Page 280 of Hot Mess
“He’s nine months old,” she told me proudly. “And thank you. I still don’t fit into my pre-baby clothes, but you know, I’ll get there. How did you meet Ash…?”
“Well, he hired me to redecorate his condo a few months ago,” I told her. “But there’s this crazy story about him and my twin sister, if you want to hear it…”
“Do I?” she said, tossing Ashley a look.
“Definitely,” I said.
Then I leaned in and whispered in her ear.
She smiled and whispered back.
I flashed Ash a smile, hoping to reassure him that while girl talk was good and all, I’d just met this girl, and I wasn’t about to give up too many goodies about him and my sister.
He kind of rolled his eyes, but he flashed me a small smile too, so I figured he got the message. “So, how’s the little man doing?” he asked Brody.
“Crawling,” Brody said, as the baby fussed and kept trying to push out of his mommy’s arms. “Standing…” Jessa put him down on the lawn and he instantly popped up on his knees and started rocking back and forth, like he was powering up to crawl. And then off he went.
“Excuse me,” Jessa said, heading after him.
“Soon he’ll be running around, barking orders,” Brody said, watching them go. “The newborn phase goes fast, guys.” He looked kind of exhausted when he said that.
“He’s seriouslysocute,” I said.
“Too cute. The kind that’ll manipulate you into forking over your spleen. It’s a goddamn superpower.”
“Good luck when he discovers girls,” Ash said.
Brody chuckled. “I think I can handle that. It’s the parents of the girls who really have to worry. I just hope we have more boys.”
“More?” Ash said.
“Not anytime soon. I just meant in the future.”
“I noticed you put a plural on that. Jessa down with giving birth to a soccer team for you?”
Brody grinned. “I’d be happy with three or four. I think she’s planning on capping it at one or two. We’ll see.”
“Huh,” Ashley said, and I could hear the genuine admiration in his voice. “That’s cool, Brody. We’re all happy for you guys, you know. The first Dirty baby.”
“Thanks.” He patted Ashley on the back. “I should circulate. Catch you two later?”
“For sure.”
Brody smiled at me, then headed over to talk to Jude.
When I met Ash’s eyes, he smirked a bit and pulled me to him. “Hey, Danica. What did you tell Jessa about me and your sister?”
“Only the most PG parts,” I assured him. “Drunken night in Alaska four years ago, mistaken identity in the street, and here we are. She was quite amused. Said our meeting sounded romantic and, what was it? ‘Meant to be.’”
“Hmm,” he said, sipping his drink.
“I’m glad I finally got to meet Brody. Your new manager,” I said, patting his chest. I was so proud of him.
“Me too.”
Then I glanced over at Jessa, who was talking with a few other women as the baby played at her feet.
“How is that fair…?” I mused.
