Page 51 of Honeyed

Which, from my youngest brother, is extremely rare. But before I can delve deeper into whatever he just felt, there is a crashing noise from the kitchen, followed by Cass pushing through the swinging door ass first.

“What’s going on?” I ask Cass, watching as she lugs a suitcase to the front of Hope Pizza.

“You should not be carrying that.” Evan comes up behind her, plucking the big bag from her hands.

“Are you guys taking a baby moon?” I wonder, even though neither she nor Patrick made mention of it.

She shakes her head, giving me a devilish smile, and my stomach drops immediately. “Nope. This is yours, I ransacked your drawers for the sexiest bathing suits and vacation clothes I could find. Even threw in a brand-new negligee, you’re welcome and can call it a bachelorette party present since you never let me throw one.”

My brain isn’t computing what she’s spitting out. “Um, okay? Why? What’s going on?”

“Please don’t talk about my sister in lingerie.” Evan cringes and makes a face like he just sucked on a lemon.

Warren comes out from the hallway that leads to our offices holding a matching suitcase, Patrick trailing behind him, and gives me a confused look.

“What’s going on?” he asks, setting the bag he’s carrying down next to the one Cass just hauled out.

“You’re going on your honeymoon!” She claps her hands together in delight, palming her belly as the baby probably kicks her violently due to all the jostling.

“No, we’re not.” I cock my head. “I’ve got a million things to do. we have Lily to worry about; there is that big corporate event in the dining room in three days—”

Patrick shakes his head at me, a scowl aimed in my direction. “Stop that, right now. We’ll cover it all. You two deserve a vacation anyway, and you never had a wedding, much less a honeymoon. Your flight leaves in two hours, so you better go get in the limo I ordered.”

“We can’t let you do this, it’s too much—” Warren starts to argue, but Cass literally presses a hand to his mouth.

“Shut it, you upstanding gentleman. I have more money than I’ll ever need, and I get to say what I want to spend it on. Right now, I want to send my sister-in-law and one of my family’s oldest friends, not to mention new brother-in-law, on a romantic honeymoon to a beachfront mansion in Turks and Caicos. Private chef, hot tub, infinity pool, you guys deserve the works. And you’re going. Do not argue.”

Her voice is so sharp, so much more severe than I’ve ever heard Cass speak, that I can’t say a thing in return.

“Can’t argue with a pregnant lady.” Patrick shrugs, putting a shoulder around his wife.

Warren’s eyes finally meet mine, and thank God I don’t see any lingering shreds of emotion from our fight. All I see is a question of concern; he’s making sure that I want to go away with him. I nod, letting him know I’m good with this if he is.

Maybe getting away is exactly what we both need right now.

“You guys are nuts.” Warren guffaws but picks up both suitcases as if he’s ready to get us out of here. “I hope you packed me enough underwear.”

“Are you kidding? I live with the king of last-minute packing. I’ve learned to prepare for men who act like babies when it comes to traveling.” Cass pats Patrick on the shoulder affectionately.

My brother scowls. “I do not.”

She waves him off. “Call us when you get there, and send pictures of how incredible it is. But most of all, have fun. Enjoy each other.”

The last sentence is laced with innuendo.

“Gross.” Evan shudders, stalking off to avoid sex talk about his sister.

“You really want to go?” Warren pulls me aside, searching my face.

“If you do …”

“You’re not indecisive. And you don’t pander.” He instantly calls me out because, of course, he knows me.

“It’s just that you’ve been distant since …” I gulp, my vulnerability showing at full force. “If a honeymoon is too intense right now, or you need time to think, then I want to give that to you. This week has been weird, and we have a lot going on. It’s okay to say no.”

Even though my heart and head are both begging him to say yes. To put me before whatever else is on our schedules.

“It’s my fault things have been weird. But maybe … maybe we should talk about that on a white sand beach. It’s a much better locale for a make up than here. And you deserve this. I made you skip over everything wedding related, and our family loves you so much that they want to do this for you. I want to go for us.”

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