Kalilah smiled at Nick. “Long story. I’ll tell you later. Right now, it’s an inside thing.” Nick frowned but let it drop.
Dex had no idea what she was talking about but was intrigued. Especially, if having an “inside thing” irritated Nick. He had a pretty good memory; he knew it would come back to him. Kalilah took out a crisp fifty-dollar bill and slid it over to him.
Some people were having their own conversations, and others tried to figure out what Kalilah was talking about, but the moment he saw the amount, everything fell into place. Everyone disappeared but her, and he was surprised at the surge of happiness he felt.
“No fuc…” He stopped himself since both sets of parents were in earshot and tried again. “I won that bet? I knew it!”
He could tell she hadn’t told anyone yet, but he couldn’t contain his amusement. People were openly watching them now. He grabbed her hand and dragged a giggling Kalilah out of hearing distance. The people at the table could still see him, but he didn’t care, just as long as he could speak freely. He put both hands on her cheeks.
“Kalilah, are you fucking kidding with me right now?” She shook her head. He pulled the money out of his pocket and waved the fifty-dollar bill in her face. “This can mean only one thing.” She nodded.
He crushed her in a big hug then grabbed her shoulders and looked at her again.
“For real?”
She beamed. “Yes! I checked like four times and my doctor confirmed. You were not kidding.” He pulled her into another long hug.
Dex whispered into her hair. “I told you that was some industrial level shit.” He sighed. “This is gonna be the coolest kid ever. Well, at least until I have my own.” He felt Kalilah giggle against his chest and punch his side. “I have so many names.”
“Dex…” Kalilah warned. “I never promised you that you could name it.”
He patted her head like he was consoling an irrational child. “We’ll see about that. Am I the first to know?”
Kalilah nodded. “After you practically spoke it into existence, how could you not be the first to know?”
Dex smiled. More material to torture his brother. This was perfect.