Page 92 of Return To You

It’s scary.

“Going where?” Kiara says as she slides across from me in our booth.

“Barbecue at my parents’,” Justin answers. “Mom wants a small family dinner.”

My belly clenches. It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of, but it’s way too soon.

“Oh, how cute!” Kiara says, “Family barbecue with the two older King brothers finally hitched.”

Chloe blushes while I dip my chin to avoid the stares.

“Oops. Too soon?” Kiara asks.

Ethan places a comforting hand down my back, as if he can read my unease. We haven’t talked about the future yet, or about what we are to each other right now. We’ve covered the past, although barely, and the part that’s clear is that we messed up and never should have broken up. But life went on for both of us after that, we went our different paths, and you can’t always just retrace your steps. Just because we’re loving every second of our time together doesn’t mean we can skip some steps.

“You mess up again, Grasshopper?” Colton says as he joins our group.

“Story of my life,” Kiara answers, rolling her eyes. “Is my car ready?”

“Are my cupcakes ready?” Colton shoots back.

“Ugh. Okay, gotta go bake, guys. Keep me posted,” she says to me as she leaves.

“Kiara, wait up!” Chloe says, following her.

“I’ll check on your order,” Justin says, leaving the three of us alone.

Colton sits in the spot Kiara vacated. “Wassup,” he says, looking at Ethan.

“She’s making you cupcakes?” I tease my brother.

He shrugs. “For this girl I’m seeing.”

Oh. “Is it serious?”

He frowns at me like I’m crazy. “No.”

That’s my brother. Few words. Nice. “Wassup, man?” he repeats to Ethan once our burgers are served.

“Not much,” Ethan says and tears a bite off his burger. “Want a beer?”

Colton doesn’t answer, just stares at Ethan.

“What’s up with you?” Ethan finally asks, as confused as me.

“If you’re gonna keep taking my sister on your bike,” Colton finally says, “I want to check that rattle.”

Ethan breaks into a smile. “Gotcha.”

“Keys.”

“Now?” Ethan takes his keys out. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Colton snaps the keys from him, prowls outside, starts the bike and crouches next to it.

Ethan takes his eyes off Colton and looks at me. “Colton was always super protective of you.” He clears his throat, opens his mouth like he’s about to say something, then stays silent.

“What?”

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