Page 44 of Stepping Up

"What's going on, guys?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light despite the nervous flutter in my chest.

Logan leaned back against the cushions, his grin widening as he exchanged a knowing look with Bennett. "Ask Nate.”

I looked up at Nate beside me, taking in his canine teeth peeking out of his grin as he said, “We've got a little surprise for you, Carly."

Bennett nodded along, too, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yeah, we've been planning something special."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "Okay, spill it. What's going on?"

Nate dropped my hand and stepped forward, joining Logan and Bennett in a united front. The latter two brothers stood from the sofa, all three of my guys forming a line in front of me.

Bennett started it off. "Carly, we've been talking, and we think it's time for us to go on a proper date.”

“All of us,” Logan specified.

I blinked in surprise, my heart skipping a beat at the unexpected proposal. A date? With all three of them? The idea was both thrilling and nerve-racking, but above all, it filled me with a warm sense of happiness.

"But what about Ella?" I couldn't help but ask, my maternal instincts kicking in. “I can’t just… leave her. And I’m not sure Mom’s available to babysit.”

Nate smiled reassuringly. "We want Ella to come with us. It'll be a family outing, Carly. All five of us."

The warmth of Nate's smile and his brothers’ matching expressions seeped into my skin, soothing my worries and filling me with a sense of belonging. They hadn't forgotten about Ella, about us. They wanted to include her in this special moment, just as they wanted to include me. A rush of excitement flooded through me as I realized what this meant. A real date, with my men, and with Ella by our side. It was everything I'd ever wanted—a chance to create memories as a family, even if it looked a little less conventional than I’d always imagined.

A smile spread across my lips. "What’s the plan?”

The plan, it turned out, was just as perfect as the incredible men who had made it. We all piled into Logan’s sleek SUV and headed to an outdoor art fair that happened every year. I’d never been able to work up the courage to attend the fair before, even though it would have been a nice thing for Ella and me to do together. But now, I was sort of glad I’d never gone alone. I could hold on to the memory of this new first with my guys.

Under the golden rays of the midday sun, the art fair buzzed with life and energy. Vibrant tents dotted the lush green landscape, each one housing a treasure trove of creativity waiting to be discovered. The second we walked into the crowd, I felt a sense of possibility in the air. This was the perfect place for me. I was an artistic soul at my core, even now that my art had become less of a priority in my life. It felt like puzzle pieces had clicked together, one for each of my stepbrothers, and with the whole picture, I had more freedom to be who I really was. Not just a mother, a waitress, or a daughter. But just me, Carly Sanders, an artist, a woman.

Hell, maybe even a girlfriend.

As we wandered through the bustling crowds, Ella skipped ahead, her laughter echoing through the air like music. I called after her, making sure she didn’t get too far ahead of us. Bennett’s hand found mine as we walked, his fingers intertwining with my own as we strolled leisurely along the winding paths. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he pointed out a wooden sculpture from a Sierra Leonean artist, his enthusiasm contagious as he regaled us with a story of his work overseas.

Nate walked beside us, too, on my other side, his arm slung casually around my shoulders, his easy smile lighting up his face. His favorite thing was to crack jokes, to point out funny figures in paintings and say, “That looks like you, Logan. See the grumpy face?” or “Oh, that’s Benny all the way. Look at the hair! Carrot top as hell.”

I worried about Logan feeling less included as he trailed behind us all, his keen eyes taking in every detail of the crowd around us, playing the role of the protective big brother even now. But while Nate and Bennett were sucked into hearing a story from the owner of a local pottery studio, I made my way to Logan’s side, slipping my hand into his and snuggling against his side.

“Thank you all for doing this,” I told him quietly. “I’m having such a nice time. Are you?”

“Of course,” he said, his serious face just as impassive as always, though his tone was sincere. “I hope you are having a good time.”

“Of course,” I echoed. “I’m with you guys. And Ella.”

Just then, Ella bounded over to meet Nate and Ben at the next booth they’d finally escaped to once the pottery lady had found another person to preach to about the importance of a good kiln. Logan and I watched from a couple of yards away, standing together under a shady tree.

“She really is so much like Ben was at that age,” he surprised me by saying. I whipped my head around to look up at his face, unreadable behind his dark beard.

“Did Nate tell you?” I asked, and Logan nodded without needing further explanation. “I told Nate not to tell anyone!”

“One thing about Nate,” Logan started slowly, “is that to him, anyone doesn’t include me. He tells me everything. We were best friends even before we were brothers, remember?”

When Logan put it that way, an uncharacteristic affection apparent in his deep voice, my anger deflated. I couldn’t be mad at any of these guys. “Were you surprised to learn that Ben was Ella’s dad? Did it… did it change anything for you?”

“Not a thing,” Logan reassured me. He snuck a quick, chaste kiss. “Your past is yours, baby. We’ve all got one. And I’m not intimidated by my kid brother. Once you and Ella are mine, you’re mine regardless of blood.”

My heart ached with that sweet, strong sentiment. I smiled up at him, lifted his hand to kiss his knuckles, and tugged him with me back down the path.

Once the dust settled, Logan and I went back to enjoying the fair. I even teased him about enjoying the artwork just a little bit, and his serious façade seemed to crack into an easier joy. Amid the sea of color and chaos, I found myself drawn to a stunning oil painting, its hues swirling together in a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow.

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