in her arms, adjusting herself before removing the nursing cover, her baby's sweet face relaxed in sleep.
"We're not sure," Mattie picked up the tray and moved towards the sitting area where several of her guests were, some of the others in the pool playing with the older kids.
Lance was manning the grill along with Sam's help, Embry playing with Emmie by the flower beds filled with all kinds of flowers.
Handing out the drinks, she skipped Kim and Leah, knowing they were both breastfeeding and unable to drink alcohol.
"They have a few siblings that are in need of immediate placing so we could easily be getting our first kids within a week of certification," Mattie offered a frozen daiquiri to Rachel who shook her head, "No, thanks Mattie. I'm not drinking today."
The silence was instantaneous as the wolf girls focused on Rachel in obvious shock.
"Rachel Lahote, not drinking," Daisy narrowed her eyes as she lowered the bottle of tequila she had been tipping into the blender, "Why?"
"No reason," Rachel shrugged, her dark hair brushing the tops of her shoulders as she clasped her hands on her lap, dark eyes blinking innocently back at them, "I'm not in the mood to drink today."
"You're always in the mood to drink," Rose bounced her eight month old godson on her knee, little Patrick Roy's tooth showing as he grinned up at her in utter adoration.
"You make me sound like an alcoholic," Rachel said with a chuckle as Paul pulled her in closer, Leah's eyes narrowing as she noticed the shit eating grin on his face.
Eyes widened in sudden realization as she did her best not to wake Tyra up, "Oh my God! You're pregnant, aren't you?"
Rachel's mouth opened in shock, "Wha –how –" she looked up at Paul, giving him a scowl, her eyes dancing with humor, "You have got to have the worst poker face ever!"
"What," Paul gave her a wide eyed look as everyone else laughed, "I happen to have a very good poker face."
"Oh, sure," Rachel huffed as she tossed her hair over her shoulder, "That's why I'm always beating you at strip poker."
Paul's mouth slanted into one of those naughty smiles that seemed to get Rachel every time, "Baby, I let you beat me at strip poker because I know you can't resist me when I'm naked."
Rachel's face flushed slightly, Paul letting out a soft huff as she drove her elbow into his stomach.
"So how far along are you," Emily asked as she sipped her drink, her eyes constantly moving out to the pool where Brady and Seth were playing in the pool with Brad, Bailey, Vivi, Marc, Nika and Gabe.
"We had our first doctor's appointment yesterday," Rachel's smile was soft as Paul picked up her hand, lacing their fingers together as he pressed a kiss to her temple, "I'm six weeks pregnant. We weren't going to tell until after the first trimester was over but I wasn't counting on Seattle's District Attorney's sweet wife to serve up alcohol."
Mattie laughed as she sat down, smiling at the sight of Abby and Zaky playing together a few feet from where Lance was. Although her little girl adored Zaky as he did her, she didn't like straying too far from her father, "It's a party celebrating Embry's graduation…of course I was going to serve alcohol."
"Which is a good thing," Daisy moved around the bar with a Mojito in her hand, turning at the sound of Brandon's laugh, her own smile growing wide as she watched him pull himself out of the pool before turning back to Rachel, "Now that we all know, we can salute this new phase in your life."
"Here, here," Paul picked up one of the beer bottles on the table, his eyebrows lowering in surprise as Rachel took it away from him to hand it to Lyn, "If I can't drink, neither can you."
"What," Paul's mouth popped open as he stared at her in disbelief, "Woman, you can't take alcohol away from me! How the hell do you expect me to deal with your mood swings?"
"Same way you've been dealing with them since the beginning," Rachel gave him a pointed look, trying not to laugh at the way his face lit up.
"Well, then," Paul placed his hand on her knee, giving her a wink before looking over at their hostess, "Got any lemonade?"
