Gunner just shook his head. “Uh-huh.”

I laughed and re-read his shirt.

Endangered Species

The Long-Haired Beaver

Jeff walked up to me, and we slapped hands before he brought me in for a hug and slapped my back. “You ready to see your baby, dude?”

With that, the anxiety hit me all over again.

Jeff must have noticed because he started laughing. “Josh, it’s gonna be fine. You’re going to be in awe at the sight of your baby.”

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. “Okay…well, what did y’all want me to drive all the way to Mason for anyway?”

“So, we know Brad’s been out of rehab for about a month or so, and he’s doing really well,” Gunner said with a smile.

“Yeah, we had lunch with him and Amanda two weeks ago,” I said.

“Did they mention that they are moving after the baby is born?” Jeff asked.

What the fuck? Moving? “Moving? Where? They didn’t say a word to Heather and me about moving.”

“I guess Brad’s dad actually did something nice for him. He got Brad a job with another advertising agency here in Austin, and they are willing to let him work at their branch in Florida,” Jeff said.

Florida…holy shit.

That’s right. Amanda’s degree was in marine biology. Brad was moving, so Amanda could follow her dreams.

I smiled as I looked between Gunner and Jeff. “Damn. That’s fucking awesome, but at the same time…Florida? It’s so far away.”

Jeff just stared at me. “Jesus H. Christ. When did you grow a vagina, dude? Are you going to cry?”

“Fuck off, Jeff! Asshole!”

“Assmole, Jeff!”

Jeff closed his eyes and shook his head. I turned around to see Matt running into the barn as Ari stood there with her hands on her waist.

Why is it she shows up with Matt when I’m the only one swearing?

When Matt ran up to me, I bent down ready to take him in my arms.

“Josh! I’ve missed you, Josh, so much! I’m going to hug you now.”

I laughed as Matt gave me a big ole hug, and I returned one just as big. “Hey, little buddy! I’ve missed you, too. Have you been a good boy?”

He nodded and turned to look at Ari, who flashed him a smile. “Josh, Ari said that you’re going to see your baby today. Can I see her, too?”

I laughed before I gave him a quick kiss on the head. “I wish you could, buddy, but not today. You see, I’m taking Heather to the doctor, and we are going to use a special machine that will be able to see the baby. The baby is only about ten weeks old in Heather’s belly, so I think it’s gonna look like a peanut.”

Matt laughed. “You’re such an assmole, Josh!”

I smiled as I stood back up and looked at Ari, who was holding her stomach.

“So?” I smiled.

Ari was just about to start talking when she noticed Jeff’s T-shirt. “Oh. My. God. What in the hell are you wearing?”

Gunner had taken Matt and walked him over to see Rose’s new colt. He turned around and yelled over his shoulder, “I told ya!”

Jeff gave Gunner the finger before smiling at Ari. “What’s wrong with my shirt, baby?”

Ari glared at him. “Well, since you seem to like long-haired beavers, I can arrange for that.”

I started laughing.

Jeff’s smile dropped. “Um…no. No, that’s really okay, baby. I’m not a fan of the long-haired beaver at all! I’m more partial to the hairless beaver.”

The next thing I knew, Jeff was taking off the T-shirt and tucking part of it into the back of his jeans.

Gunner died laughing, which caused Matt to laugh.

Matt finally stopped laughing as he looked up at Gunner. “Why are we laughing? Should I take off my shirt, too?”

Ari walked up to Matt and reached for his hand. “No, buddy, don’t take off your shirt. Let’s go in and see Mommy. You can try on your new outfit for Josh and Heather’s wedding.” As she walked by Jeff, she reached behind him and grabbed the shirt out of his pocket. “I needed a new cleaning rag.”

I had tears coming out of my eyes as I watched Ari walk out of the barn with Jeff’s T-shirt.

When I was finally able to stop laughing, I managed to get out, “I’m the one with a vagina, dude?”

Jeff looked at Gunner and then me and shook his head. “Fuck off, both of you! Let’s talk about doing something for Brad and Amanda, like we were supposed to. Assholes.”

As we waited for the doctor, Heather reached over and took my hand in hers. “So, you never did tell me what y’all are going to do for Brad and Amanda?”

I knew she was just trying to keep my mind busy. How is she so damn calm? “I was going to tell you about it. Jeff and Gunner already talked to Ari and Ells, and they’re totally on board with the idea.”

She smiled at me, and my heart melted.

“Okay. You’re going to have to tell me the idea, babe, for me to be on board, too.”

“What? Oh yeah, right. Okay, so when I told you that they’re moving to Florida, you already knew. I love how I’m the last to find out, but that’s beside the point.”

She started to giggle as she rolled her eyes.

