Page 33 of Sinner's Vow

“If anyone values their safety, they keep Tyler, far, far away from the kitchen,” Mia says, pretend whispering as she sets her bag on the entry table.

“I tried,” Tyler says, holding his hands up.

“At least I didn’t fail,” Noah razzes his brother as he bumps him with his shoulder.

“At what?” Gabriel’s voice booms from the door. “Not scaring everyone out of his house?”

“That was all your choice,” Tyler says, only somewhat defensively. “Mia and I didn’t kick a single one of you out of that house. You all abandoned us.”

“Come on now,” Owen says as he and Jordan walk through the door. “We’re all big kids now. Siblings aren’t meant to live in the same house forever.”

“And let’s face it,” Mia says as she cups a hand to Tyler’s cheek. “Who wants to have sex with their brother in the same house anyway?”

“Come on!” Noah and Owen call at the same time. Mia just snickers and nods her head to Jordan, who follows her into the kitchen.

“I hope you all are hungry,” I say as I walk over and loop my arm through Sophia’s. “Pretty sure Noah accidentally made enough food to feed a small army.”

Sophia makes a little noise, and I look over at her with furrowed brows.

“There is no such thing as too much food,” Gabriel says, and we all step into the kitchen.

It’s amazing. The tour is over, but the band still sees each other all the time. We rotate at least once a week, eating at one couple or another’s house. Brunch, dinner, late-night dessert, it doesn’t matter. One calls, the rest show up.

We’re a family. I never imagined that my family would become four world-famous rock stars and their amazing other halves. I thought my world had ended when my mother died. Family had always been so small before. And now it’s filled with these seven wonderful people.

“I have great news,” Mia says once we’re all served up and are seated at the massive dining table. I pause in chewing a bite of scrambled eggs and listen in anticipation. “I just got a new job at a private school in the neighborhood. I start at the beginning of this next semester.”

“Mia, that’s amazing,” Owen says, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “And they’re cool with the situation?”

She nods enthusiastically. “They have great security. There’s no way paparazzi is coming in and out of there. They’re fully aware of what my life is like, and they’re just fine with it.”

“That’s wonderful,” I say with a smile. I recall Noah telling me that Mia lost her job because of the attention her relationship with Tyler brought to the school. She was a kindergarten teacher, and the woman was obviously born for the job.

“Jordan, will you pass me the orange juice?” Gabriel asks as he grabs his empty glass and looks down in it. She reaches for the jug in front of her and hands it over. “Thanks—” Suddenly, Gabriel grabs her hand, forgetting the orange juice. “What the fuck?”

And Jordan blushes deep red as Gabriel holds her left hand up, and there, shining for all to see, is a diamond ring.

“You two are engaged?” Sophia calls out in gaping shock. “Since when?”

Jordan smiles, her expression shy, maybe slightly embarrassed as she looks over at Owen, who is wearing quite possibly the world’s biggest smile. “Last night,” he answers as he looks at his fiancé with the sweetest smile.

“He made it this ridiculous big deal,” Jordan says, returning the smile. She places her hand on Owen’s cheek, pulling his face to hers, and gently kisses him. “I should have told him no. He was being a showoff.”

“Hey, this is the only part about getting married that is about me, and I get to decide exactly how it’s done,” Owen laughs. “From here on out, it’s only about the bride.”

“Congratulations, you two,” Noah says with a grin. He loves Owen, it’s actually incredibly sweet. And who wouldn’t? He’s the calmest, nicest guy in the world. And Jordan is slowly opening up to us all. “When’s the big day?”

“The end of April,” Jordan answers. “Which should give us way too much time to plan this thing.”

“Oh my gosh,” Mia says, and she looks like she could explode with excitement. She is gaining a sister-in-law after all. “Can I please, please help with the planning? Like, colors and venues and invitations? That sounds amazing.”

“You can do it all if you really want,” Jordan answers with a chuckle. “It all just sounds overwhelming, to be honest.”

“Or someone could just man the fuck up and you could have your own wedding,” Owen says as he clears his throat and takes a drink.

“I’m working on it!” Tyler declares loudly, defensively. “It’s just…how do you know when you’ve found the perfect ring for the woman you’re going to spend the rest of your life with?”

Mia rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “I don’t even need a ring, you dummy. Just ask me already.”

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