Page 79 of The Sweet Spot

“Maddox . . . that’s not true,” I protest.

“It is. I’m a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them.” His hoarse voice almost scares me. I’ve never seen him like this.

“I’m okay. The test came back negative. You know this. Everyone knows.” I grab his arm and make him look at me. “I don’t lie either. I’m fine.”

“Yeah. I guess I just wanted to hear you say it.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and tilts his head against mine. “Guess you can’t be mad at me about the condo switch anymore since you’ve already moved out of ours and into Deacon’s house.”

“You fucker,” I giggle. “I guess if I can forgive my mom for the job switch thing, I can forgive you for the condo swap too.”

“Oh yeah? You let Scarlet off the hook?” he teases.

“It seemed pretty insignificant in light of everything else. Besides, what does she always say?” I ask, without a doubt in my mind he knows the answer.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Maddox murmurs with a shake of his head.

“Yup. Me working for Crucible makes my new life work so much better. I can be there for Kennedy when Deacon has to travel. My schedule will be much more flexible than it would have been.” Mom likes to say we may never know the reason, but she fully believes there always is one. I think this is one of those rare times I have no doubt what the reason is. Because I had already made up my mind about leaving the Revolution, I didn’t have to decide between my job and my family.

My family.

I love the sound of that.

“Yeah, I guess life has a funny way of working out, doesn’t it?” Maddox’s voice changes, and I look at him. Really look.

“Are you okay, Madman?”

“Brynnie?” I turn toward the voice calling my name and scream when I see Kenzie running my way.

“Kenzie? Oh my God. How are you here?” I shriek as she jumps, nearly tackling me into the ocean.

“Seriously, I can’t even appreciate the two of you dry humping in front of me because we’re all related. I need to move to a city where we don’t have any fucking family,” he grumbles.

“We love you too, Madman,” Kenzie squeals, and he kicks water at us before he walks away.

“How are you here, Kenz?” I ask, once we both stop squeezing each other.

“I traded shifts with someone, and Becket sent a plane for me. I fly back tomorrow night. You didn’t think I was going to miss your wedding, did you?”

“Well yeah, Kenz. I kinda did. You work sixty-hour work weeks. You only get two days off a month.” I link my pinky with hers and turn when I hear voices behind me to find the girls are walking down the beach. “Did you all know?”

They nod and admit they were in on the surprise.

“My heart feels so full it could burst right now, guys.” The stupid tears I can’t seem to stop start building behind my eyes.

“Kenz, is that like a medical condition or something?” Everly asks, and Gracie laughs.

“A bursting heart? Could you imagine?” Gracie shoves her sister with a smile.

“I mean, I’d be a goner because, Kenz, the way my heart feels like it’s going to burst every time your brother gives me an orgasm... seriously, it would be bad.” Lindy moves next to Kenzie and squeezes the hell out of her. “Can’t you finish your residency in Philly? We miss you.”

“You know I can’t. Just don’t have all your babies right away so I can deliver a few.” Kenzie rubs the tiny little baby bump Everly has before she looks back at Lindy. “Everyone except you. No more sex with my brother. No more babies for you. If I have to hear you talk about death by dick one more time, I might never be able to look at you again.”

“No can do, Kenz. He already made me come twice today.”

“How?” I ask.

“Well, let’s see, Brynn... when a man loves a woman,” Everly starts, and I splash her.

“I know that, Evie. I meant, how, as in, we’ve been together all day.”

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