Page 55 of Don't Hurt Us
“Do you know what you’ll name the bakery?”Sydney looks so excited about it.
“Mulberry Lane Bakery.I couldn’t imagine naming it anything else.Mulberry Lane means the world to me.It’s where all of my fondest memories are.”
“Hey, you have no memories of me there.I should be your fondest memories.”Peck scowls down at her.
“Sure, I do.I remember when you tried your hardest to make a gingerbread house.I remember picking out how we want our new house to look.I remember when you and Wyatt realized you were brothers.I have so many memories of you on Mulberry Lane, but more than anything, Mulberry Lane is home.It’s safe and full of so much love.”
“Jeez, you’re making me want to go live there,” Sydney chuckles.
“Oh my gosh!I wish you guys would, but I know you won't.I don’t blame you either.You both have such amazing businesses and they’re so well established.I wouldn’t leave Maple Springs either.That being said, I expect you to visit us quite frequently.”
“I was thinking of seeing if we could alternate visits.One month you can come to us and the next we’ll come back here.”Peck runs his hand through his hair.I’ve realized he does that a lot when he’s uncomfortable.
“I think that’s a great idea.”Sydney smiles and nuzzles closer to me.
Even though the water is warm, the air is chilly and having the temperature of the hot tub lower than normal is making it feel even colder.
“Can we go to a baseball game while we’re in Philadelphia?”Danny asks.
“A hockey game too!”Bree adds with a massive grin.
“Why the sudden interest in hockey?”I frown at the little girl I view as my own daughter.
“Um… because I could watch Cody and Jax play.”She looks at me like I'm an idiot for even asking the question.
“Who are Cody and Jax?I’m lost.”
“Wait… Did Peck and Sydney not tell you who my brothers are… Or who their brother is?”Sophia blinks at me.
“No?”
“I have twin brothers, Jax and Cody Robinson.They play for the Philadelphia Pythons,” Sophia grins.“My brother-in-law is Wyatt Everson, the catcher for the Philadelphia Pit Bulls.”
“We recently found out Wyatt’s our biological brother, but he was put up for adoption before Sydney or I were born,” Peck adds.
“Oh, wow.”I blink in surprise.“I wasn’t expecting that.Do you have any brothers who play professional football?”
“No, but Wyatt’s little brother will probably go pro.He’s one of the best high school quarterbacks in the country.He already has scouts looking at him.”
“Jeez… Any other famous people I should know about?Rock stars?Actors?Maybe royalty?”
“No, that would be crazy.”Peck rolls his eyes.
“Well, I know the members of Operation Riot, but I'm not related to them, does that count?”Sophia wrinkles up her nose.
“I’m speechless.”I shake my head and chuckle.
“So… Can we go to the hockey and baseball games or not?”Bree asks.
“We can go, but only if you don’t wear a Robinson or Everson jersey to the games.”She wiggles her brows.“It drives them crazy when they see someone else’s name on your back.
“Jeez, I'm glad I'm not your brother.You were probably a terror growing up.”
“Eh, Cody and Jax deserved anything I did to them.They still prank me every time I go home.”She waves me off without a hint of guilt.“Though, I have a feeling you will be my brother-in-law sooner or later.”
“That’s the plan,” I mutter under my breath, but Sydney hears me.Her eyes snap up to meet mine and there’s so much hesitation staring back at me.
I think we’re on the same page, but she’s scared.I understand why, yet I'm not backing down.I’ll make her my wife one day.I just need to keep showing up and prove I'm nothing like Rob.
