Page 57 of The Anaconda Downstairs

Jules, bless her, didn't even blink. “On it.”

Kelsey stood next to me the whole time I was giving everyone marching orders. She gave me a pat on the back and looked around at the family. “Don't worry about anything except getting to Hayes, okay?”

As everyone sprang into action, a strange calm settled over me. This was chaos, yes, but it was the kind of chaos I knew how to handle.

I stepped out into the hallway to make the calls for the cars, my mind already racing with next steps. As I dialed Willa's number, I caught a glimpse of one of the screens in the corridor. The game was still going on, and there was Everett, back on the field.

My heart clenched. He was out there playing, not knowing how serious things were with his brother. And all I wanted to do was go hug him and tell him everything was going to be okay, even though I didn't know if that was true or not.

I pushed the thought aside. Later. I'd deal with that later. Right now, there was work to be done.

It wasn't long until I was the last one left in the suite. But that was good. It meant I did my job and took care of everyone around me.

The last few minutes of the game passed in a blur. I alternated between pacing the suite, fielding calls and texts, and staring out at the field. When the final whistle blew on a narrow victory for the Mustangs, I braced myself for what was coming next.

It would take the guys a few minutes to get back to the locker room and out of their gear. I didn't have access to the family room to meet the players, but I'd sent a text to Everett to let him know I was here and had a car waiting for him and his brothers. I'd meet them near the players’ entrance.

Before I even gathered my things to head downstairs, the door to the suite burst open, and there was Everett, still in his uniform, his face flushed from the game and creased with worry.

“Pen,” he breathed, his eyes finding mine immediately. “What do we know? Where's Hayes?”

For a moment, I forgot about our agreement to keep things quiet. I forgot about the complications and the secrets. All I saw was the man I loved, scared and hurting. I crossed the room in three quick strides and wrapped my arms around him.

He stiffened for a second, probably surprised by my public display of affection, but then melted into the embrace. I could feel him trembling slightly, the adrenaline from the game mixing with fear for his brother.

“Your family is at the hospital with him now,” I murmured into his chest. “The cars are ready to get you and your brothers there right away.

Everett pulled back slightly, his hands coming up to cup my face. The tenderness in his touch made my heart stutter.

“You've been taking care of everything, holding my whole family together, haven't you?” he said softly.

I shrugged, suddenly self-conscious. “I just did what needed to be done.”

He shook his head, a mix of awe and something else, so much more intense, in his eyes. “You're amazing, Pen. I don't know what we'd do without you. What I'd do.”

The word we hung in the air between us, loaded with meaning. Not the I, but the we. As in, the family. As in, you're one of us now.

The moment was broken by the sound of approaching voices—probably the rest of his brothers coming to get the update on Hayes too. Everett and I sprang apart, the spell broken. The secret relationship, the complications, the uncertain future came crashing right in.

But as Everett gave me one last meaningful look before turning to face his brothers, something shifted inside me. Maybe we didn't need to keep this just between us. Maybe it was time to embrace this family that had embraced me, complications and all.

That wasn't a scary thought. Not. At. All.

A BUCKET LIST OF TROUBLES

EVERETT

Istood on Hayes's front porch, my arms laden with snacks, surrounded by my brothers. Willa opened the door, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. This girl was a keeper. She'd called in the cavalry, and we'd all come running.

“Thanks for coming, guys,” Willa said, her voice low. “He's... struggling.”

My chest tightened. Of course he was. I'd seen the hit Hayes took, replayed the way he laid there on the field like he was never going to wake up in my mind a hundred times since. It could have been any of us.

We piled into the house, and Chris's voice boomed, “Willa called and said we needed to come over and pull your head out of your asshole.”

I suppressed a chuckle. Trust Chris to cut right to the chase.

Declan, ever the protective older brother, added his own gruff reassurance. “Don't make me smack you upside the head and give you another concussion. We're here to fucking cheer you up.”

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