“Sounds like a Nash-ism.”
Charlie bobbed his head up and down.
As we stepped inside, voices sounded from the living room. That cacophony of chaos always warmed my heart. Moving into the space, I took in my family scattered about.
Luke sat in the corner, entranced by his phone. Drew shamelessly flirted with Maddie while Nash scowled at him, and Maddie laughed. Wren was pressed to Holt’s side as they talked to Dad. Lawson was helping Mom chop veggies for a salad in the kitchen. And Roan sat off to the side, staring out the window as if he longed to be back in nature.
“Aunt G’s here! Can we freaking eat already? I’m starving.”
An array of heads popped up, and people began to laugh.
“My man!” Nash agreed. “Let’s get this party started.” Then he turned to Drew. “You donotget to sit next to my girl.”
Drew grinned. “I told you that you were gonna have to bring your A-game if you wanted to keep a babe like Maddie.”
Nash wrapped an arm around Maddie and kissed her hard and deep. “How’s that for A-game?”
Charlie made an exaggerated gagging noise. “No kissing around the food! That’s illegal. Right, Dad?”
Lawson chuckled. “I’m afraid that’s not in our town’s bylaws, bud.”
Charlie’s brows furrowed. “Who do I talk to about that?”
Everyone laughed.
I jumped as an arm slid around my shoulders. Looking up into mischievous hazel eyes, my heart hammered against my ribs. Caden grinned down at me. “Hey, babe. Missed you today.”
As his lips brushed my temple, everyone froze.
I counted from one beat to two, and the entire room erupted.
“What the hell?” Nash barked.
“Why are your lips touching my sister?” Holt growled as he pushed to his feet.
Lawson strode out from the kitchen. “This is a joke, right?”
But Roan stayed sitting. He simply stared, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Caden didn’t seem especially worried and showed no signs of releasing me as three pissed-off guys charged toward him. I, on the other hand, immediately started sweating.
“Explain,” Nash growled.
Caden rubbed a hand up and down my arm. “Gigi and I are dating.”
Lawson’s jaw dropped open, then closed, then opened again. “You two hate each other.”
Caden shrugged. “I think that was really just flirting.”
Holt’s gaze narrowed on him. “Grae said she was going to murder you. Repeatedly.”
My fingers twisted in Caden’s shirt as the panic set in.
“Murder is apparently Gigi’s love language,” Caden explained.
Wren let out a strangled laugh as her eyes went wide.
Holt whirled on her. “Did you know about this?”
