Page 116 of Somewhere You Belong

“I just love this yard. It looks like an amazing place to grow up.”

“It was.” He closes my door behind me, placing his hand on the small of my back as we walk up the sidewalk and to the front door. “And the plants and flowers can all be attributed to my mother. She has quite the green thumb.”

“You can tell she takes pride in the yard.”

“Get her talking about it, and she won’t let you leave,” he jokes as we walk right inside, finding all his siblings standing in the kitchen.

“It’s about time. I can’t believe you’d show up late to family dinner,” Penn chides Dallas as he winks at me.

“It was Willow’s fault. She took forever to get ready.”

My jaw drops and I swat his arm. “You liar! I was not late.”

Parker, whom I recognize from the veterans’ dinner and Carrington Cove Games, steps up to us. “He’s just giving you shit, Willow. In this family, you should take that as a compliment.” He sticks out his hand to me. “It’s nice to meet you officially. I’m Parker.”

I glare over my shoulder at Dallas, who’s still grinning. “Likewise. You’re the vet, right?”

“Yup. Do you have any pets?”

“I don’t, but maybe someday soon.”

“Well, when you do, I’ll make sure to give you the family discount.”

Family.

My eyes instantly start to mist over.

If things work out between Dallas and me, these people could bemy family.

It would be the first time in my life that I’d belong to one ofmychoosing.

I clear my throat, warding off the emotion threatening to spill over. “Can I get something to drink, please?” I say to Dallas, avoiding his eyes.

“Sure, babe. Water? Wine?”

Wanting to keep my head clear, I opt for water. He kisses my temple before heading toward the kitchen, and then his sister strides up to me next. “Hey, I’m Hazel.”

“I saw you at the veterans’ dinner, but we didn’t get a chance to speak. It’s nice to meet you,” I say as we shake hands.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I was on Mom duty that night.”

“Oh, don’t act like I need to be babysat.” Katherine walks into the kitchen now, commanding the attention of all her children. The love and admiration they have for her is evident in the way each of their faces softens.

I wonder if I would have had a good relationship with my mother if she were still alive?

When our eyes meet, she walks over to me and grabs my hands. “It’s so good to see you again, Willow. Thank you for coming over.”

“Thank you for having me. Your home is lovely.” There are so many pictures and unique touches that you can tell this house has been lived in for a long time.

“I’ve heard the same about yours.” There’s a twinkle in her eyes when she mentions the Bayshore house. The last time she was there, the inside and outside looked vastly different. “Penn’s been taking care of you?”

“He has.”

Dallas inserts himself in the conversation. “What about me? Have I not been taking care of you, Goose?” The smirk on his lips is suggestive, and Hazel picks up on it, of course.

“Really, Dallas? I thought you were supposed to be the mature one since you’re the oldest.”

Katherine laughs. “Hazel, honey, men never fully grow up. The sooner you learn that lesson, the better.” She moves deeper into the kitchen, washing her hands at the sink as the smell of whatever is cooking in the oven hits my nose.

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