Page 69 of Britain

“I never thought I’d find someone I’d want to spend the rest of my life with, but the moment I met her, I just knew.”

“That’s awesome. Wait until you see her dress; she looks like a princess in it. Are you going to wait to have kids?” Marcus loves his nieces, but he’s never been the kid type, or at least I never thought he’d settle down.

“Our plan is for her to graduate and then to buy a house and then we’ll start trying. I can’t wait for her to have my baby.”

Before I can even respond, I hear one of my favorite little voices. “Auntie Bwit!” Annie comes tearing out of the sliding door and I catch her as she launches herself at me.

“Hey, my Annie Bananie. What are you doing here?”

“Nana called and said come eat pizza, so we came. Papa is buying it now.” She kisses my cheek before climbing on Uncle Marcus.

The three of us stand up and make our way inside. Bridgette runs to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “Hi, sweet girl.”

“I missed you.” She looks up at me. I feel guilty that the girls have suffered due to the whole incident.

“I know. Maybe you and Annie can come spend the night at our place. We’ll watch movies and eat like little piggies.” She giggles and I bend down, kissing the top of her head.

Beth comes toward me and I can’t help but notice that her belly is more pronounced. She smiles at me. “Yeah, yeah. It was as soon as we told everyone I just sort of popped.”

“Well, you look gorgeous.”

She hugs me and whispers in my ear, “Everything go okay?

I nod. “Yeah.” Beth lets go of me and I walk over to Silas, wrapping my arms around his waist. He kisses my forehead.

The bruising on his face is turning that yellowish-purplish color, but at least nothing is swollen anymore.

After we finish eating I help Mom, Beth, and Heather, who showed up just before the pizza came, clean up the kitchen while the guys watch football in the family room. Heather and Mom talk about the wedding and then they disappear into Mom’s sewing room so she can show Heather the dresses she’s making for Annie and Bridgette.

Beth was asked to be a bridesmaid too, but with Keith being the best man and the girls being in the wedding, it would be too much. “Brit, come here.” Beth waves me over and I follow her, peeking into the family room.

The men are all staring at the TV watching the Bears play, which is nothing new, but Bridgette is asleep on Dad’s lap and Annie is asleep with her head on Silas’s lap. I smile watching him stroking a hand over her hair. He looks up and smiles, making my insides all gooey—gooey?

We leave shortly after and I’m glad we went. I’m also glad the men in my family can admit when they’re wrong. Do I think things are going to be all hearts and flowers now? No, but they know he doesn’t hurt me.

Silas pulls into the parking garage. I hop out and stand next to my baby. “What are you doing?”

“Let’s take my girl for a drive. She’s been cooped up and needs to run free. You can go first,” I say in a singsong voice and dangle the keys from my fingers.

He locks the Porsche and backs me against the side of my baby. “You want me to take you for a ride, baby? Oh, I’ll take you for a ride.” I giggle like a damn schoolgirl, and he kisses me hard. I open to him and his tongue brushes against mine. I moan into his mouth, sinking further into him.

All too soon, the kiss is over and he’s pulling back, grabbing my keys from my hand. We climb in and he turns the key. My baby starts right up, purring loudly. I give a little “Woo!”

Silas laughs and pulls out of my parking spot. We drive around for a while with the music from my stereo as background noise. He pulls into Starbucks and we step inside and I get my favorite white chocolate mocha. Silas is too manly for that, or at least so he says with a laugh, and gets a double espresso.

I sip my drink and sigh. “Taste good?” I nod.

The door opens and a couple of women walk in. One does a double take when she sees us—her face pales. “Silas,” I whisper. He looks up from his phone. “A woman just walked in and looked freaked when she saw you.”

He looks toward the counter. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Is that her?” Silas nods, and I don’t think—I jump up from the love seat. “Excuse me.” She ignores me and turns and starts heading toward the door. I follow her. “I said, excuse me. You could at least stop since it was you who told my family that Silas beat me.”

“I don’t k-know what you’re talking about.”

“Britain,” I hear Silas call behind me. “Baby, come here.” I don’t miss Dorie’s flinch—good.

“No, she told my dad and brothers that you hit me. She should pay,” I say before turning around. The bitch looks scared and I can’t help it, but it makes me happy. “You’re a fucking bitch. Why would you try to hurt him, hurt me? I don’t even know you.”

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