Part 23 (1/2)

I chuckled as I took her hand and brought her around to sit on my lap. She sat down and wiggled as I raised my eyebrow. ”Are you nervous?”

Letting out a sigh, she nodded her head. ”I think Grace knows.”

”Really? What makes you say that?”

Looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was coming, she turned back to me. ”The morning sickness. I tried so hard to keep it on the down low but a few times it just hit me when I was with her. Then yesterday, she ran into me at the mall when I was picking up our s.h.i.+rts.”

I chuckled, causing Libby to bounce on my lap and my d.i.c.k to jump. ”The s.h.i.+rts. I can't wait to wear them.”

Libby placed her hand over her mouth and giggled. ”I'm not sure they are going to lessen the blow.”

I ran my hand up and down her back. ”Libby, they're going to be thrilled.”

Libby lifted her thumb and began chewing on her nail. I pulled it from her mouth. ”Stop it. They're going to be happy.”

”Who's going to be happy and about what?”

Libby closed her eyes as I looked at Grace walking out the door and making her way over to us.

Think Johnson. Think.

”Will and Alex. We're going to surprise them with a weekend in Fredericksburg this summer.”

Libby's eyes widened as she nodded her head in approval.

Grace pursed her lips together and nodded her head. ”What a nice thing to do. How come y'all are doing that for them?”

Libby's smile faded as I felt the sweat bead along the top of my forehead. ”Um, I don't know,” I said as I shrugged. ”Just thought it would be a nice thing to do. We plan on doing nice things all summer for our friends.”

Libby got off my lap as she nodded her head. ”Yeah, like I'm going to treat you to a manicure and a pedicure.”

Grace gave Libby a pretend smile. ”Awe, that is so sweet. My future sister-in-law is b.u.t.tering me up.”

”That's not true. It's just we haven't hardly spent any time together and I thought this would be nice. There's no hidden meaning behind it.”

Grace grinned bigger. ”Well I think that's awesome. Will you let me go shopping with you and buy the baby clothes?”

Oh s.h.i.+t.

Libby's head snapped over as she looked at me. I gave her what I hoped was a stay calm look.

Libby scrunched her nose and plastered on a fake confused look, as she let out a nervous chuckle. ”Baby clothes? Why would you want to buy baby clothes?” Libby asked with a nervous smile.

Grace tilted her head and crossed her arms as she looked from Libby, to me, and back to Libby again.

”Do you think I'm stupid? Really? I know the two of you better than you know yourselves.” She pointed to me. ”You, you walk around with that goofy smile on your face all the d.a.m.n time. You place your hand on Libby's stomach and whisper into her ear at least twice a day when you don't think anyone is watching.”

Swallowing hard, I peeked over to Libby. Grace turned and pointed to Libby. ”And you. Since we were fourteen you have asked me for pads or tampons because you never have any. You don't think I haven't noticed how you haven't asked for any in about three months. You don't think I haven't noticed you not wearing blush anymore because the color of your skin is just radiating.”

Libby closed her eyes. ”s.h.i.+t. I forgot about the pads and tampons.”

My mouth dropped open. ”Lib!”

Throwing her hands up in the air Libby pointed to a smiling Grace. ”She knows, Luke.”

Grace started jumping up and down. ”Oh my G.o.d!” Running over she placed her hands on Libby's stomach. I watched as tears began to build in my baby sister's eyes. ”I'm going to be an aunt?” Turning to me she wiped a tear away. ”I'm so glad you didn't wrap your stick!”

I tossed my head back and laughed. ”Me too, Sweet Pea. Me too.”

I PARKED THE truck and looked over at Libby. She was either wringing her hands together or biting her nails. ”Lib. It's all right.”

Placing her hands on her stomach, she began to cry. ”They're going to hate me. I failed at being a good daughter. I got myself knocked up halfway through college.” Her hands came up and buried her faced as her body jerked from sobs.

”Libby. Please look at me.”

Dropping her hands, she turned her face and looked at me. The look she was giving me reminded me of how Grace used to look at my parents when they lectured her in high school.

”Are you happy?”

Sucking in her top lip and jetting out her lower lip she nodded her head.

”I'm happy too. This is our miracle baby. Don't ever forget that.”

Nodding her head, she spoke above a whisper. ”I won't. I promise.”

I slapped my hands together and jumped out of the truck. I jogged around the front and over to Libby's side. Opening the door I looked down at her T-s.h.i.+rt. I smiled as I read it.

My daddy's swimmers are strong.

Glancing down, I looked at my T-s.h.i.+rt. Grabbing Libby's hand I led her to the front door. We had asked to talk to our parents and they informed us they were over at Gunner and Ellie's place getting ready for the barbecue later this afternoon. Libby and I were heading back to A&M so that I could take summer cla.s.ses and our parents wanted to have a get-together with everyone. With how I had busted my a.s.s in school and with taking cla.s.ses this summer, I was going to be able to graduate this December.

I knocked and opened the door. I peeked down at Libby and smiled. We made our way through the living room and into the kitchen. Ellie, Heather and my mother were all standing at the island. Each with their hands in something they were making. My father, Josh, and Gunner were across the kitchen. Gunner was sitting at the table husking corn. Josh was leaning against a counter with my father standing next to him.

Smiling, I turned to face them. My father looked over as he was lifting his beer to his mouth. The rim stopped at his lips as I watched his eyes read my s.h.i.+rt. He dropped his beer some and shot me a dirty look.

Libby hugged and kissed Heather before turning and kissing Ellie and then my mother on the cheek. She came up beside me and whispered, ”Here we go. Your dad sees your s.h.i.+rt.”

Glancing down, I looked at my T-s.h.i.+rt again. My swimmers are strong.

I turned my head away and leaned to whisper in Libby's ear. ”He thinks it's a joke.”

Libby turned and looked at me. Her hot breathe hitting my face and causing my d.i.c.k to come to attention. Jesus. Even in a room filled with our parents, she turns me on.

”What? Why would he think-oh!” Libby said as she giggled.

”Hey, baby girl.” Libby and I both snapped our heads up as Josh came walking up to Libby. He slowed down and read her T-s.h.i.+rt out loud.

”My daddy has strong swimmers?” Josh looked up at Libby. ”That's not cool at all. Lib, I don't think I like that T-s.h.i.+rt.” Stopping in front of us, Josh stood there looking at Libby and down to the s.h.i.+rt. Turning, Josh pointed to my father. ”Your d.a.m.n T-s.h.i.+rt ways have rubbed off on my daughter.”

Gunner laughed and shook his head. ”Remember the beaver T-s.h.i.+rt?”