Page 9 of Unexpected Love

None of that bothered me, though. I thought she was beautiful, and I told her that repeatedly. But it was four months into our relationship when I noticed her mood swings. Sometimes they happened so rapidly that I could barely keep up. I worried about her all of the time. My grades started falling because I was afraid to leave her alone. I’m not sure if I thought she would hurt herself or afraid she’d hurt someone else.

Two months after that, her parents finally told me that Tracey was bipolar and her rapid mood swings were called “rapid cycling.” They were in the process of getting her into a treatment center that specialized in bipolar disorder.

We broke up right before she left. It was amicable, but it still fucking hurt. She wrote me for a while after she left, and the last letter I got was a year and a half ago. Tracey said she was doing great and the meds she was on were the right mix to keep her level. At the end of the letter, she threw me for a loop and told me she was getting married, and I honestly felt my heart break a little.

Oh, I’m over it and her now. We weren’t meant to be, and I’m okay with that, but maybe that’s when a little bit of an unsettled feeling started. I finish my beer and grab another, trying to shake off the melancholy. Something needs to change.

***

I pull up in front of my parents’ home. It’s my dad and uncle’s birthday, and my mom is throwing them a birthday party. My mom has made a big deal out of birthdays for as long as I can remember. It was always breakfast and presents in bed the morning of.

Dad and Uncle Dustin are getting a couple rounds of golf from me. I know they don’t always have time to go, but buying them a round is the least I could do. I climb out and make my way up to the front door. I don’t bother knocking because it swings open as I reach it.

“Uncle Joey!” Natalie flings herself into my arms. “I’ve missed you!”

“I’ve missed you too, baby girl.” I step inside, and it’s chaos. My cousin Carrington is here with her husband, Damien. He’s with the DEA. Their little twins are playing on the floor with my sister’s youngest. Abby and Cari are sitting with them on the floor.

“Hey, guys.” Abby comes toward me with Rion in her arms. I reach out to stroke his caramel-colored curls, and he reaches for me too. I take him from his mom. I bend down and kiss Abby’s cheek. “Congratulations.”

She smiles so big I’m surprised her cheeks don’t crack. “Ben was supposed to let me tell you, but he’s been so excited about it.” Abby rubs a hand over her little baby bump. “This is the last one. Four kids are enough, especially since we weren’t planning on this one.” She points to her belly.

Cari comes over and gives me a kiss and a hug. How she can carry both of those kids without any help is beyond me. I’d probably drop one or both of them. I carry Rion as I follow Natalie through the house and out the back door where the rest of my family is.

Rion sees my mom, immediately squirms to get out of my arms, and runs right to her. I go to my dad and uncles Dustin and Luke, giving them all back-slapping hugs. Ben and Damien join our little huddle. Everyone is here except for Violet and Luke Jr., because they’re both in Louisiana for school.

My dad throws his arm around my shoulders. “Thanks for coming. I know you have a busy social calendar, so it’s nice to know you haven’t forgotten about us.” Of course he’s being a smart ass, but rightfully so. I’ve been known to blow off family stuff for a woman. I’m not proud of it, but what can I say? I’m not the smartest sometimes.

“Har har har. Very funny, Dad. I had to come and celebrate you getting old…I mean, older.” He puts me in a headlock and acts like he’s punching me.

I excuse myself and go to my mom, kissing her cheek. “Hey, Momma.” She’s got all three grandkids sitting with her and my aunt Stacy. “How’s Violet?”

My aunt smiles widely. “She’s great. She’s pregnant and excited. Diego’s over the moon.” She looks at my mom. “When did we become old enough to be grandparents?”

Mom flashes her a smile. “I don’t know, but I love it, and you will too. Just don’t go cray cray like Bellamy.”

My aunt Bellamy was over trying to take Cari’s twins so much that they finally had to set up scheduled days when she could have the babies. These women are all crazy for their grandkids, but isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?

“I’ll have to call Vi and congratulate her. Where’re Parker and Haddie?”

“Your brother forgot to ask for tonight off, so he’s working but should be here by seven or eight, and Haddie ran to the store to get more ice cream.”

I hear the sliding glass door open, and I hear a familiar voice that immediately gets my dick hard. “Tay Tay!”

I turn to find Chloe come rushing out to my aunt and uncle. My eyes take in her gorgeous body. She’s wearing jean shorts that hug her ass and show off long, lean legs. The faded Mötley Crüe t-shirt hugs her tits and shows off her trim waist. Her raven hair is piled up on top of her head.

She goes to my mom and dad, hugging them both. “Thanks for inviting me. Carter’s sorry he couldn’t come, but the marching band has a competition this weekend so they’re out of town.”

I grab beers for all the men because, as always, we gather around the grill while the women are all doing whatever it is that they’re doing. I’ve yet to talk to Chloe, but that doesn’t mean that whenever she’s around that my eyes don’t follow her. Earlier, she and Aunt Stacy were talking off to the side, and it seemed serious, and the nosy part of me wanted to find out what was happening with her.

The only thing I’ve noticed is that since their talk, my aunt keeps looking in my direction…weird.

“Uncle Joey.” I look down and find Natalie standing next to me.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Can you come over and play with us tomorrow?” I try to get over to see my sister’s kids as often as I can. Sometimes I work crazy hours, so it’s not always possible. I pick up a lot of the slack so Ben can stay on first shift, which he just started working a few months ago. I don’t mind it—it’s not like I have anyone waiting at home for me.

God, why does that feel depressing all of a sudden?

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