Page 158 of The Bridges I've Burned

Marin and Macon’s daughter, Naomi Danielle Green, had been born this past December and was the perfect mixture of the two of them. Since Elena and I were now home-based in Los Angeles, we didn’t get to see her as much as we would like, but Marin and Elena spoke on the phone at least once a day.

Which was why our little secret was killing her.

We didn’t bother knocking.

The house was filled with people anyway. Molly had been trying to make this particular dream a reality for years—a By the Bay Thanksgiving.

She and Jake had invited their entire family, their friends, and their friends’ families.

It was chaos, and I was pretty sure the blonde dictator was loving every minute.

There were screaming kids everywhere, and I narrowly missed one colliding with me the second we walked through the threshold.

Elena snorted out a laugh. “You’re no superstar here, Trouble.”

“Thank God for that.” I grinned.

“We’re here,” Elena hollered. “Where’s my niece?”

“Outside,” I answered her, seeing everyone gathered on the lawn, enjoying the mild fall weather.

I knew the moment Marin spotted us when we stepped outside.

A high-pitched feminine squeal filled the air, and the two best friends met in a giant hug.

A smirk tugged at my lips because I knew what was about to go down.

Macon came up to us with Naomi on his hip.

Elena immediately reached out with her hands. “Gimme.”

Naomi gave her a slobbery smile, her fist halfway shoved in her mouth as Macon handed her over. I’d thought it would be weird to see my brother as a father, but he was sort of a natural at it. Considering neither of us had been shown, growing up, what a good father was supposed to be like, it gave me hope that I might be up to the job.

When the time came, obviously…

“How was your flight?” Macon asked as I took a look around the lawn.

Molly wasn’t kidding. Everyone was here. Dean and a very pregnant Cora were playing a game of cornhole with their daughter while Lani and Taylor watched on. Their son was in his arms, half asleep.

“It was good. Quiet.”

“I can’t believe you flew here on a private jet.” He rolled his eyes.

“Asher insisted,” I told him, shrugging. “He wasn’t using it, and I doubt I would have made it here unscathed otherwise.”

“He has a point.”

“Oh my God! It’s?—”

“Are you going to do that every time I see you?” I turned to see Millie coming up with Aiden.

She held his arm as his service dog flanked the other side.

“Hell yes, I am,” she teased. “Got to keep you humble.”

“That’s what I have my w?—”

Her eyes widened as her head snapped down to look at my left hand. Marin must have heard as well because, suddenly, she was staring at Elena, her mouth gaped wide open.

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