Page 31 of Love is Grand

“Oh, okay. You’ve already spoiled her enough, though.”

“Never,” Rylan said.

This was the happiest I’d ever seen her, glowing as she was tucked into Adam’s side. I couldn’t help but glance a beat longer than necessary at him. He and Cal shared the same hair color, but that was it. Cal resembled his mom, so I assumed Adam looked like their dad, who passed away when they were little. I’d never seen a picture of their sister who was gone, but I imagined she was beautiful.

“Thank you for having us,” I told Rylan. “Including us. Weezie will never forget, and my dad was so honored to walk you down the aisle.”

Rylan broke free from Adam and pulled me into a bear hug. She was squeezing me so tightly, I thought she’d never let go.

“Hey, let a lady breathe,” came from behind me, and I knew the voice.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. Emotions are getting the best of me,” Rylan said, finally letting me go. To her brother-in-law, she said, “Take a chill pill, Cal. I’m hugging my friend. Go talk to Adam.”

Cal scoffed. “Don’t think you can boss me around, sissy.”

Rylan rolled her eyes. “Ugh, this is the way he’s been.”

“Anyway,” I said, “I’m going to take Weez home. She’s asleep.”

All of a sudden, I was in a hurry to get out of there. The little hairs on the back of my neck were standing up, and I knew it had to be from Teddi watching me.

“Aw, she’s such a doll,” Rylan said. “We’ll see you in the morning?”

I guessed Rylan forgot I said I wasn’t going to the brunch, and I heard Cal clear his throat.

“Of course,” I said reluctantly. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Although, I would rather do anything else other than see Cal—discuss our baby with Cal—but I was stuck.

“Let Adam carry Weez out for you,” Rylan said, looking at her husband, whose brother was standing next to him.

But Cal interjected. “I’ll do it. Don’t want the groom to miss any of his wedding reception.”

“Oh, Cal, are you sucking up to me?”

Rylan thought this was about her, which was good for me but bad for Cal. One thing about my girl, she hated secrets, and when this all came out—and it would—she was going to be pissed.

“Thanks, Caleb,” Adam said, addressing Cal by his full name, making some point that I wasn’t privy to.

“It’s nothing,” Cal said simply, but it was everything.

“Night, everyone,” I said as cheerfully as possible before turning and giving Teddi the stink-eye. Then I headed toward my mom and Weezie, Cal in tow.

It wasn’t until I was standing in front of my mom that I realized she’d know. She was like a witch that way, sniffing out the truth with the slightest of clues.

With Cal awkwardly looming next to me, I said, “Hey, Mom, I’m going to take Weez home.”

My mother didn’t even bother to look at me, keeping her focus on Cal.

Rather than making introductions, I cocked my thumb toward him. “Cal’s going to carry her out for me.”

“Isn’t that nice,” my mom said, an eyebrow raised. “I’m Marva,” she said to Cal.

He bent and extended his hand. “Cal. Don’t get up,” he said, glancing at a sleeping Weezie next to my mom, her arm draped across my mom’s legs.

Although the next comment was directed at me, Mom’s narrowed gaze was on Cal. “I didn’t know you had a friend here, Shell.”

That’s what she said in front of the man who up until a day or two ago was nothing more than a booty call, and now was about to be my baby daddy.