She sniffed delicately. “I may have noticed. It’s a good thing for us both. Not many men have a bitchy woman fetish.”

“I do believe you just made me guffaw with that one. They do say there’s a lid for every pot. You’re my lid, Gillian. Bitchy and all.”

The ferry ride was quicker than usual going back to Seattle from Bainbridge, and soon enough they’d arrived at the pub where everyone had gathered.

The pub was sort of dingy, but it was their place. A place where if he was recognized no one would bug him. This place had been a regular part of his life, part of the lives of their circle for years. Gillian belonged there with him on the cracked vinyl booth eating pizza and drinking beer.

Adrian moved through the usual Friday-night crowd, keeping Gillian against him to protect her from being jostled. It was during times like this one where he was reminded of how small she really was. And yet, she managed just fine. He shouldn’t have been concerned; Gillian was a tough woman. But that didn’t stop him from wanting to protect her.

The group was already there at their usual booth near the pool tables.

“Gillian, I really need to go shopping with you so I can find all the cute stuff you wear,” Erin said as she patted the spot next to her in the booth.

“Thank you. I can’t take credit for it though. My friend Daisy gave me this outfit as a gift. She claims it was for my birthday, which is three months away.” She smiled. “Truth is, she just has a great eye and picks stuff up for me, Mary and Jules all the time and it shows up in our houses.”

“I met her at the luncheon at Mary’s house. I really liked her.” Erin indicated the pitcher at her elbow. “Would you like some beer? We just ordered the pizza so that should be out soon. Wings should be out too.”

“Awesome. I’m starving after spending the whole day working.” Adrian took the beer his sister pushed toward him and Gillian sipped hers. He kept an eye on her, but so far she appeared to be having a great time and he was reminded of what his brother had told him about how the rest of them had zero problem with Gillian and how none saw her as holding back.

He was the one who needed to adjust his expectations.

“Now that everyone is here, it’s time to draw straws for the first game.” Brody held up his fist with the sticks.

“We all pick and those four with the longest sticks go first.” Erin explained to Gillian, who nodded and proceeded to pull out a very long stick with a smile.

“When I was young, I’d play snooker down the local.”

“That so?” Adrian examined her and she smirked, sending that jolt straight to his cock.

“It is. I haven’t played in a long time. But there were pool tables at several bars near my old flat in New York, so we’d go play after school frequently.”

Now it was Todd who leaned in. “Hmm, seems we have another shark in the water.”

“They take their pool very seriously.” Ella rolled her eyes. “I prefer to sit back here and watch them play. As they’re all quite nice to look at, I think I’ve got the best seat in the house.”

Gillian laughed. Just a quick, lyrical burst of sound. “Very true. Then I shan’t be disappointed if I don’t get in on the first game.”

“No looking at anyone’s ass but mine. That’s the rules.” Adrian picked his straw and it was a short one. Damn.

“That is so not a rule.” Elise snorted. “That’s an insane rule. Looking at you all is the best part of my night. Hush.”

“I’m pregnant.”

Their playful banter died down as everyone looked to where Ella sat with Cope’s arms around her tight. Both of them smiling.

“It’s early. We only just found out for sure this morning. We haven’t told my family or the Copelands yet and we won’t until I’m past the three-month mark.”

The table erupted with laughter and congratulations and Adrian’s heart, already full of love for these people, expanded a little more. They’d been trying for the last year or so, he knew.

“That’s why you’re drinking water!”

“Yeah.” Ella’s smile told the story of how happy she was with the news. “I just hope I don’t have blood pressure problems like Erin did, because if I have to give up coffee, I don’t know how I’ll get through the day.”

Adrian looked back to Gillian and knew he wanted that with her. Yes, they had Miles, and having a baby before they were settled would be stupid and unwarranted. But after they’d found a way to make living together work, it could happen. He wanted it to happen, damn it.

She caught his gaze and smiled, and he knew she’d been thinking the same thing.

The food arrived and after some beer and wings, the first crew moved to the table and began to play.

“Looks like I’m up.” Gillian stood and Adrian didn’t hide his need to watch her as she moved.

“You watch her like you’re taking notes in your head,” Todd said. “I know the feeling. Sometimes I watch Erin move and I’m sort of mesmerized by it. She has such purpose, your Gillian.”

“She does, doesn’t she? She moves like she’s on her way somewhere. Always. Constantly running lists of things to do in her head, I’d wager. She’s very capable. I love that.”

“It’s hard to love a woman like that though. When you want to do for them. Want to help and they can totally do it without you and you want to do it anyway.” Todd shrugged. It couldn’t be easy to be married to a woman like Erin. She was another capable woman. They all were, he noted, looking around at the women in his life.