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“Hell yes, I’ll go shopping, and we can get a massage and do all the girly stuff.” She grinned and held her hand out, her finger curling into her palm in a gimme gesture. “But do you have something for me?”

“Oh, sure.” Easing my wallet from my pocket, I plucked my Amex out and handed it over.

“Not that. I don’t need your money.”

Her brows raised as she pinned me with a look, and I tried to figure out what she wanted. It took a second. “Ohhh.”

Behind the Amex was the sonogram picture I’d torn off the stack, along with a couple of others I’d kept for this moment.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an auntie,” she whispered, holding it up to the light.

“Hol, you’re already an auntie.”

“I know, but you know what I mean.” She sniffed. “This baby will be more mine than the rest of the rabble we have.”

I chuckled. I did know what she meant. Holiday was already an awesome auntie to our five nieces and nephews, never forgetting birthdays or important events, and always reminding me of when they came up.

She was way better at organizing everything than I was.

And while we were all close, no one in the family had the bond we did.

“Where are Mom and Dad?”

“In the backyard.” She carefully dabbed a tear from under her eye. “Ready to break the news?”

I groaned. “Yeah.”

Holiday threw her arm around my shoulder, which wasn’t that easy, given there was nearly a foot height difference between us. “It’ll be fine. ”

“I know.” I sighed. “And you’re going to big her up, right?”

“I know. I know . Don’t worry, when I’m done, Mom and Dad will love her.”

I grinned down at my sister. “I knew those acting classes would come in handy.”

Jumping out of the way right before she rammed an elbow into my side, I jogged into the large, open-plan kitchen. It wasn’t as big as the one we had in the apartment, which always seemed bigger because of the views, but it was cozy in the way ours wasn’t.

The huge doors at the end were wide open and led out to a paved backyard filled with potted trees and hanging plants. It had a similar vibe to the backyard Holiday had out in California, albeit smaller, but wherever Holiday went, there would be trees and flowers and outdoor space.

It was where we differed—because I loved modern and sleek, whereas she thrived in spaces where it looked like running water had only just been installed.

An outdoor dining table stretched along the back of the garden, shaded from the sun by a huge striped umbrella, and where my parents were currently enjoying their morning coffee.

“Tanner,” my mom screeched, jumping up and throwing her arms around me.

“Hey, Mom,” I replied, kissing her cheek.

My dad folded down the corner of The New York Times and peered over. I couldn’t see his mouth, but I could tell he was grinning, the grin he only ever wore when he was looking at my mom. I eased out of her grip and rounded the table .

“Hey, Pops. Have a good flight?”

He stood up, bringing me into a slightly less suffocating hug than my mom had. “Yeah, buddy. Always easy.” Stepping back, his eyes scanned over me before patting me on the shoulder. “You look good. We caught the end of the game last night, you got a few big hits in there.”

A smile stretched across my face. Last night we’d played the Yankees, and I’d been responsible for two home runs out of five, against their two. “Thanks, Dad. You excited about coming tonight?”

“You bet, and your mother wants to get there early.”

“Why?”

“Shopping.” He shrugged, reaching for his coffee cup.

“You know I like to go early to shop in the store. I want to buy the new season shirt,” she interrupted.

I turned around to where she was standing, fists balled on her hips. “But I already sent it to you.”

“I know, honey, but I want to go and buy it too. I want to see it in the store, and I want to stock up on Tanner Simpson bobbleheads.”

I didn’t bother asking any more because we’d end up in the longest conversation about what new items were being sold in the Lions store this month.

Every time they visited my mom spent an hour searching for anything that had been added since she was last there.

My dad would inevitably spend the evening carrying the bags around.

I’d offered to get all her purchases shipped home, but in truth, she liked being stopped and asked why she had so much because then she could tell people that I was her son. And I wasn’t going to take that away from her.

“So, what’s news with you?” asked my mom, sitting down and patting the chair next to her. “We haven’t heard from you this week, not since Jordan’s tooth fell out.”

Ah, the Simpson family group chat, which was currently revolving around my eldest nephew and how much he’d gotten from the tooth fairy.

I’d been avoiding it the past few weeks because I was finding it increasingly hard to keep Millie and the baby a secret.

Therefore it was easier if I steered clear.

Also I didn’t have much to add in the way of the going rate for teeth.

“Training’s been intense?—”

“Are you tired, you look tired?”

“No, I’m good, I just…” I glanced behind me, looking for where Holiday had disappeared off to. Now. I needed to tell them now, and this opener was as good a time as any, but I wanted Holiday with me. “Let me go and see where Hol is.”

I’d barely moved out of my chair before she reappeared from the kitchen carrying a loaded tray of fresh coffee, bagels, eggs, smoked salmon, and a bowl of fruit. Jumping up, I took it and set it down on the table.

My dad reached for a bagel before I’d let go of the tray. “Great spread, honey.”

Nerves whipped about inside me, more than I’d felt in a long while. I tried to calm them by pouring out coffee, but it wasn’t working, given Holiday removed a cup from my hand to do it instead and urged me to sit.

