Even after all these years, it was always amazing getting to see their whole family get together. I could only imagine how much fun growing up with everyone must've been, and now that they were all getting older and going off and getting married and starting families, it was only bound to get bigger.

They all poured in through the front door, younger kids making their way into the living room, older couples greeting everyone they passed with a quick smile and kiss on the cheek. Some carrying babies, carseats, pushing strollers. I had no idea how they expected to fit everyone, and yet they always found a way.

Soon enough one of the couples came over to us, pulling Josh into a hug and then looking over at me.

"Mason, Kim, this is Jaime. Jaime, this is my cousin Mason and his wife Kim and their daughter, Evalyn." I couldn't help but smile as Evalyn turned to me with the biggest eyes I had ever seen, before quickly hiding her face in her mom's shoulder.

"She's a little shy." Kim laughed. "Nice to meet you! Are you Josh's-"

"Jaime lives next door." Josh said, quick to cut them off. "We've basically known her our whole lives." Kim nodded, smirking back at him.

"Okay, I understand." She laughed.

But part of me felt like she didn't, especially when half the time, I didn't even understand. But today I was just going along for the ride.

"Oh my gosh, how old is she now?" Josh asked, holding out his finger to Evalyn. She didn't hesitate to reach out, grabbing on tightly, letting out an excited scream.

"She's about to be nine months, but it feels like nine days. It's crazy how time flies with them."

"I can imagine." He said, keeping his eyes on her as she pulled his finger into her mouth, gently biting on it.

It was adorable.

"Do you want to hold her?" Kim asked.

"Oh, um.. I mean, I've never-"

"Here. It's easy." She said, placing Evalyn in his arms. "One arm here, and the other here, and she's fine."

He carefully bounced her up and down until she let out another happy screech, tightly clinging onto his shirt.

"See? She loves you. You okay with her?" Josh nodded, gently placing his hand behind her head, continuing to bounce her. "Perfect, now I need a drink."

He eventually turned around to face me, catching me staring at him. He smiled back, his cheeks burning red.

"What?" He giggled to himself, carefully fixing her hair. I shook my head, holding my stare on him.

"Nothing. It just.. looks good on you." I said softly, reaching over and fixing her dress. He bit down on his lip, trying his best to contain his smile.

"Thank you." He muttered.

"You know, if everyone sees you like this, it's not going to help the questioning you're bound to get." I laughed. He sighed, playfully rolling his eyes.

"I know.." He groaned. "But.. I can't help it. Look at her." He held her up to his face, giving me pouty lips and adoring eyes that matched her wide glare.

"She's very cute." I said softly. She then turned around, reaching her arms out towards me, letting out a distressed whine.

"I think she wants you to hold her." Josh laughed. "Do you want to?" I hesitated for a moment before nodding, cautiously holding out my arms.

I had never held a baby before.

He gently handed her over, positioning her into place before slowly backing away. I held her close, carefully mimicking his gentle bouncing until she started laughing, her tiny hands tightly grasping onto my dress.

"I.. I think she likes me." I said. Her laughter was contagious, her gummy smile instantly lighting up the room.

"Why wouldn't she?" He said, gently brushing her hair back with his fingers. "Look at you, you're a natural." I felt my face get hot, unable to contain my grin.

"How'd you get stuck with her?" I heard from behind me, turning around to see Sam and Leah making their way in and doing their quick hellos.

"I don't mind it." I said softly, holding her close. She eventually quieted down, lying her head on my shoulder as I felt her grip start to loosen.

"Better not get any ideas." Sam smirked, playfully nudging Josh. He rolled his eyes, smiling back at me.

"Yeah, you don't have to worry about that." Josh sighed.

What did he mean?

Did he just mean.. right now? Or.. ever?

Was it because we weren't-

"Good." Sam said. "Cause we're just getting started. So you wouldn't have time for that." He then took Leah's hand, guiding her through the crowd of people over towards their bar.

"Here, you want me to give her back?" Josh asked, reaching out for her. I shook my head, carefully moving away.

"N-no, it's okay. I'm okay right now."

"Okay, I just figured-"

"Look at you." I heard. My heart jumped. Turning around, I could see Jake making his way over, drink in hand, his cheeks already flushed pink from the alcohol. He flashed me a gentle smile, making my heart beat even faster. He held out his finger for her, to which she instantly perked up, letting out an exciting screech, practically crawling out of my arms to get to him.

I understood the feeling.

Josh then took my now empty glass, motioning over towards the bar.

"I'll go get you some more." He said, leaning in, gently kissing my cheek. I nodded, flashing him a gentle smile as I watched him make his way across the room.

Jake then giggled to himself, waiting for Josh to be out of sight as he put down his drink, taking Evalyn from me and effortlessly balanced her against him with one arm as she stared up at him wide-eyed, completely mesmerized.

"Well, aren't you so pretty." He said, gently tapping the tip of her nose. She let out another loud screech, playfully bouncing as she reached over, grasping onto his shirt.

"Did you get all dressed up for Thanksgiving?" He asked, carefully fixing her dress, lying it over his arm. "Cause you look lovely." She laughed again, shyly hiding her face in his neck.

"More like look at you." I sighed, unable to take my eyes off of him, like he had done this all the time. Part of me couldn't tell if he was doing this on purpose, or he had always been like this with her. Either way, I didn't care.

I just knew that I loved it.

He shrugged, smirking back at me.

"Yeah, yeah.." He laughed, continuing to bounce her, holding his stare on me. And then I could see her starting to get upset, her soft whines turning into quiet cries.

"Oh, no, no, no.." He said, gently caressing her head, holding her up against him. "It's okay, what is it? Are you hungry?" He looked around, no doubt trying to find Kim somewhere, but it was no use. After seeing how eager she was to get a drink, I had a feeling she'd be avoiding whoever had the baby all night.

"Okay, well.. we'll just have to figure this out ourselves, won't we?" He giggled to himself. I leaned back against the table, grabbing his drink and taking a sip as I watched him scan the fridge, eventually pulling out a small bottle from the top shelf, holding it up to her. Her crying instantly stopped as her tiny hands grabbed onto it, trying her best to hold it herself as he subtly guided her from the bottom.

It was a side of him I had never seen before. Never in a million years did I ever think I'd witness Jake playing "Dad," at a party nonetheless. He was someone who had always tried his best to avoid all responsibilities, and now here he was, going out of his way to take care of a baby.

"Oh, you're such a big girl, look at you, doing it all by yourself." He giggled, still clearly holding up the bottle for her. Even with it still in her mouth I could see just how big she was smiling. It was hypnotizing, now almost too distracted to taste the whisky I had swiped from him as it burned all the way down. But I didn't care, it was enough to have something of his coating my lips, knowing it was once where his were.

"Down girl." Sam giggled, making his way back over, leaning up against the table next to me. I quickly snapped out of it, placing Jake's drink back down behind me, tightly crossing my arms across my chest.

"I.. I.. um.." I stuttered, feeling like my face was on fire. He shook his head, giggling to himself.

"Come outside with me." He said softly, pushing himself up, motioning towards their backyard. I hesitated for a moment, biting down on my lip, looking around for Josh. But there was no sight of him anywhere. I sighed, pushing myself up from against the table, and following him towards the back door.