Page 29 of Top Shelf

“That was fast,” I say with a smile. Just then, Lo appears in the foyer, carrying Ella, my newest niece, on her hip. “Ahh, my baby girl.” I take her from my sister and kiss both of her cheeks, throwing her into the air and catching her, tickling her with my whiskers. She gives me that big belly laugh that she seems to save just for me, and my whole world is better.

I never gave much thought to having kids. I still haven’t, really. There was a time, once, when I thought I could see it. I could picture it, one of those nights when she was lying there on my arm in the dark, breathing softly on my skin. I could picture it then.

But I don’t let myself think about it much. Instead, I let my nieces fill that void for me as much as they can. Aside from my job, they are pretty much my world.

“Oh, my gosh,” Sadie gasps, reaching out to stroke Ella’s arm. “Look at that smile!”

I lose my breath, watching the baby watch her, and vice versa.

“Hi, Sadie,” my sister says, leaning in for me to kiss her cheek as I hand the baby back. She smiles sweetly, and I let out a sigh of relief. At leastthissister will be manageable. She reaches out, to my surprise, and pulls Sadie in for a hug. It takes a moment—Sadie isn’t big on physical touch—but slowly, she raises her arms up and hugs Lo back.

“Hi, Lo,” she whispers. “It’s so good to see you.” I can see the instant relief in Sadie’s eyes. Then my dad walks into the room, holding his arms out.

“There she is,” he says, pulling her in for another hug. He was never one to hold a grudge. He’s more along the lines of,ifwe’rehappy,he’shappy. In walks Tate behind him, laughing and shaking his head.

“Wasn’t sure we’d see you around here again,” he says, giving her one of his classic, awkward, one-armed hugs. She smiles nervously.

“Hey, Tate,” she says.

“Incoming,” he whispers to us as he slips out of the room, and in comes the one we’ve all been waiting for, the sister that makes everyone else in the room hold their breath and brace for impact.

“Hi, Demi,” Sadie says—bravely, I might add, despite the terror that is running through all of us right now. There’s a brief pause, and I swear I can hear the collective rushed heartbeats pounding through the room.

“Welcome back, Blackwell,” she says, eyes narrowing.

“Demi has agreed to be nice,” I say, warning my sister with a glare. She looks at me, then looks back at Sadie.

“Absolutely. As long as everyone here is nice too,” she says coolly. My sister didn’t get

that don't-hold-a-grudge gene. She got my mom’s hold-it-till-you-die gene. She doesn’t forgive easily. And sheneverforgets.

But it’s okay. Because this is all for show.

“I understand this is all a little game,” she says, “so let’s keep it all in good fun, yeah?”

Sadie nods, and I reach down and squeeze her hand.

“That’s enough, Demi,” my dad says, ever the savior. “Come in, Sadie. Have something to eat—and to drink, afterthat,”he says, putting his arm around Sadie and rolling his eyes at my sister as he guides her out of the room. I glare at Demi, and she shrugs her shoulders.

“Everyone else might be cool with pretending like this is no big deal,” she says, shooting Tate and Lo a look. Then she looks back at me. “But I will never forget the way you fell apart after she used you for a night and tossed you out to dry. You were always there for her, Ty. You might say you’re over it,” she says, “but I’ll have my eye on her. And you.”

I throw my arm around her shoulder and kiss her temple as the four of us walk through the house.

“I’m a big boy, sister,” I tell her. “I got this.”

The rest of the night pretty much goes off without a hitch. Levi is flipping burgers outside, and Harper is playing catch with Tate while the rest of us sit on the patio. Sadie is smiling, drinking wine, and asking everyone questions. She’s soaking in everything that everyone has done over the last eight years. And my heart beats a little faster when I see her smile. She’s happy to be here.

But it’s just an arrangement.

“So,” Demi says, after staying eerily quiet through most of dinner.

“Oh, boy,” Tate says, taking a swig of his beer. “Here we go.”

She shoots him a look as Lo giggles next to me. Levi sucks his teeth as he rubs my sister’s thigh.

“How is this all supposed to work?” she asks, motioning between the two of us. Sadie looks to me, and we exchange a glance. I know Demi is waiting for her to respond, but I take the lead, squeezing her hand under the table.

“As far as anyone outside of this house is concerned,” I say, “Sadie and I are dating.”

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