Page 61 of Found By You

He grunts, taking a seat beside her.

I sit and lean back with my arm thrown over my girl’s chair, tugging her close. My brother watches my actions with a stern expression and a lingering question in his eyes.

My only response is to boldly tilt her chin up. Maci meets my gaze with a small smile playing on her lush lips. Everyone else in the room disappears when my lips touch hers. I kiss her softly and fight down a weighted groan rising in my chest.

“I knew it.” Cass claps, bouncing in her seat. “I told you. They are together.”

My brother rubs his jaw, eyeing us as my arm drops around her waist and she leans into me. Cassidy places the coffee in front of Butch and me, while handing Maci her matching drink of a peppermint mocha—heavy on the whipped cream.

“Listen, Cass,” I start, clearing my throat. “I appreciate you bringing breakfast, but what are y’all doing here?”

“It was either us or Ma,” Butch says flatly.

Cass sips her drink. “We’re here to apologize for yesterday. We didn’t know you guys were living together. Julie feels awful about the whole thing. And we do, too. We should’ve been more sympathetic to the situation.”

My brother scoffs, earning a glare from his fiancée.

“Y’all should feel like shit,” I agree.

“Duke,” Maci scolds, “It’s not their fault they didn’t know. We weren’t exactly being open about what’s going on between us.”

Butch’s brow furrows. “And what is goin’ on between the two of you?”

Cassidy swats his arm. “We’re not here to interrogate, remember? We’re here to apologize and grovel for their forgiveness.”

Maci laughs. “There’s no need to grovel, Cassidy. It’s totally fine. Apology accepted.” Her all too forgiving, beautiful eyes meet mine. “Right, honey?”

My jaw tightens. The urge to say, ‘No, make them grovel.’ lodges in my throat when she gives me that sweet, encouraging smile. I opt to kiss her instead, then turn to my future sister-in-law, currently carrying my niece or nephew and trying hard to keep my asshole brother reeled in. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Butch lifts his chin to me. “Sorry, man.”

“Don’t apologize to me. You’re my brother. I don’t have a choice but to deal with your bullshit,” I say, looking at my future tucked under my arm. “Apologize to Maci.”

Maci shakes her head. “No, it’s—”

“I’m sorry for how I’ve acted these last few weeks,” he tells her. “I’ve been less than welcoming to you, and I apologize for that.”

Cassidy and I share a look, and she bites her lip with a smile.

Maci nods. “Thank you.”

A beat later, Cassidy asks, “So now will you tell us what’s going on with you two? Are you…?”

I grin from ear to ear, peering down to see Maci blush. “We’re together.”

“When did she move in?” Butch asks.

“Few weeks ago,” I admit. “We made it official last night.”

“I’m really happy for you guys,” Cass adds, all giddy beside my stonewalled brother. “Julie is going to flip. She seriously thought Beau ruined whatever was happening between you two. Clayton had to hold her back from coming here—literally.”

I scoff, knowing she isn’t exaggerating in the slightest.

“I don’t want to be the one to pry here…” Butch starts, eyeing me uncertainly.

Of course, he does. The bastard can’t help but insert himself when it comes to me finally moving forward with my life.

Before I have a chance to tell him it can wait, Maci says, “It’s fine.”

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