Page 132 of Beautiful Thing

After a beaming smile and slobbery kiss for me, Sky reaches out for Archer.“Mista Musdache!”

“Little man!” Archer carries Sky, and we head downstairs for breakfast. And coffee. Lots of coffee.

People are everywhere. Archer’s siblings stare shamelessly when the three of us stroll into the dining room.

“Morning.” After putting Sky in his highchair, Archer drags two extra chairs over to the end of the table, holding mine out for me to slide into.

Everyone just stares.

Archer doesn’t seem to notice. Flashing a heart-stopping smile my way, he drops into the seat next to me. I feel heat splash across my cheeks.

When I finally dare to make eye contact with anyone, it’s Karli. She’s smirking at me.

“What?” I whisper, shifting in my seat.

She arches an eyebrow knowingly. “So…did you sleep well? You’re kind of walking funny today. I know Archer’s old bed must be so stiff.”

“Pretty sure Archer’s bed wasn’t the only thing that was stiff last night.” Mason snickers from behind a piece of toast.

My jaw drops and Karli slaps her husband’s shoulder.

Darius aims a grin at Archer. “You got any WD-40 at the hardware store?”

Only half-listening, Archer frowns as he’s in the middle of scooping scrambled eggs onto a plate for Sky. “Yeah. Why?”

“Well, you should go grab a few cans. We’re going to need to oil the hinges in your bed.” Nolan chuckles low.

“Oh, come on,” Archer mutters, shaking his head.

Ronan sends a smirk in Archer’s direction. “And while you’re at it, maybe we should reinforce the walls of your bedroom. For some reason, they were shaking half the night.”

My face burns. I’m sure it’s growing redder and redder by the second as the Brightons give Archer crap. He just pulls me into his arms, letting me bury my blushing face in his shirt as everyone laughs at our expense.

Fine. We hooked up last night.Multiple times.And everyone knows it.

Oh my God.I wonder how much of it they heard. From the way they’re all grinning like crocodiles, I’m guessing they heardeverything. Even when I—

Grandma and Grandpa Brighton stroll into the room right then, followed by Archer’s parents. Thankfully, the table silences and the merciless ribbing stops. I am so grateful.

Dr. Brighton pauses by the refrigerator, his gaze fanning over his children. “What?” he questions suspiciously. “What is wrong with all of you?”

“Oh, nothing.” Karli shakes her head vigorously, cheeks puffed up with repressed laughter.

Mrs. Brighton pauses as she’s grabbing the coffee pot. Her eyes flick upward. “Look at that. There’s a crack in the ceiling. Right under Archer’s bedroom.”

Dr. Brighton comes up beside her, staring in the same direction. “Wasn’t there yesterday,” he mutters quizzically.

Karli’s gaze meets mine. Her eyes are tearing up as she struggles to control herself. I feel a laugh bubbling its way up my chest. Before I can stop myself, it bursts free.

A wave of laughter rolls across the table. We’re all losing it. Laughing and crying and slapping the tabletop.

Grandma Brighton speaks up, eyeballing us all. “Strange, these kids. All of them, so strange.”

Her husband shoots us a grumpy glare. “Let’s hurry up and marry them all off so they’ll be someone else’s problem.”

54

LAYLA

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