“Smart man,” Tessa says, a wicked gleam in her eye. “Those Kelly boys are trouble.”

Mia gives Tessa a playful shove, then she turns back to me, keeping her smile. “Did Reed tell you about the party we’re having? We planned it that weekend. Have you spoken to him?”

I shake my head. “No. Not recently.”

“It’s the last Saturday of July at our house,” Mia shares. “Just a little get-together. All of us and our boys. I’d love for you to come.”

“Really?” I ask.

Mia laughs at my shock. “Of course.” She squeezes my hand that’s on the table and leans closer to me, holding all kinds of meaning in her eyes. “You’re one of us now,” she says.

I’m one of them. A fourth to their girl’s night. Part of their tight group of friends.

Finally.

I smile at her, loving how that sounds. “Okay. I’ll definitely be there.”

“Great.” She gives my hand one last squeeze before releasing it.

“McGill’s can provide the food, if you want,” Beth announces. “I know you’re not having a huge party or anything, but still. I can talk to my uncle about it.”

“Really? That would be great. We could do like, a bunch of sides with burgers,” Mia suggests. “Thanks, Beth.”

“No problem.” Beth takes a sip of her water, sets it down, and looks around the table, keeping her hand wrapped around her glass. “So, I sort of have something to share.”

“I knew it.” Tessa rolls her eyes. “Let me guess. Reed is allowing you to tie him up now. His kink goes both ways, doesn’t it?” She rests her chin on her hand and wiggles her brows.

“Gross,” I mumble, scrunching up my face.

Maybe hanging out with this group wasn’t the best idea. I don’t want to hear about my brother like that. When I joke about it, it’s one thing. I don’t talk specifics. And I sure as hell don’t want any.

“Pipe down, missy,” Tessa directs at me. “We’ll get back to you in a minute.”

My eyes widen. Hers twinkle with the promise of dick discussions.

I reach for another chip and stuff my mouth full.

“No. That’s not it. Well, he’s not not allowing me to tie him up.” Beth tilts her head, thinking hard. “We haven’t really gone there. And, I don’t know. Honesty? I’m not really sure I want to. I like the way things are.”

“Don’t knock it `til you try it,” Tessa utters.

“Luke lets you do that?” Mia questions. “I find that hard to believe.”

“He doesn’t really have a say when he wakes up handcuffed to something.” Tessa’s smile is full of mischief.

The girls all share a laugh, while I picture hard-edged Luke Evans waking up cuffed to the bed.

He always looks so angry. I can’t imagine him letting Tessa get away with that.

“Well, anyway, Reed’s kink is not my news,” Beth continues.

I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank God.”

Mia laughs. Tessa shoots me a challenging look, then puts her attention back on Beth. “Well, if that does happen, please, ignore Riley and let that be news,” she says.

Beth smiles. Her shoulders rise and fall with the breath she takes in. “I’m pregnant,” she reveals.

My eyes widen.

“WHAT? Oh, my God! Really?” Mia asks, leaning over the table. “You’re pregnant?”

Beth quickly nods her head.

Mia squeals, jumping out of her seat and rushing around me to deliver hugs. “That is the best news you could ever share, Beth! Congratulations!”

“Thanks. We’re really excited,” Beth says through a grin, staying in her seat and propping her chin on Mia’s shoulder as she reciprocates the hug.

“You should be! Daddy Reed. Oh, my God, I am so happy for you guys.”

I smile at Beth when Mia moves back around me to reclaim her seat. “I thought you were going to wait until you had a blood test done before you told anybody,” I remind her, thinking it’s odd she’s sharing this right now. I just found out yesterday.

She shrugs. “That was the plan, but I can’t get in to see my doctor for another two weeks. And I took like, nine tests so . . .”

I lean forward and pull her into a hug, both of us giggling and holding tight. “I am so excited and happy for you,” I tell her. “You’re going to be such an amazing mom.”

She is. Beth is so nurturing and gentle and kind. I can totally see her rocking parenthood.

“Thank you,” she speaks against my ear.

“And I’m going to spoil that kid rotten. I’m buying them everything they ask for. I don’t even care.”

Beth laughs as we separate. She sighs, looking almost as happy as she did the day she got married, but her smile fades when she turns her head and looks to Tessa. “What’s the matter?” she asks.

I look across the table then too, catching the last bit of Tessa’s head shake.

“Nothing. That’s great,” she says, breaking a chip in half and then dropping it back onto the stack of nachos, sounding and looking like Beth’s news is anything but great. “I’m really happy for you guys.”

“What’s wrong?” Beth asks her again.

“Nothing,” Tessa repeats, her mouth pulling into a frown. “It’s just, can we like, get some alcohol or something? It’s Friday night. We should be drinking.” She gestures at her glass and then slams back in her chair, drawing her arms across her chest. “Well, you can’t, but I can,” she mumbles through a pout.