Page 31 of Conflagration
But Knox keeps grinning. “Next time you send your girl to answer the door, big brother, you might want to make sure she’s a little more dressed.”
I’m just about to take a drink and my arm stops midair. Big brother? I look at him, wondering if I heard things, but the way he’s still smirking at me, I know I heard correctly. My heart tightens and I have to look away so he doesn’t see the way my eyes water for a split second.
Clearing my throat, I turn back to him, my eyes hopefully conveying nothing. “If I’d known you guys were coming, we could’ve been prepared. Instead, y’all barged in on us while we were still in bed.”
His grin widens even further. “Oh, we know, Branson. We know.”
I throw a pillow at him, which he ducks. Dad chimes in. “Knox, leave your brother alone. And Branson, next time, I’ll make sure your mom calls first.”
I nod my appreciation then lean back in the recliner, reverting my gaze to the television. We watch a few segments in silence, nothing but the noise of the analysts discussing the big game on the television and the women’s chatter and laughter coming from the kitchen. Looking around, I realize that this is the first time in my entire life that my whole family’s been in my house. And quite surprisingly, it feels pretty damn good.
BECAUSE OF my knee, Mom forgoes the rule of having to do brunch in the dining room and the whole family piles into my living room, eating, laughing, and teasing each other. For the most part, I sit back and watch, taking it all in. It’s almost overwhelming, and I feel as if I’ve been transplanted into a brand-new family.
Or maybe I’m the transplant. Maybe this is what I’ve been missing out on this whole time. I’ve always been too busy with work, too worried about Megan saying something to offend Mom, or—in this past year—too busy wallowing in my own misery to truly enjoy the way my family’s been put back together. But today? Today’s different, and there’s one common denominator.
Her.
In one week’s time, she’s become more of a part of my family than Megan ever was. Her hand’s been resting on my thigh for the duration of the morning, and she’s been an active part of each and every conversation. It’s almost terrifying, the way she fits in so easily, and I can tell that Mom’s half in love with her already.
Charlie gets my brothers to pick up the dishes, which they do begrudgingly, and I smirk at them until Knox pretends like he’s going to kick my leg. Ari blocks him, and he nearly busts a gut laughing.
“Just messing around, woman. Calm down. I wouldn’t kick the guy when he’s down. I’ll wait till he’s in tiptop shape to kick his ass.”
Charlie pushes him out of the room, rolling her eyes behind his back.
“I saw that, sweetheart,” he says, chuckling.
When Charlie comes back in, she has a gleam in her eye, her hands held behind her back. “Okay, Ari. I went through this, and so did Andi. Now, it’s your turn.”
I groan and cover my face with my hand. “Really? Do we have to do this today?”
“Hey, you’re the one who’s kept her from us. We have to make up for lost time,” Andi chimes in, smiling sweetly at me.
“What’s going on?” Ari asks, hesitation lacing her voice.
“A Wellington woman rite of passage, my dear,” Mom says as she holds her hand out to Ariana. “Time to go through photo books of Branson’s childhood. And, since you’re engaged, we brought over Charlie’s wedding planning books. Since she and Knox are getting married next month, she has mostly everything set. We thought you could go through everything else to see if there were any ideas you like.”
Ari turns towards me, her mouth open wide. Her eyes dart back and forth between mine, almost as if she’s unsure of what she should do. Hell, I don’t even know what to do. Then I catch Dad looking at her strangely, and I plant a smile on my face.
“You heard the woman. It’s tradition. And who knows? Maybe you’ll see something you like in those books.”
She pales slightly then leans in close. “You’re going to pay for this, Branson,” she whispers in my ear.
“I’m banking on it.”
“I LOVE your family. I really do. But I so am freaking exhausted and it’s not even dark out yet,” Ariana says as she enters the living room after having seen my family out.
Finally. I’m pretty sure it was the longest Wellington brunch ever, especially once brunch turned into an early dinner thanks to Mom’s insistence that neither Ariana nor I needed to cook. Then again, it was probably the most enjoyable day I’ve had with my family, so I can’t really complain.
“Come here,” I request, holding my hand out as she passes by.
She takes it, and I reel her in until she’s sitting on the arm of the recliner. When she smiles down at me, I can’t wait another minute to feel her lips on mine. I yank her down until we’re mere inches apart.
“Kiss me.”
My ever-compliant woman does so without hesitation. It’s a soft, gentle kiss, and for the time being, I’m content with it.
She pulls away, her smile wide. “Today was nice.”
