Page 107 of Ransom

I snort into my coffee. "Okay, now you have to tell me that one."

"See? Time. Stories. Maybe some more pancakes." He grabs the syrup bottle before I can reach for it. "Though I'm cutting you off. Your pancakes are in an actual puddle."

"Judgy much?" I cut into my pancakes, then scoop a soaked piece of fluffiness to my mouth. Best pancakes ever. "The syrup is the best part. You still don't like syrup?"

He doesn't answer, his attention out the window. And the look on his face? It's a mix of frustration and love. Following his gaze out the window, I spot a large bus rolling past the square, the name of a rock band emblazoned on the side. "That's a big bus. Probably took a wrong turn." I tap his hand, pulling those brown eyes back to mine. "Aren't you eating?"

He winces, looking all kinds of upset. "I'm so fucking sorry, Blair."

My stomach churns. What now? I don't think I can take any more ‘I'm sorry's’ from this man. "Why? What's happening?"

He taps his finger on the window, toward the bus. "I wanted to spend time with you. One-on-one, no distractions. But I'm pretty sure a big fucking distraction is inside that bus."

"A rockstar?" I ask hesitantly, but the door wooshes open, and people start to file out. First, probably one of the largest men I've ever seen in real life, muscles on muscles. He's followed by a man even bigger, with a big scar running down his face. He would look like the kind of person you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley, except he's got a baby curled against his chest, his hand stroking slowly up and down. Then another man steps out. He's wearing jeans and a blue plaid shirt. He nearly hops down the stairs, stretches, then yells, "Ransom! Anybody seen Ransom?" at the top of his lungs.

"No," Ransom says, sighing. "My family."

35

RANSOM

Kade's voice booms across the square again, "For fuck's sake, where the fuck is he?" and I sink lower in my seat. The second I saw the name of the band on that bus, I knew my fucking zoo was on board. It would be too much of a coincidence. Colton drank all of them under the table at some charity gala years ago, and they’ve been close ever since.

Pretty sure Colton’s puked on that bus more than once.

Blair's shoulders shake with laughter. "I take it you know him?"

"That's Kade. He loves the word fuck, in all its variations." I peek through the diner window. The massive tour bus takes up all the parking on the other side of the street, and my brothers pour out like clowns from a circus car. "I can't believe they actually came here."

"There are so many of them." Blair's eyes widen as she counts. "Jesus, how many came?"

"I'm thinking all of them." But I can't help grinning as Jonas trips getting off the bus and Colton catches him. Micah's got Holly's hand in his, and a diaper bag thrown over his shoulder.

"RANSOM! Get your fucking ass out here!"

"Oh my God," Blair mutters, actually snorting with laughter. "He doesn't look like he's going to stop yelling."

"Probably not." I stand and offer her my hand. "Fair warning—they're going to love you. And they have no concept of personal space." Her eyes widen as they swing from my family back to me.

Damn them for pushing this already. We were starting to build something this morning. That spark was coming back to her eyes. She was starting to look at me like I'm someone she cares about.

Someone she could love.

I toss a few bills onto the table, then gently pull her outside, hoping it's just my imagination that she's dragging her feet a bit.

We step outside into the crisp morning air, and Kade spots us immediately.

"There you fucking are! What the hell, man?" He strides over and pulls me into a crushing hug. "You can't just disappear on us like that."

"I texted Nick," I say, frustrated, but I'm hugging him back just as hard with one arm. I'm not letting go of Blair. I'm not risking her running off. Honestly, I wouldn't blame her.

"Yeah, cryptic-ass messages about some girl." Kade releases me and turns to Blair. His eyes widen. "Holy shit, you're her."

God, I've missed these idiots, and it's only been a few days.

Blair raises an eyebrow. "I'm me, yes."

The rest of my family surrounds us, and I watch Blair's face as she takes in the controlled chaos. This isn't exactly how I planned to introduce her to them. I wanted time for just us first, to give us time to learn each other again.

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