Page 88 of Broken Rivalry

James’s eyes light up, and it makes me happy. The kid pretends to be all cool without a care in the world, but I know he loves to spend time with me and the boys, and I really like how the team adopted him.

He’s my little brother, too, now, just like adorable Billy. I meant what I said to Poppy: Her family is my family, and one day, I hope not too far in the future, I will make all that official.

I lean back on the worn-out sofa and look at my watch.

“Missing my sister?” he taunts.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

He frowns again, not happy that his tease didn’t land.

You wait, little brother. Wait until you find the one, and then we’ll talk.

The door opens downstairs, and within a few seconds, I hear footsteps coming up the stairs, and Billy bursts into the room.

“What do you think?” He turns around, pointing at his head.

“Love the new haircut, bud; it looks so cool,” I reply, standing up and giving him a high five.

“You can’t see a difference,” James grumbles.

I throw him a warning look and Billy pouts.

“You’re totally jealous,” Billy tells James.

“Totally,” I mouth to him with a wink.

“Mom wants you downstairs,” he tells me.

I nod and go downstairs to find Julia in the kitchen.

Hi, future mother-in-law, I think as I grin.

“Ethan! I’m sorry I’m late. But here…” She pushes a cookie toward me. “I kept one hidden from the hungry mouths.”

“You’re the best!” I sit on a stool at the counter. I love this woman. She’s so far from the standoffish wife she was the few times I saw her before. She’s kind, accepting, and so loving. She’s treating me like a son with a warmth my mother never gave me and all that despite being Fitzgerald Hawthorne’s son. I don’t want to take Poppy home, and I am pretty sure she’s not keen either. Forgiving me for our past is one thing, but I don’t see her, nor would I want her to forgive my father.

She winks at me.

“Pops is late too, but she should be here soon. She has the car. Do you want me to text her to bring back dinner?”

“No, tonight we’re going out as a family, all five of us. My treat.”

I don’t think she knows how it makes me feel when she considers me as a member of her family.

“I got a promotion.”

“Oh, Julia, this is amazing!” I get out of my seat and pull her into a hug.

“Yes, and at least I got this one all on my own,” she adds once we break the hug, and she throws me a knowing look.

I freeze, and she laughs.

“I’m not mad, Ethan. I’m grateful.”

“Don’t be; you are obviously more than qualified. I should be thanking you for working that well for my company, but Poppy didn’t know,” I say quickly. “She didn’t find out until after you got the job, and she wasn’t happy I interfered.”

“She’s proud, my daughter. She’s having a hard time accepting help, but I’m relieved she has you to rely on.”

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