“Actually, Mom, Dad. I have something to tell you, news…I guess. I have news.”

“Wait, we need to dial in Lucas and Riley.”

My dad stopped spreading his bagel with cream cheese and looked up. “What’s going on? Are you sick? ”

“No. I’m not sick.” I tutted as Holiday put her phone on Speaker and the sound of ringing pinged out. Lucas answered first.

“Hol? Can I call you back, I can’t really talk now.”

“No, hang on. Just getting Riley. We’re all here.”

“What’s that noise?” he asked as my older sister Riley answered. “Hey, Hol, what’s up? Is Mom with you?”

“Yeah, we’re all here.”

“Oh great, Mom?—”

“No. Riley, stop,” I cut in before she could start up a conversation I didn’t want to be part of, probably about teeth. You can talk to Mom in a second. Lucas, Riley, can you hear me?”

“Yeah, our ears work fine,” grumbled Lucas. “Is this going to take long? I’m supposed to be with a patient.”

“No, it’s not going to take long.” I rubbed my hands together. Where to begin? “Okay, I have something to tell you. There’s a girl?—”

“Ohmygod, Tanny, you have a girlfriend?” screeched Riley while my mom beamed out a smile like she’d been waiting for this news her entire life.

“What? No, just…no. But, also…” Huh. I didn’t have a girlfriend, I knew that much. Even if I considered Millie to be my girlfriend, it only lived in my head for now . Head and heart. “But it’s a girl I like. A lot. I like her a lot.”

“She’s really great,” added Holiday, way too early and far too enthusiastically. Enough for me to shoot her a look.

My dad went back to his bagel, even my mom seemed more interested in her breakfast than she had five minutes ago.

“Is this the news?” asked Lucas. “Because you could have texted this.”

“She’s pregnant,” I blurted. “I’m going to be a dad.”

My mom slowly put down her coffee. My dad put down his bagel, even though he’d been about to take a bite.

There was silence on the end of the line, which meant either the phone had cut out or Riley and Lucas had been stunned to silence for the first time ever. Both my parents looked at Holiday because, as widely agreed on the family group chat, she was the sensible one of the two of us.

“You knew?”

She nodded. “Yes. And I really like her. She’s a good girl, she’s been in our friend group for a year.”

Their heads shot back in my direction. “But she’s not your girlfriend?”

I shook my head. “No.”

“Is it your money she wants?” asked my dad, his brow furrowing deeply. “Buddy, we talked about this. We talked about being careful. You know girls will try and trap you.”

“Tanner, who is she?” followed up Lucas.

“She’s not out for my money,” I assured them. “And we were careful, it was an accident. But I’m not going to lie and say I’m unhappy about it.”

“What does that mean?”

“I like her, I told you.”

My mom’s brows shot up. “You want her to be your girlfriend?”

“Since the day I met her.”

“And does this girl have a name?”

“Millie. It’s Millie.” I grinned, because I couldn’t help it. It happened every time I said her name. “Millie Robinson.”

“And so, explain to me how she’s carrying your baby but she’s not your girlfriend? What? She thinks you’re not good enough?”

Holiday threw her head back with a laugh, right as Riley interrupted. “Mom, you just low-key accused her of wanting to be with Tanner for his money, and now saying he’s not good enough?”

“I didn’t say that.” She huffed. “Your father did.”

I held back the eye roll.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, I’m still getting used to it myself. But I’m really happy.” I reached for my wallet again. “And while Millie and I aren’t in a relationship right now, I’m working on it. You’ll be the first to know.”

“Can I be the first to say congratulations?” asked Riley.

“Me, too, bud. Congratulations. Welcome to the club,” added Lucas. “It’s about time something kicked your ass into gear.”

“Thanks for the support, Luke.”

“No problem, always here with advice for my little bro. But can I go now?”

“Yes.” I laughed.

Somehow he cut Riley off when he hung up, so it became just the four of us again.

“You wanna see the sonogram?”

I wasn’t expecting my mom to gasp quite so loudly, or for her eyes to fill with tears.

“Oh, Tanner.” She snatched it from my hand. “I can’t believe my baby boy is going to be a father. Don’t worry, we’ll get her as your girlfriend soon enough. ”

I didn’t get a chance to worry about her final sentence, as my dad reached over and squeezed my shoulder, a small gesture weighted down with so much significance and emotion that I found myself choking back a ball of tears.

“When’s the due date?”

“March twentieth.”

“March twentieth, but we’re already in September.

” My mom’s eyes popped and she blindly passed the sonogram over to my dad.

“You’ve got a lot to do before then. Your father and I can move to the city for a few months.

But can you give me her parents’ number so we can start planning and give me her address for where I can send new baby things? Holly, sweetheart, can we stay here?”

Holiday could barely hold in her laughter. “Mom. Slow down.”

She smiled broadly. “Sorry, I’m just so excited. But first things first. When can I meet Millie?”

My phone buzzed on the table, and I glanced down to find one single message on the screen.

Holiday: Tell Millie to run