Page 93 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

He lifted an eyebrow at her. “What has hit you? The horseshit?”

“We know I step in dog poop,” she said. “And maybe you don’t want to hear this, but it’s out there and we are already fighting.”

“Talking now,” he said.

“Talking,” she conceded. “We are talking about fate and love.”

“Do you believe in it?” he asked.

“Yep,” she said. “No reason not to when I’ve witnessed it for years. And since you’re talking to your mother in your dreams.”

“She’s doing the talking,” he said. “I’m just listening.”

“Same thing,” she said, grinning at him.

He wasn’t so sure about that.

“What is your point?”

“My point, you grouchy man, is that I think fate hit me with you. It’s too much for it not to happen. And that means love follows.”

“It doesn’t mean that,” he said.

Her smile dropped and he felt bad about that. “Maybe it’s one-sided.”

“Do you love me?” he asked.

“Maybe,” she said smartly.

“No maybes,” he said. “Yes or no.”

She moved closer to his arm. “I do,” she said. “Though those are wedding words.” He felt himself pale at that and she looked up and laughed. “You should see your face.”

“You can’t be serious about anything,” he said.

“You want serious?” she asked. “You’ve got it. I love you, Van. Everything about you even when I want to wring your neck. Maybe that is part of your charm. I see you and I’m worried about you but know you’ll get all big guy macho if I say that.”

He wanted to defend himself but decided that would only feed into her point.

“I’m not sure how much charm I’ve got.”

“What you’ve got I love. I told you before you’re just like my twin. I can handle him. I can handle you. Even if you don’t want to be handled any more than I want to. But I let you do it.”

He smirked at her. “Let me?”

“Now you’re the one trying to be funny and I like it. I noticed you haven’t said the words back to me though.”

He snorted. “Do you need to hear them?”

“Of course I do,” she said squeezing him. “Are they that hard to say?”

“Could be,” he said. “I haven’t said it to anyone other than my mother.”

“Ahhh, and now you’re dreaming of her. Maybe it’s a sign for you to tell me. Do you think your mother would like me? I hope that she would. Your grandfather did.”

“She’d like you a lot,” he said. “Which is probably part of the meaning behind her words to open my eyes to the possibilities. So yeah, as hard as it might be to say the words, I know I’ve got to. I love you, Kelsey. Even when you’re yanking my chain and annoying me.”

She smiled and leaned up on her toes to kiss him. “Yanking your chain and annoying you is all part of my evil plan to wear you down.”

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