Page 43 of Bae

I nodded, holding out a hand to Rim. “C’mon, Smalls. Let’s go make nice with my mother.”

Rimmel glanced back at Trent and Drew. Drew gave her a smile. “I’m fine. Go ahead. We’ll be there in a few.”

Inside, the kitchen was fuller than when I left it earlier. My parents, B’s mom and the man she’d been dating a couple years, and Ivy’s parents were all there.

The island was piled with brightly wrapped gifts, and a bouquet of balloons floated nearby.

Nova was the center of attention in her frilly, girly dress, wrapped up in Adrienne’s arms (that would be Ivy’s mother). Ivy was standing not far behind them, a frown on her face as she stared at her father.

Braeden stood at his wife’s back. He looked up, and our eyes collided. I made it perfectly clear the way I felt when I stared back. Judging from the way he returned my glare, he was feeling the same.

“I wish you wouldn’t have done this today,” Ivy said, watching her parents fawn over Nova.

“Done what? Come visit our granddaughter on her birthday.”

“It’s not technically her birthday yet,” Ivy retorted as if she weren’t sure what else to say.

Nova’s actual birthday wasn’t for a couple weeks, toward the end of September, but because of the football season schedule, Ivy and B decided to have a big party early, before all of us were going in different directions.

“I could have just brought her to visit you.”

“Nonsense,” Burke said, brushing off the evident concern in his daughter’s voice.

Anger flared in Braeden’s eyes. He was caught in the middle, too, not wanting to cause a scene at his daughter’s birthday party, but also not wanting anything to hurt his wife.

I stepped forward, releasing Rim’s hand and using my size to tower over Ivy’s father. I wasn’t one to actually try to intimidate someone. Frankly, I never really had to. Usually, my presence was enough, but I wanted this man to know exactly what he was dealing with.

“You say one word, you even breathe in a way I don’t like, and I’m going to personally remove you.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Adrienne was quick to say, glancing up from Nova.

“I suggest you spend some time with your grandchild, then get the hell out of my house.”

Burke turned his full gaze to me. I saw some anger there, even protest. But it didn’t matter. He was no match for the turmoil bubbling inside me.

He realized it in seconds and cleared his throat.

“Is that a bounce house outside?” Adrienne exclaimed to Nova. “Why don’t you show Grandma how you jump?” She started walking toward the back door. “Burke, why don’t you come play with us?”

He gave me a lingering stare. I didn’t budge. A small, cool hand wound its way around my middle, and I covered Rim’s fingers with mine but didn’t look away from Burke.

“Romeo,” she whispered.

Burke walked away, joining his wife, and they took Nova outside. Seconds later, Trent and Drew came back in.

Ivy rushed to her brother and threw her arms around them both. “I did not invite him! I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have invited Mom.”

“We know, sis.” Drew assured her as he one-arm hugged her.

Braeden bypassed everyone and quietly went outside. Through the windows, I noted the way he stepped to the edge of the deck and stood watching over his in-laws with his baby daughter.

Ivy pulled back and faced everyone else, who were all standing quietly.

“Who’s hungry?”

“I’ll help you get everything set out, honey,” Caroline told her daughter-in-law.

“I’m always ready to eat,” John said from her side. Everyone laughed, and B’s mom elbowed him in the side.

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