Brody looked at me as he reached down and palmed Kacie’s belly, which seemed to be getting bigger by the day. “Clearly not.”
“Hi, Uncle V!” Piper called with Lucy waving at me from behind her.
“What’s up twinkadinks?” I reached over and high-fived both of them, giving Emma a raspberry on her cheek as I went by.
I turned my attention to Michelle, trying hard not to stare too much. She was smoking in her jeans and boots and fitted Wild jersey. “Hey.” I reached over and gave her an awkward hug with Matthew still in my arms. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I didn’t either.” She laughed, glancing over at Kacie and back at me. “I knew what they were doing for Mike, but I wasn’t sure I could sit through it. Kacie talked me into coming at the last minute, and I’m glad I did.” She reached out and squeezed Kacie’s hand.
“I’m glad you did too. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had a chance to see this guy again!” I threw him up in the air again and he rewarded me with a giggle. “Wait, where’s Maura?”
“I left her home with Taylor. I figured it’d be too loud and crazy here.”
Kacie looked from Brody to me to Michelle. “Do you guys have to go home right away? I know it’s late, but it’s not that late. Wanna grab a late dinner at Stumpy’s?”
“I’m game.” I nodded.
Michelle held her finger up in the air. “Just let me check with Taylor real quick.” She pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket and took a couple steps away as Matthew wiggled out of my arms to go stand by his mom.
“Come here, girls. Let’s put hoodies on, please. It’s getting chilly out there.” Kacie waved the girls off to the side and started to dress them. I waited for Brody to follow and help her, but he pulled his brows in tight and narrowed his eyes at me. “You guys have been seeing each other a lot lately.”
“Who?”
“You and Michelle.”
I nodded toward Matthew. “It’s because of him. I like the little guy.”
“Is that all?”
“What the fuck are you trying to say?” I growled at him. “You think I’d move in on my best friend’s wife?”
He shook his head. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. And even if there were something starting between the two of you, I wouldn’t judge.”
I glared at him as hard as I ever had in my whole life. “Fuck you!” I spat before heading up the ramp toward the parking lot.
I pushed the glass doors open and took a deep breath of the crisp air as I paced around outside the door. I shouldn’t have snapped at Brody like I had, but what kind of an asshole kills his best friend and then goes after his wife? What the fuck kind of person was I that Brody would think for a second I would do something like that?
Before I could turn to go back in, the whole group filed out. Kacie, Michelle, and the kids went on to their cars as Brody came over to me.
“Dude. Listen, that’s not at all what I was suggesting,” he said as he got closer. “I was just noticing that you’d gotten closer and—”
“I know, I know,” I interrupted him. “I shouldn’t have snapped like that. It just hit a nerve. I don’t know why. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, no worries, man. Let’s go chill out at Stumpy’s and have a beer and relax.” His hand clapped my shoulder. “It’s been an emotional night for everyone. We all need to wind down a bit.”
I nodded and headed toward my car, hoping my shitty mood would be gone by the time we got to the bar.
By the time we pulled into the parking lot, my mood had already lifted.
“Viper! Can I sit by you?” Matthew yelled as he caught up with me and slipped his hand into mine.
I let go of his hand and lifted him up onto my shoulders instead. “You better sit by me.”
Our small gang barreled through the door of Stumpy’s, causing quite the scene. People who’d obviously watched the game on TV clapped and cheered as we made our way over to our corner table. Brody and I turned and pulled a couple extra stools over for the little kids while Kacie sat with Emma on her lap, shifting uncomfortably.
“Here, let me take her.” Brody laughed. “You don’t have much of a lap left.”
Kacie straightened her back and rubbed her side with her hand. “Thank God. I’m ready to be done and meet this little girlie.”
“How much longer now?” Michelle looked at Kacie as she pulled Matthew’s hoodie off over his head. His blond hair shot out in a hundred different directions, but he grinned up at me without a care in the world. I reached over and smoothed his hair, gently leaning down and touching my forehead to his without saying a word.