Page 145 of Beauty
I laugh.
Me: These kids are six.
Beckett: Never too early to prepare for the draft.
Before I can respond, the pilot comes over the intercom and warns us that we’ll be taking off momentarily.
I breathe out a sigh of relief. I guess he gave them the all-clear to fly. God, I love my brother.
I’ve always known that having our kind of money meant we could have almost anything we wanted. Deep down, though, I knew it couldn’t buy true happiness. That no matter how many houses or cars or jets we had, none of it would ever compete with having love and time with family.
Beckett was the first to really show us that. All of us, really. He and Gavin were so much more than typical big brothers. They went out of their way to make sure Brooks and Aiden and I always felt special and loved.
And Beckett doubled down on the point when he married Liv and focused all that love and attention on his family.
But today, money really did buy happiness. Ollie lost his mind when Noah showed up, and he’s been beaming ever since. That sight is one I’d pay millions to see again. God, what a moment.
“When are you going to tell your brothers?” Cat murmurs as the kids run the bases, warming up.
I didn’t know until we got here that Cat’s younger son, James, goes to school with Ollie and that the two play T-ball together.
They get along a whole lot better than Addie and J.J. Both are here today, pointedly ignoring each other. Eight-year-old drama is a riot. What I would give for life to be that simple again.
He’s probably pissed because she’s better than he is. She’s probably pissed because he’s a boy and will unquestionably get more attention on the ice because of that fact alone.
I side-eye Cat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She snorts and shakes her head. “Jay and I always did love the sneaking around part.”
Sometimes I forget that she and Jay dated behind her brothers’ backs, kind of in the same way Noah and I are.
Noah rushes onto the field and lifts Ollie over his head, the two of them wearing matching bright smiles. My heart pangs at the sight. I’d love nothing more than to be out there with them. To be more than the nice boss who made this happen for a player she respects and appreciates.
The sneaking around has been fun, yes. But that excitement is tarnishing. Now I just want everyone to know he’s mine. I want to be part of his little family. I want more.
Cat leans forward, getting into my line of sight, her jaw unhinged. “Shit. It’s more serious than I thought.”
I nudge her. “Shh, we’re not talking about this.”
“Not talking about what?” Beckett asks from where he’s leaning against the railing overlooking the small field. He showed up with all the kids, as promised, as well as Liv and Deogi. The dog is a massive thing that slobbers everywhere, and all the kids keep trying to ride him like he’s a pony.
“About Liv’s dress,” I say quickly. “I want you to be surprised.”
Beckett hums, his focus back on the field. “Works for me. She’s so excited. I really appreciate it.”
A genuine smile creeps up my face. “I appreciate you asking. Seriously. I forgot how much I missed designing.”
My brother nods like he’s more than aware of that.
The boys are walking off the field, warm-ups apparently over, when my phone buzzes, so I check it quickly. It’s an email notification, and the name of the sender instantly kills my good mood.
“What’s wrong?” Beckett asks as I scan over the contents.
I scoff. “Ezra is just updating me on contract negotiations.”
My brother turns to face me completely, his expression shrewd, like he knows there’s more to it than that.
I sigh, annoyed. I don’t know how to handle this, but I hate to ask for help. I hate to give life to the digs about nepotism that pop up here and there. Yet he’s my big brother. He trusts me, but he’s also more than willing to talk through any issues I have. “He says Noah’s agent is asking for too much money. He wants to trade him and bring on this new kid in his place.”
