Page 42 of Bond Strength

Declan Brannon had always stolen my attention, even from an early age.

And being with him was beyond any fantasies I could’ve dreamed up.

“Are you going to come in or stand there grinning?” Olivia crossed her arms. “This whole visit’s feeling mighty suspicious, Noah, like you’re keeping something from your favorite sibling.”

I shook my head and stepped inside, bringing the door shut behind me. “Maybe I am,” I teased.

“Ohhh, not fair, Noah Everly Langston.” Olivia followed me as I made my way to the kitchen. If I was going to do this, it’d be in one go, not over and over again to each family member. Dad lifted a hand, even though he was engrossed in whatever book he read—probably about cadavers. He’d gotten obsessed with forensic science and devoured book after book on the subject.

“How’s the leaky sink?” I asked.

He shot me a knowing look over his book. “It all of a sudden stopped leaking the second she turned off the faucet.”

A laugh escaped me.

Footsteps pounded from the kitchen, and our mother entered the living room.

“Mom, Noah’s hiding something,” Olivia said.

Lauren tugged on Olivia’s ponytail. “Babe, he’s allowed to keep his secrets.”

“No, he’s not.” Olivia whipped toward me, scanning me up and down as if she could suss out what I was keeping to myself through detective work.

“What are you keeping from the family?” Mom asked, so similar to Olivia it was ridiculous. With both of themstaring me down, even if I’d wanted to hide this, I’d crack. “You don’t have an incurable disease, do you?” She squeezed me in a hug.

“Nah, he’s all smiley.” Olivia parked herself right next to me, her arms crossed.

“Oh, it’s good news?” Excitement sparked in Mom’s eyes.

Nerves fluttered through me, but after years of Mom asking if I was dating someone, the idea of answering yes felt a little odd. “I’ve got a boyfriend.”

Mom’s whole demeanor shifted, and she beamed, her eyes crinkling at the edges. She threw her arms around me again and squeezed tight. “Oh, Noah, I can’t wait to meet him. Is he anyone we know?”

“Yeah, he is.”

Olivia eyed me. “You and Dec?”

I hadn’t talked much about my crush, but Olivia had pieced it together years ago. We’d agreed that was in the hopeless category, especially after we drifted apart as friends.

“Wait, Declan Brannon?” Dad piped up, which was a miracle in and of itself. Any other day, he hung back, reading his books. “I didn’t realize he was interested in guys.”

I shrugged a little helplessly, unable to hide my giddy grin. “Neither did he until recently.”

“He’s a good kid. Smart as hell,” Dad said. “And the Brannons are great, even if they’re a little wild.”

I snorted. That was an understatement. Chaos was part of the Brannon genetic makeup, and despite Declan’s sense of order, he somehow flowed with their insanity, no problem.

“Oh, honey,” Mom said, her eyes getting glossy. “I’m so happy for you. Why don’t you both come over for dinner tonight?”

Shit. This was the exact sort of situation that had gotten me into trouble so often, the instant “okay” ready to leap frommy lips. Except Declan planned a date for us, and I was well aware of his need for clear parameters. Dropping a “hey, surprise dinner at my folks” would send him in a spiral.

“Mom, Noah probably has other shit to do,” Olivia jumped in.

“Well, all I’m talking about is dinner.” She crossed her arms. Their bickering was about to begin, which would escalate the situation.

Too clearly, I could hear Declan’s advice in my head.

Your whole family’s not going to shatter just because you set some boundaries.

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