"That's the thing," London said, her words growing shorter. "He signed with the Reapers!"
Savannah’s jaw dropped, and she stopped batting at the covers for her phone. "I'm sorry, did you just say that Caz, as in your oldest brother, Caspian Foster, signed with the NHL team that offered you a job?"
My eyes widened. Caspian Foster was London's brother?
"Exactly! He picked me up at the airport with my realtor, the same one the team had recommended to me. And he thought I was going to be happy about all this!"
"Wait, he what?"
My phone rang, vibrating on the nightstand, and I immediately rolled to my side to silence it.
Shelly’s name flashed across my screen, and I tossed back the covers, snagging my shorts off the floor, and swiping to answer it as I walked out of Savannah’s bedroom.
“Shell?” I asked, keeping my voice quiet and shutting the door behind me.
“He’s here!” My sister’s voice practically oozed happiness. “He’s seven pounds, nine ounces of perfection, and he’s here!”
I laughed, a grin spreading across my face. “When? How are you feeling?”
“Last night, and we’re both wonderful, nothing to worry about. Sorry, I would have called sooner, but Greg’s parents are all over us.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’d rather you get what sleep you can. How long until they let you out of the hospital?” I was already mentally calculating the travel time.
“Tonight actually. Twenty-four hours. Greg’s already packing up, and Mom is hovering.”
“She usually does.” My mouth tightened in a line. “Why so fast? Shouldn’t you stay for a day or two after having a kid?”
“Eh. You know, insurance. Besides, I’d rather be at home. Want me to send you some pictures?” Her voice pitched upwards, no doubt trying to distract me from the first part.
“You bet your ass! I want pictures. What’s my new nephew’s name?”
“Hunter Robert,” she whispered.
Robert. “After Dad.” My chest tightened.
“Yeah.” She sniffled, and the sound of a tiny, frustrated grunt filled the silence. “I’m so proud of you, but I wish you were here.”
“For fuck’s sake, Shell. I’m not in Siberia. I’m only three hours away,” I teased her. “Give me an hour, and I’ll be on the highway.”
“Really? I just know you’re busy—”
“Stop. Besides, I have to get my hands on my nephew before your husband turns him into a Panthers fan. I love you, sis.”
She cried while we hung up, and Savannah was off her call by the time I walked back into the bedroom.
“Everything okay?”
It was an absolutely insane thought…but there it was.
“Want to go to Virginia with me?”
“You did what?” My sister’s jaw dropped across the kitchen table the next morning. Her blonde hair was heaped on top of her head in a messy knot, and there were bags under her eyes, but she’d never looked more beautiful to me. More at peace.
“Shh, you’ll wake him up,” I whispered, peering down at the sleeping, blanketed bundle resting against my chest.
“We can’t accept it.” She shook her head, sending a pointed glance to the pile of things I’d picked up at the store last night. “I mean, look at all that.”
“That’s nothing,” I assured her. “The hospital bill was nothing.”
“Greg…” She sighed. “He’s…”
“Shelly, you’re my only sister. Greg is a great guy, and teachers aren’t paid enough. Just tell him that insurance covered it if he asks.” My hand shifted as Hunter started to squirm. Damn, he was tiny.
“I’m not going to lie to my husband, Hendrix.” She arched a tired eyebrow.
“Then let’s just hope he doesn’t notice.” I grinned as Savannah walked in, already dressed in jeans and a tank top, her hair pulled back and face freshly washed. I’d had no problems sleeping next to her in my childhood bedroom—in my very adult-sized bed, but she’d blushed scarlet the moment I’d told my mom we didn’t need the couch made up.
“Like he was supposed to not notice that you paid my car off when I graduated college?” She tilted her head.
“It was a graduation gift.” I shrugged. “I was a rookie with money to burn, and besides, you should have let me get you that sexy little Corvette.” I would have bought her anything she wanted. “Hell, let’s go get you one now. I bet we could find one that fits a baby seat.”
“I don’t need a Corvette,” she laughed, then turned to Savannah. “He always worries.”
“I can’t help it. We grew up in a one-bedroom apartment where we were never even sure the lights would turn on when we got home from