Laces and Lace
Page 102

“I only have one,” Reese said with a shrug. “But my husband’s niece is basically our daughter too, so I guess, you can say two for me. She’s twenty and engaged, kind of crazy.”
“You could be a grandma,” Elli teased and Reese rolled her eyes.
“Lord, let’s hope not. Poor Jude has been through enough with just Phillip,” she said with a shake of her head, but then she smiled. “Anyway, I think it’s funny that Karson said that, but he’s right. It’s your fault, Elli! Big ol’ family.”
“No, Fallon is right up there with me now!” Elli said back before taking a long pull of her wine. Lacey giggled as Fallon glared at Elli.
“I think it is wrong that everyone is drinking while I sit here. Pregnant.”
“Would you like a block of cheese?” Lacey asked, holding the cheese out to her.
Fallon’s glare deepened. “Did your husband tell you to feed me?”
Lacey paused and then grinned. “He did.”
“Smart man, I always did like him. Thank you,” she said, taking the hunk of cheese and taking a bite of it.
“That’s supposed to be for everyone, Fallon,” Elli scolded but then looked the other way when Fallon shot her a look that could kill. That had everyone trying to hold their laughter in but failing desperately. Elli then turned to Lacey and said, “She’s a really great girl when she isn’t pregnant. Please check back with her in a month or so.”
Lacey giggled as Fallon contentedly ate her cheese. “Will do.”
“This is the last one. I’m done,” Fallon spat out.
“She says that every time,” Audrey added and Lacey smiled.
“I have three already; my oldest is almost a teenager. I’m done.”
“For as angry as you get, let’s all hope so,” Elli said, cheersing her before taking a long sip. Fallon kept glaring, eating her hunk of cheese, and all Lacey could do was giggle. She was a hoot.
With a grin, Elli asked, “Good, so tell us, how are you liking Nashville?”
“I’m adjusting. It’s not that cold and I like that. Also, it’s just beautiful here.”
“That it is. I love my home.”
“It’s kinda crazy,” Piper then said, all the attention going to her. “We still can’t get over it all. Karson’s never been one to date anyone or even be in a relationship, so hearing that y’all got married was huge news.”
“Yeah, it was kind of crazy.” Lacey said with a fond smile. “We were together in college, but then some stuff went down and we broke up. I hadn’t seen him for nearly ten years before last month.”
“Oh my God! That’s insane. And y’all just decided to get married?” Audrey asked.
Lacey smile grew, her heart warming. “We got into the same cab, and that’s all it took. I never stopped loving him, and he never stopped loving me.”
“That’s so romantic,” Audrey swooned as her face flushed with color. “And y’all ran off to Vegas?”
Lacey nodded. “We did. Greatest decision of my life.”
“Aren’t you worried you aren’t the people you were then?” Fallon asked. “I always worried about that with my husband, but we kinda got to know each other. Y’all just did it. No turning back, ya know?”
Everyone went quiet and Lacey chuckled.
If only you knew, lady, she thought sadly as she shrugged.
“She has diarrhea of the mouth when she’s pregnant,” Audrey apologized and Lacey waved her off.
“I think when you know, you know, and I’ve always loved Karson. He really isn’t that much different. He still makes me laugh and giggle at the silliest things. We have this banter between us that is us, you know? And he’s good to me. Loves me. Unconditionally. I’ve changed a lot through the years, and he still loves me.”
“That’s really wonderful,” Audrey said, and Lacey didn’t miss the look she flashed Fallon.
“He’s a really great guy. We all just adore him to pieces,” Elli said with a grin.
“He is. He went and got the car for me when I went into labor with my son,” Piper said with a grin. “My husband just stood there, completely out of it.”
Everyone giggled and Lacey realized it must have been an inside joke. Then Audrey said, “He’s kept Penny for us plenty of times and even Aiden, Asher, and Stella, right, Fallon?”
“Yup, he’s a great babysitter, loves kids,” Fallon agreed.
“Yeah, he’s gonna make a great daddy. You’re very lucky,” Piper said with a grin.
“Yeah,” Lacey answered, looking down at the rim of her glass before slowly tracing it with her finger. “He makes me really happy.”
Looking up, they all sent her a grin, and Lacey could tell they were all being very sincere. They cared for Karson and that was nice. He had said that this was his family, and in just a little bit of time, it was clear that was true. But what killed her was the fact that they all knew he wanted to be a father. If they knew, then it was obvious it was a big deal to him, and knowing that hurt Lacey to the core.
After a little bit of silence, the conversation came easily for them. As Lacey sat there, they all talked about their kids, their jobs, and then their husbands and the season. She tried to add in at the places she could, but she felt every bit the outsider. She didn’t like feeling like that, but it just seemed like they had known each other their whole lives. She’d assumed they’d met through the guys, but they were almost like sisters.