Page 89 of Craving You

“Sloane told us about Hailey’s plan and we got on the first flight we could and flew up!” she went on. “There was no way we were going to miss celebrating with you two!”

“Max!” Kevin cheerfully called out as he walked over and shook his hand. “Congratulations, Son! We’re thrilled for the two of you! And now I can walk through the bar with you! It’s like two birds and one stone, right?” Laughing, he walked over to hug Hailey. She looked over at him with amusement, and he knew he just needed to embrace the chaos.

It took several minutes for everyone to congratulate them, with Sloane being the last to walk over. By the impish grin on her face, it was obvious she knew he wasn’t thrilled with the ambush.

Hugging him, she said, “I promise this will be the last time I do this. Don’t hate me, okay?”

Chuckling, he hugged her back before looking at her. “A little heads-up would have been appreciated. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Just make my sister happy, and I’ll be sure to warn you whenever my parents are planning a surprise trip, which—considering you guys are having a baby—you know is going to happen. My brother and his son live local, so they see him all the time. But your baby? Let’s just say I hope you have a guest room because they’re going to be here a lot.”

“We do and we were already prepared for it.”

“Good. Now let’s go inside. There's cake, cookies, and champagne.”

“Hailey can’t…”

“Neither can half the women in there,” she said, knowing what he was going to say. “There’s sparkling grape juice too. Come on.” Hooking her arm through his, she led him into the house where Hailey and the rest of the family were already gathered. But before they got too close, she stopped them. “One more thing.”

“O-kay…”

“The ring you got Hailey is gorgeous! And it is exactly her taste. Good job!” And then she flounced away and got swallowed by the crowd.

Max made his way through the kitchen and to Hailey’s side. Her father was pouring drinks, Jade was telling them what desserts she’d brought, Silas was chasing the dogs around and trying to get them out to the yard, Bridget was tossing out ideas for their wedding, Reid and Tanner were offering their help for the move…there were easily a dozen conversations going on at once and every one of them made him smile.

“Chaos looks good on you,” his father said as he came up to Max’s other side.

“Thank God I had time to prepare for this with Marcus and Billie,” he joked. “This is very different from any Calloway get-together.”

“Well, my side of the family were always a bunch of stick in the muds, and your mother’s side were all just…indifferent. I always wished things were different when you and your brother were growing up, but I think you’re making up for it now.”

“Lucky you that you get to be right in the middle of it too!”

“At least you both married into the same family,” John said with a laugh. “Imagine if you’d married into a different one that was just as loud and enthusiastic as the Donovans?”

“Dad, I don’t think there’s another family quite like the Donovans!” he said with a wink.

“Hey,” Hailey said, turning toward the two of them. “What are you saying about the Donovans?”

She was smiling, so Max knew she was in on the joke, but he tugged her close and gave her a loud, smacking kiss before replying, “We’re saying how there’s no one like your family.”

“Aww…” Hugging him, she reached and held one of his dad’s hands and it didn’t matter that there were a dozen other people in the room and just as many conversations going on around them. In that moment, it was just the three of them and it was perfect.

My family.

“Everybody, take a glass!” Kevin shouted. “Non-alcoholic to the left, champagne to the right!” It took a solid minute for everyone to have a glass in their hand, but when they did, Kevin raised his. “To Max and Hailey! We couldn’t be happier to be here celebrating the two of you today. This might not have been the way either of you planned it, but it’s obvious to everyone who knows and loves you that you were made to be together. Here’s to many years of happiness! Cheers!”

“Cheers!” everyone echoed before all the conversations started up again.

Jade started serving desserts, and everyone started spreading out and breaking up into smaller groups to talk. It got quieter and more manageable, and he actually breathed a sigh of relief when he could sit and hear what Ronan and his father were saying to him without having to ask them to repeat themselves.

“It just makes sense since Kevin’s here to do the tour on Monday,” Ronan was saying. “He already has some ideas that he wants to run by you when we’re all there together. Are you free on Monday?”

“Anytime after four,” Max told him. “I was going to bring Hailey with me the other day when I was supposed to join you for the tour.”

“Just don’t eat any leftovers that day!” Giving him a hearty slap on the back, Ronan laughed.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

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