Page 57 of Call It Love

Bristol’s face paled. Chase looked like someone had punched the air out of him. Even Cam seemed to deflate.

Chase grabbed his sister’s hand and pulled her from the room. The front door slammed shut, but we all heard the raised voices as the two of them went at it.

Fine. They could fight it out. I was done being the one who had to.

Chapter 19

Anna

Everyonearound the table sat frozen.

Emalee moved first. With a quiet word to Zach, she gathered the children. “Come on, kids. Let’s go see if Jack wants to play.” She herded them toward the door.

Bristol cleared her throat, her expression softer than before, more thoughtful. Zach opened and closed his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t know where to start. Reid looked grim, while Trey stared at the wall over my head.

Embarrassment, anger, and sadness coiled together inside of me like a knot too tangled to undo. I fought back tears with everything I had.

“I’m sorry about that.”

I looked up and tilted my head at the man who tried to stop Cam before she got wound up. He was someone I hadn’t met, but his face was kind, and his brow was pinched with concern.

He touched my elbow lightly. “Come with me,” he said with quiet reassurance.

“She can be a firestorm, that’s for sure,” he said with a rueful smile as he guided me back into the kitchen, where he gestured for me to sit at the kitchen table. “She’s protective, like her brother. She jumps first and thinks later. That doesn’t make this okay, though. But Chase will straighten her out.” He extended his hand. “I’m Mac. Cameron’s husband.”

Ah. Now I remembered. He and Cam had been participants on the television showRenovation Station. Their work had been amazing, and I’d been surprised when they didn’t win the contest. Even Mason watched it, which was really saying something.

I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand and brushed away the moisture on my jeans before reaching out. “Anna. But I’m guessing you already know that.”

“I know your name, but notyou,” he answered. His grip was firm, and he gave my hand a warm squeeze before he let go.

“I work here,” I muttered, unable to hide the sarcasm.

He lifted a shoulder. “Sure. But that’s not all you are.”

“After this morning, I’m not so sure anymore.”

Mac’s smile faded. “Listen, she may be my wife, but what she did back there? That was far from okay. You didn’t deserve that attack, and she’s hearing that from Chase right now, and I’ll remind her of it later. She’s got a good heart, but sometimes she leads from blind loyalty instead of empathy. Especially when it comes to family.”

I looked down. Cam was a lot like her brother that way.

“All I ask is you give her some time,” Mac continued. “She’ll come around. And from what I was told when we arrived, Cam isn’t the only one who stepped in it today.”

I snorted despite myself. “You’re not wrong.”

He snickered. “Chase clearly inherited the Allencommunication gene. Someday, remind me to share the story of Cam’s communication fail. It’s pretty epic. But it led us to being together today, so it worked out. Same as it will with you and Chase.”

I wondered ifsomedayI’d still be around to hear it.

Mac glanced toward the house. “Chase has clearly made his choice. You saw it. The second my wife crossed the line, he got her out of here. I’ve known Chase long enough to know he adores his sisters. In that moment, he didn’t even think. He choseyou.”

I pressed my lips together, taking time to digest what he said.

He shrugged. “I’m not saying anyone handled today well, least of all my wife. But don’t let her be the reason you walk away. Or because he didn’t get it perfect, either.”

The truth of his words sank in.

He jerked his head toward the dining room and held out his hand. “So, what do you say? Feel like coming back in and proving to them you belong here? Because I gotta tell you, I want to try those biscuits before they’re gone.” He wiggled his hand encouragingly.

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