Page 54 of When You Blush
“Just fine.”
Beckett proposed to the pretty ballerina at Christmastime, and they’re planning for a fall wedding. I’m surprised he waited so long to ask her to marry him because it’s plain as day that they’re meant to be together.
“I want to know more about the pretty girlfriend,” Beckett says, but I’m saved when more family comes rolling through the doors. Brooks strides in, and when he sees the baby, his whole face softens.
He’s always such a grumpy ass, but he’s a softy for the kids and the girls.
Skyla and Connor’s parents arrive, followed closely by Skyla’s best friend, Mikhail, and his husband, Benji.
By the time my parents get here, it’s a full house. A chaotic one filled with noise and laughter, and it makes me grin.
“How are you, my boy?” Mom asks as she wraps her arm around my waist and leans into my side. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and hug her against me, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m great. How are you, Mom?”
“Oh, I’ll feel better now that it’s warming up outside.”
I frown down at her. I know that my mom’s rheumatoid arthritis is particularly bad in the winter for her. She doesn’t do well with the cold. That’s why they moved to Florida a few years ago, but they really missed the family, and with Bridger and Dani having another baby, there’s no way you could keep them away.
But I worry about her.
“Are you in a flare?” I ask her, keeping my voice low.
“Coming out of one.” She pats me on the chest. “I’m fine, sweet boy. Just sore and a little tired. But I want to hear about you.”
“Nothing big to report.”
Okay, I just flat-out lied to my mother. I’m falling in love with a gorgeous, amazing woman who has lit my world on fire.
“We’ll love her,” Mom murmurs and gives me a squeeze.
My gaze whips down to hers, and she just smiles.
“A mother knows these things.”
“I swear you’re psychic.”
She wrinkles her nose. “I know my kids. Whenever you’re ready, bring her around.”
I nod and kiss her head. She makes a beeline for that baby, and I go in search of my brothers, who slipped away when Mom walked over to hug me.
I find them outside, near the grill.
Brooks sits by himself, a beer in his hand, listening tothe others, and I pull up a chair next to him after I grab a bottle of water out of a fancy-as-fuck cooler.
Everything in this house is bougie. And it should be. My sister married a fucking billionaire.
“Haven’t seen you in a hot minute,” I say before taking a sip of water.
“We’ve both been working,” he replies.
Brooks and I have always been close. I miss spending time with him.
“How’s the shop?”
“Busy as fuck. I’m hiring Jake Wild, Ryan’s boy, this summer. He’s about to graduate from high school, and he’s interested in mechanics. He’s a good kid.”
I nod in agreement. Our family has been friends with the Wilds for as long as I can remember. Ryan adopted Jake a few years ago, and Brooks is right. The kid is awesome.
