Page 114 of The Grump I Loathe

Eddie laughed and patted her belly. “Aw, baby’s first concert.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “If Grace and Alannah have their way, they’ll be taking the baby to Scarlett Rush’s new tour.”

“What do you think the odds of us getting near that photobooth are?” Sierra asked. “I need some vintage-inspired snaps of my nephew.”

Mia bounced CJ on her lap. “What do you think about that, huh? We’ll get you in a little top hat and you can hold the tiny, plastic Oscar?”

CJ rubbed the back of his head against Mia’s dress, then reached for his bottle.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Sierra said. “Oh, you think we can wrangle him into some suspenders?”

Eddie twisted in her seat, giving me a giddy smile. “Dance with me before I have to pee again?” She held her hand out to me, and I took it, gently pulling her from her seat and into my arms.

“Is the baby sitting on your bladder again?” I asked, chuckling at the look of mock exasperation on her face as I placed my hand on the bump that was our growing child.

“It’s definitely set up camp there with a fortified bunker and snacks,” Eddie said.

“Ha!” Mia laughed, wrestling a fork away from CJ. He was currently in the grab-everything-and-shove-it-in-his-mouth stage. “CJ used to practice his kickboxing moves on mine.”

“Good to know some things never change.” Eddie laughed as CJ kicked his feet, babbling loudly as the current song finished and another track started. “Also, I can’t get over his tiny suit.”

Mia pecked CJ on the cheek. “I’m just glad it still fits. I swear I just bought it, and he’s already almost outgrown it.”

“At least you’ll have lots of hand-me-downs to hand over to our new…nephew?” Finn said, eyeing me hard across the table. Mia grinned, turning to Eddie and me.

“Or niece,” I said without missing a beat.

Finn grumbled.

“Give it up,” Sierra said, laughing softly as she patted Finn’s shoulder. “You know they’re not going to tell us until they’re ready.”

“It’s not fair.” Mia pouted playfully. “Liam and I purposely waited to find out. You both already know, and you’re choosing to withhold this vital information from CJ. Look at this adorable face.” She turned the full force of baby cuteness on us. “Do you really want him to be left in the dark?”

CJ blinked at us before grabbing the tablecloth and shoving it in his mouth, completely unbothered.

Eddie grinned. “CJ and all concerned parties will be made aware of said gender as soon as we’ve finished planning the most epic gender reveal party ever.”

“Which is what?” Finn asked dryly. “Unveiling a sign on the moon?”

“We’ve come up with everything from setting Grace and Alannah loose on a piñata to a gender reveal obstacle course the family has to complete,” I said. Eddie was so excited I was surprised she hadn’t just blurted it out yet. “But I’ll add the moon idea to the list of potentials.”

Finn rolled his eyes playfully, and Mia sighed.

“If I really wanted to be next-level,” Eddie said, “I’d work it into a cut scene at the end ofAlterbot 2and make you play the game to get the reveal.” She laid her hand on her stomach. “But at the rate I’mcoding, this little nugget is going to show up before the game is done.”

“There’s no rush,” I reminded her, bussing her temple. The distribution deal was already locked. After the success of the first game, the demand for a follow-up had given Eddie something to focus on other than her horrendous morning sickness.

“You still think it’s going to come out this year?” Sierra asked.

Eddie shook her head. “The storyline has kind of taken on a mind of its own.”

“Totally get that,” Mia said, nodding.

“I think we’re looking at late next year,” Eddie continued. “But I’ve coded some additional content for the first game that’ll add new challenges for players to tackle while I work on the sequel.”

“Dad!” Grace said, racing out of the crowd with Alannah trailing her. They’d obviously ditched Liam with the drinks. “Grandma said we can request songs from the DJ! Alannah and I are going to go ask for Scarlett Rush, okay?”

“Just remember to take turns,” I reminded them.