Everyone was quiet while Talia watched the video, but we all heard the audio.
Frank was smiling.
Misty was beaming and whispered, “That’s my boy.”
Once the video was over, Talia looked at me, “Blame whatever you need on me. But have that conversation. Okay? Meant every word I said earlier.”
I nodded.
Alec shook his head, “Still can’t believe I never noticed it.”
Garrick opened his mouth, but it was Misty who cut him off, “If you hadn’t had your dick up some skanky women, you would have.”
Silence.
And then laughter.
“Damn, Mom,” Garrick said as he shook his head.
“What is a dick?” Melanie asked.
Ethan narrowed his eyes at his mother, and the way Misty’s face reddened, that started a whole other round of laughter.
“You expecting company?” Frank asked.
I shook my head, “No, Mom and Dad are at the diner. Y’all are here. Maybe Everly?”
Frank looked out the window and grinned.
I narrowed my eyes at that grin, “What’s that grin for?”
He smirked, “My boy certainly doesn’t dally.”
At his words, I inhaled a deep breath. He wasn’t supposed to be back home for another three weeks.
What in the world?
Suddenly, the sound of a vehicle door slamming caused me to jump, and then I watched as Garrick stood, strode over to the door, and opened it.
Carter came in then, bypassing Garrick without saying a word.
He also ignored everyone else as he strode over to where I was sitting, and then I watched as Carter knelt on the ground in front of me, took my hands in his, and said, “Will you bitch me out if I kick them all out?”
“No need. We’re going.” Frank said.
Feeling eyes on us, I looked over Carter’s head and saw Misty smile, “You’ve always been a part of this family, Harlee. Let my boy make an honest woman out of you, okay?”
At her words and what they meant, I felt my blush deepen.
Carter’s shoulders were shaking.
Frank pinched the bridge of his nose.
Garrick was the first to ask, “You know what that means, right?”
Talia waited for her to reply, along with Ethan, Alec, and Dominik.
“It means to make her his.” Then she sighed, “What did I just tell him to do?”
