Page 125 of Trouble

“You know,” Beckett starts, “some would say this is my best match yet.”

“Oh god,” Gavin groans, dragging a hand down his face.

“Please stop,” Liv begs as she bounces the baby in her arms.

Beckett scoffs. “What? I’m an even better matchmaker than I thought. I only meant to set him up with one person, and I got two people to fall in love with your grumpy brother.”

“Hey,” I growl.

Beside me, Cade chuckles and pokes my ribs with an elbow.

I turn my glare on him. “I’m not grumpy.”

“Oh, you are, Dec,” my sister says. “But we all love you anyway.”

Melina pops up on her toes and kisses my cheek. “We really do.”

CHAPTER 51

Cade

“Not going to lie,Fitz. I didn’t see this coming,” Brooks mumbles. We’re seated by the fire. Beckett, Liv, and Declan disappeared into the kitchen with our moms a few minutes ago, and Mel is busy talking music with Millie. The rest of us are hanging out in the living room, drinks in hand, relaxing.

Sara giggles. “Lennox called it.”

The pink-haired beauty shimmies her shoulders. “What can I say? It’s my special power.”

“Not even I expected it, so I’d say you’ve got a real talent.” I actually can’t believe I’m sitting here right now with my guys and their significant others, discussing my relationship status. Never in a million years did I see things turning out the way they have. Declan and Mel telling me they love me last night is a fucking dream come true. A dream I never want to wake up from.

“You’re happy, though?” Brooks prods.

I grin. I can’t help it. Whenever I think of the two people who have stolen my heart, I can do nothing but smile. “I’m living my literal dream.” I catch Mel’s attention across the room, and my heart sputters. “Love you,” I mouth.

She bites her lip, catching her smile between her teeth.

Today feels easy. I’m not surprised, if I’m honest. The guys in this room—and the women who have stolen their hearts—are some of the best people I’ve ever known. Judgment isn’t something that concerned me when it came to them. But I know life won’t always be like this. That we’ll encounter people who won’t understand how it’s possible to have two soulmates. Who will not only find our love improbable, but will be ugly toward us because of it. I know that’s why Declan struggled with coming to terms with it as well. I’ll do my damndest to protect him, and her, from the ugly. I’ll remember these moments, seated with my best friends, my girl within view, my boyfriend close by.

“I’m going to see if they need help in the kitchen,” I say, standing, itching to get my eyes on Declan.

From beside me, Gavin chuckles. He’s got a squirming Vivi in his arms. She’s dying to get down and run around with all her cousins. “Can never be close enough, right?”

He says it knowingly, his eyes drifting to Millie. I always thought it was a little over the top, how his gaze never strayed too far from his wife. Now I get it. If they’re within reach, I want to be near them. If they’re a phone call away, I want to be on that phone. For a man who never allowed himself to grow attached to anyone for fear of losing another important person, I’m all-in now. Gavin is on my heels as I pass Millie and Mel, dropping a kiss to Mel’s neck, interrupting her conversation. “I’m going to see if I can help in the kitchen. Need anything before I disappear for a few?”

Mel spins in my arms, wrapping hers around my neck, and tips her face up. “Just a kiss.”

I grant her wish, pressing my lips to hers. “You having a good time?”

Mel bites down on her plump lip. “The best.”

I nuzzle into her neck and squeeze her tight. “Good. I’ll be back.” I nip her lips once more before leaving her with Millie and Gavin, who now has one arm around his wife as Vivi has catapulted herself into Millie’s arms.

In the kitchen, I find Declan standing over Beckett. And I mean literally standing over him, arms folded across his chest, a haughty look on his face. “You ready to give up?”

Beckett is holding a cutting fork in one hand and an electric carvingknife in the other, and when I round the island, I see he’s got a turkey laid out in front of him. He revs the cutter and shakes his head. “I’ve got this.”

“You have to cut it at an angle,” Dec growls.

Beckett’s jaw ticks, and he glares over his shoulder. “I said I’ve got this.”

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