text
stringlengths
1
461k
he squeezed it reassuringly as she ducked her head .
`` um , well , i 'm sorry to say that i did . ''
`` in megan 's defense , i totally deserved it .
i punched alpesh and said some really shitty things . ''
`` dev ! ''
lavani cried .
in true dev fashion , he rolled his eyes at his mother 's outrage .
`` we 're fine now .
everyone calm down . ''
he met pesh 's gaze .
`` i 'm happy for you , brother .
you 've made a good choice . ''
he cut his eyes over to megan .
`` i hope you both will be very happy together . ''
pesh was taken aback by the sincerity in both dev 's words and his expression .
`` thank you . ''
megan nodded .
`` yes , thank you . ''
dev leaned back in his chair , clasping his hands behind his head .
`` and now to ensure that my news overshadows any excitement brought on by the two of you , i 'd like to announce that i 'm getting married next month- '' lavani once again gasped in horror .
but dev was n't finished .
`` and i 'm going to be a father . ''
pesh 's mouth gaped open as the table erupted in absolute pandemonium .
he wondered if his mother was going to pass out .
turning to megan , he found her with her napkin over her mouth .
from the way her shoulders were moving up and down , he could tell she was laughing .
he leaned over to whisper in her ear .
`` guess we 're off the hook , huh ? ''
she grinned .
`` yeah , i think we 're good . ''
`` i love you . ''
`` i love you more . ''
chapter twenty now that he and megan were an official couple who had said the `` l '' word , pesh no longer had days off where he had to wonder how to pass the time .
he wanted to spend every waking minute with her and with mason , and she always made sure that they had time together .
today found him at patrick 's house , wedged on the couch between some of megan 's male family members .
just like at his parents , the women were all stationed in the kitchen , putting the finishing touches on sunday lunch .
as soon as becky came in the living room and announced it was time to sit down , there was a stampede to the dining room .
he followed slowly behind the others , searching for megan who he felt like was his lifeline in the crowd .
`` where 's aidan and emma ?
they 're never late , '' angie remarked , as she sat a giant platter on the table .
liz shrugged .
`` they have n't called .
we could go ahead and get started , and then they can start when they get here . ''
john pulled out a chair .
`` good .
i 'm starving . ''
becky rolled her eyes .
`` you 're always starving .
between you and percy , we 're going to be eaten out of house and home . ''
pesh hung back as the others started taking their seats at the massive mahogany table .
regardless of how welcoming the fitzgerald 's had been , he still could n't help feeling like an outsider .
megan came in carrying a plate of ham .
after she deposited it on the table , her gaze searched the room for him .
when she spotted him , she gave him the smile that always warmed his heart before crooking her finger at him .
as he started to join her , mason came running in .
`` get me , esh , '' he urged , holding his hands up .
pesh grinned as he stooped over to pick mason up .
`` are you hungry ? ''
pesh asked .
`` uh , huh . ''
`` are you going to sit with me or pesh ? ''
megan asked .
`` esh , '' he replied .
`` is that okay with you ? ''
megan asked .
`` we 'll be fine . ''
she motioned for him to have a seat .
just as they sat down , aidan appeared in the doorway of the dining room with noah in his arms .
`` sorry we 're late . ''
`` where 's emma ? ''
megan asked , as she took noah from aidan .
with a grimace , aidan said , `` she is n't feeling well .
it seems that with this pregnancy she 's having third trimester morning sickness .
i told her i would stay home with her , but she insisted i come get a good meal . ''
`` poor thing .
we 'll fix her a plate for you to take home to her later on , '' megan said .
aidan smiled .
`` thanks .
if she can eat it , i know she 'll be grateful . ''
patrick clicked his fork against his water goblet .
`` is everyone here that 's supposed to be here ? ''
a chorus of , `` yes , '' rang around the room .
`` good .
let 's return thanks . ''
pesh obediently bowed his head along with the others .
when patrick finished , the dishes were passed around and food was served .
it was certainly a lot different than how his family did it , but he still enjoyed being with megan 's family .
while mason ate off his plate , megan gave aidan a break by feeding noah , or more appropriately letting him drape her in food while he fed himself .
`` you 're a mess , '' megan said , into noah 's carrot-and-corn crusted face .
his response was to grin at her .
`` i 'm sorry , mister , but that cute little grin is n't going to work for me . ''
`` he 's so stubborn , '' aidan said .
`` a stubborn fitzgerald ?
i 've never heard of such , '' becky joked across the table .
aidan shook his head .
`` i 'm serious .
he refuses to let me or em feed him , and then he ends up wearing more than he eats . ''
`` sounds like his father , '' angie mused .
when aidan gave her an exasperated look , she said , `` you were the exact same way .
i do n't think you ate a meal until you were two that mother did n't have to hose you off after you finished . ''