I let out a sigh. “They wanted to pull together some money to give to them before they left. To help them get settled and all. With Brad’s parents totally cutting him off, they’re not going to have much of anything after they sell the house. His mother is insisting that they pay back everything his parents paid for in regard to the wedding.”

“Wait a minute! That bitch was the one who wanted the big fancy wedding, and now, she wants them to pay her back for it?”

I nodded. “Yep. She always has been a bitch.”

I was just about to keep talking when Dr. Johnson walked in. Heather was so happy that the same doctor who had delivered Alex was also going to deliver our child.

When he held out his hand, I stood up and shook it.

“Josh, Heather, how are y’all doing?”

“Good!” we both said together.

Heather quickly glanced over at me and winked.

“So, how are Alex, Gunner, and Ellie doing?”

Heather let out a laugh. “Alex is doing great! I can’t believe she’s two months old already.”

Dr. Johnson sat down and looked over at me. “Josh, you doing okay, buddy? You look a little white.”

“I’m good. I’m fine. I’m just ready to see my baby girl and make sure she’s okay.”

He smiled. “Baby girl, huh? Well, we might be able to hear the heartbeat if we’re lucky.”

Heather snapped her head over toward him. “But I’m only ten weeks! Can the sonogram machine pick that up this early?”

He started laughing. “We actually just got this new sonogram machine in. It’s capable of picking up the heartbeat as early as eight weeks, so let’s keep our fingers crossed. So, Josh, you think it’s a girl? Heather, how about you? Any guesses?”

Heather smiled and nodded. “Well, everyone keeps telling me it’s a girl because of the morning sickness I’ve had. By the way, that’s not limited to just morning, so why they call it that, I don’t know. I just have a strong feeling it’s a boy.”

The nurse walked in, and Dr. Johnson stood up. “Well, let’s get the show on the road and see us a baby.”

After they put some jelly shit on her stomach, he started moving the contraption all around. I couldn’t see anything, but then a small lima bean thing appeared. That was when we heard it—the baby’s heartbeat. Heather looked up at me as a tear rolled down her cheek.

I leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “I love you.” I looked back up at the monitor. “Does she look okay?”

Dr. Johnson laughed. “Yes.”

Then, he made a funny face, and it almost sounded like the heartbeat was echoing. He started moving that little contraption all over the place as he pushed down more on her stomach.

Heather must have noticed it also because she frowned at me. She turned back to the screen. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

I looked up at the nurse, who was smiling.

Just then, there were two distinct heartbeats.

“Are you picking up my heartbeat also?” Heather asked.

“Or mine ’cause it’s pounding loud enough in my chest!” I said.

Dr. Johnson and the nurse started laughing.

As I looked back at the screen, I saw it. Another little lima bean showed up.

“Oh. My. God. Is that another…” Heather’s voice trailed off.

“Wait. What? Why are there two lima beans?” I glanced down at Heather.

She was smiling so big as she looked at the monitor, and then she started crying.

What in the hell is going on?

Dr. Johnson turned and smiled at me. “Josh, I think you should sit down.”

“Why? Is something wrong with her?”

The nurse came and stood next to me.

Oh god! Something’s wrong. Why is Heather smiling? She’s crying and smiling? Who does that?

“Josh, it looks like y’all might both be right.”

“Both be right about what?” I asked.

I felt my legs about to give out, and the nurse grabbed on to my arm.

“The two lima beans are two babies. Y’all are having twins.”

Twins? Holy hell. We’re having twins! I stared down at Heather with tears in my eyes. She was looking up at me with most beautiful smile I’d ever seen on her face. Twins.

Chapter Thirty-Two

When I heard Ellie scream, I ran into the kitchen, trying to get ahead of that bastard dog of hers. Of course, he cut me off and got to her first.

If he didn’t watch over Alex like he did, I swear I’d…I’d…ah hell. I love that damn dog.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

Ellie turned around and gave me the biggest smile I’d ever seen. I smiled back at her just because I couldn’t help myself.

“That’s so wonderful, sweets! Don’t worry. He’ll snap out of it soon enough. Just splash some cold water on his face,” Ellie said with a laugh.

Reaching down, I started to rub Gus on the head as I listened to Ellie’s side of the conversation.

“Okay. Heather, honey, it’s all going to be beautiful, so please don’t worry! Okay…see you in a bit.” She hung up the phone and walked over to me.

As she kissed the shit out of me, I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her closer to me.

She slowly leaned away but not before she let out a small moan.

“Damn, Ells…what was that for?”

She smiled and scrunched up her nose. “Do I have to have a reason to kiss my husband?”

“No, but I sure as hell want to know what I did, so I can do it more often.”

She laughed and gave me another quick kiss. “That was Heather on the phone.”

“I gathered. I take it from your smile that everything turned out good?”

She started to giggle. “Yep! Except Josh nearly passed out.”

“Pussy.”

“You’re one to talk!”