Page 69 of Unscripted Love

“Absolutely,” Deanna agreed. “When someone offers to watch the babies so you can nap then do it.”

“Or some other bedroom activity,” Adrian offered. “It’s a long dry spell, brothers.”

Josh snorted. “Not for us; we didn’t give birth to the babies.”

Adrian tipped his head to the side and said, “True, but there’s precious little alone time with newborns in the house.”

I just shook my head, certain that they were just exaggerating. “They have to sleep sometimes,” I replied.

“Who said they’d sleep on the same schedule?” John countered.

Josh and I looked at one another in panic. Oh my God! What if one of them slept all day and stayed up all night while the other did the exact opposite? I felt panic start to creep in that I would never sleep or have sex until the kids were ten or older.

John and Adrian must’ve thought it was hilarious because they threw their heads back and roared with laughter.

“Now they get it,” John said.

“I bet I’ll see a whole lot less swagger and more stagger out of Gabe these next few months—maybe even years,” Adrian added.

Their comments started up a new round of laughter. They were so busy slapping each other on the backs and laughing it up that they didn’t notice their wives’ reactions. Deanna and Sally Ann wore matching expressions of disgust and outrage.

“I wasn’t aware that our children were such a burden to you, John. If you weren’tgetting anythen how is it we had multiple children?” she asked icily.

“Baby, I’m just joking. You know I love our little cockblockers,” John said to his wife. His tone was appeasing but not his language. I was glad they had found a babysitter for the night, although John was an amazing father and would never say something like that in front of the little Dorchesters.

“I guess it’s not a good time to tell you that you’re going to be a father again,” Sally Ann said to Adrian then promptly burst into tears.

“What?” Adrian asked, sobering immediately. “Oh my God! Are you teasing me right now?” Adrian scooped Sally Ann up into a hug. “Do you promise?”

Sally Ann was still crying but at least she was smiling and nodding happily.

“Damn, I hope Adrian doesn’t lose his shit in the birthing suite like he did last time,” I said fondly.

“Or Sally Ann’s head starts spinning in circles while she spews foul language and talks about dudes carrying babies in their prostates and squeezing it out their asses,” Josh added. He winked at Sally Ann who laughed hysterically. “I told you that I’d never let you live it down.”

“That you did.” Sally Ann looked at Adrian and said, “I’m sorry I told you this way. I had every intention of doing something cutesy.”

“I don’t need cutesy,” he replied softly.

Josh and I congratulated the expectant couple with hugs before we made our way to the pizza. It felt like months instead of hours since I last ate. The cheesy, greasy pizza was just what the doctor ordered.

Adrian came over after everyone finished fawning all over him. “Hey, I want to talk to you about a few things, but wasn’t sure it was the right time to talk shop.”

A cop was never truly off duty. “What’s up? Any leads on the break-ins?”

“Nothing, man. They stopped as fast as they started. It’s frustrating as hell,” Adrian replied.

“Then what’s on your mind?” I asked.

“There was a pretty big announcement in the police department while you were gone.”

“There was?” I was shocked that Adrian didn’t call me right away if it was so serious.

“Captain Reardon has decided to run against Rocky Beaumont in the May primary election,” Adrian told us. “There is no opposition party on the ballot at this time so if the captain wins, and I think he will, our captain will be mayor.”

“And that leaves his position at the police department open. Are you going to apply?” I asked him. Was he trying to let me down easy?

“No, but I want you to apply for the position,” Adrian said.