Page 30 of Bae

I imagined him nudging her head down onto his shoulder as he rubbed her back with a hand that was so much bigger than her. The sounds over the monitor went quiet except for the slight rocking of the chair near her crib.

I cleared my throat and unfolded my legs, about to stand. Suddenly, sitting still was just too hard.

Ivy reached out and clicked off the monitor, the lights on the front went dark, and the faint hum of static ceased. “Rimmel, I—” She began, and I got to my feet.

Romeo appeared soundlessly (how can someone so big be soundless?). I almost ran right into him as I fled. “Ladies,” he said, flashing his famous charming smile. Not far behind were Trent and Drew.

They were holding hands.

A simple act that really wasn’t that simple for them. It took a long time for my two brothers to be comfortable touching each other in any way when any of our family was around. They did it more often now, and it made me feel proud.

Proud because, clearly, the family we all built together was strong enough for them to finally be themselves without worry. Simply seeing them hand in hand seemed to bring me back to the moment. The cool fall air, the crackling fire, and the scent of burning wood.

“Brought you something,” Romeo said. I loved his voice. So familiar, yet it still affected me like it was brand new.

There was a mug in his hand. Against the night backdrop, I could see the puffs of steam curling up from the liquid inside. Cinnamon and spice tickled my nose, and a feeling of utter calm washed over me.

“You brought me apple cider?” I asked, reaching for the white mug.

“You hated the Boone’s, didn’t you?” he mused.

I snorted and pushed my glasses up my nose. “How’d you know?”

The warmth from the cup seeped into my fingers, making me realize how chilled they were. I lifted the drink, inhaled the scent, and let the heat brush under my nose.

“You’re not a Boone’s kinda girl, Smalls. You’re a cider kind.”

He was totally right.

“Well, don’t tell Braeden. He’ll never let me live it down,” I muttered, sipping the drink.

Romeo caught one of my hands and tugged me along, back toward the bench, but then we bypassed it to walk around the fire to a large wooden Adirondack chair. His big body filled it completely, and he tugged me into his lap.

I tucked in close, hugging the mug into my chest and closing my eyes for a brief moment when the back of my head cradled against his shoulder.

Trent sat where I’d just been, and Drew tossed some more wood onto the fire before sitting right beside him.

A moment later, Braeden came out of the house and across the deck. Ivy glanced around at him. “All’s good,” he assured her and straddled the bench she was on. Quickly, Ivy turned the monitor back on.

I gazed up into the inky sky at the stars marring the otherwise dark canvas. Romeo’s arm slipped around my waist, holding me just a little closer.

The sound of a phone going off pulled my eyes from the view. Ivy lifted up her smartphone, the illuminated screen casting a bright light over her features as she glanced down at it.

Remember how I said Romeo passed down a media ban on the house? Ivy’s phone was the exception. It was part of her job to stay in the know on all the celebrity news, etc.

“Really, princess?” Romeo asked, lifting his beer. “Can’t take a break for one night?”

“I thought I silenced this thing,” Ivy grumbled, but then her attention was caught on whatever she saw.

She glanced across the fire pit at Drew. His mouth flattened, and the air around him shifted.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Apparently, our two studly brothers were caught in some PDA today,” Ivy dished.

Behind my glasses, my eyes lifted. “What?” I glanced over at Trent and Drew.

“Fucking gossip hounds,” Drew spat.

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