Page 102 of The Way We Collide

“You’re finally here!” Dylan rushes forward to pull me into a hug. “We’ve been waiting and waiting.”

“I can tell.” I lean down to give my sister a squeeze.

“My new sister!” She turns to hug Raven. “How did my big brother propose? Show me your ring!”

“Oh…” Raven’s smile falters, and her panicked eyes fly to mine.

“It wasn’t really like that…” I start, but Dylan’s holding her hand.

“No diamond?” She frowns up at me.

“We decided so fast, we just picked these up…” Raven starts.

“It’s temporary,” I finish.

“Okay, and you’ll have anniversaries and holidays and whatever!” Dylan smiles, supportive as always. She waves my misstep away, turning to smooth the hood of Haddy’s coat off her head. “Where’s my little Haddy-boo? Here she is!”

Haddy isn’t crying. In fact, her blue eyes are huge as she looks around the festive room.

All four of my brothers gather around us, along with Liv, Rachel, and Allie. A lighted sign over the bar readsWelcome Home!, and the place is packed with family and friends and patrons here for Dare Night.

It looks like we caught them mid-Dare.

Once the initial surprise part is over, “Disco Inferno” kicks off on the PA system, and a few of the female servers hop onto the bar to dance,Coyote Uglystyle.

“Welcome home, Hen!” Craig says over the mic from where he stands behind a long picnic table.

He’s in his blonde Sandra Dee fromGreasewig, and a waitress I recognize helps him hand out little white cups of this week’s spicy pepper dish to the line of brave customers.

“How was your flight?” Jack grips my shoulder, pulling me in for a hug.

“She’s so big!” Liv is at my side holding Gigi and hugging Raven and Haddy.

“Well, if it isn’t my married, baby-having, poopy-diaper-changing little brother.” The loud voice is followed closely by massive arms around my chest, lifting me off the floor.

“Put me down, Sasquatch!” I yell, twisting against Garrett’s vise grip.

He puts me on my feet again, and I turn to see him in his own Sandra Dee wig, grinning down at me. “You don’t look too worse for wear.”

“He looks happy.” Zane walks up reaching for my hand before pulling me close and slapping my back. “Being a dad agrees with you.”

Nodding sheepishly, my eyes instinctively search for Raven. She’s drifted off with the girls, laughing and hugging. They’re all talking at the same time, fawning over the babies.

Haddy has her pacifier in her mouth and Axel in her hand as she watches them all in amazement. I don’t think she’s going to cry.

“He’s a Bradford.” Garrett laughs, leaving us to join Craig, who’s yelling at him from the top of the bar. “He can’t help himself.”

Somehow he drags his six-foot-four frame on top of the bar in one move as the music changes to “Fireball” by Pitbull. The lights flash around the room, and our welcome home is swept up in the commotion of Thursday nights at my family’s restaurant on the bay.

“Want some?” Dylan dances up to me holding a paper cup and a spoon. “It’s Red Savina chili with sweet potatoes and corn and a little apple cider vinegar and lemon juice to cut the heat.”

“I do!” Raven skips up beside me, taking the small serving. “Red Savinas were the hottest pepper in the world until ghost peppers were discovered.”

“No, thank you.” Logan holds up both hands, stepping away.

“Same!” Liv calls from where she’s bouncing Haddy on her hip. “I prefer my taste buds remain intact.”

My pretty wife takes a small bite of the daring dish. As soon as it’s in her mouth, her brown eyes widen, and she squeals, waving a hand in front of her face.

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