Page 78 of I Could Be Yours

Brody gives me a look. “You’re not captain of the fun police.”

“Oh fu—dgerdoodles. Save me from my sister.” Cammie triesto hide behind Chase. Which is fairly effective since Chase is well over six feet and Cammie is the size of my thumb.

Even so, Essie twirls in like a beautiful, pink storm. Essie’s five seven, so average in terms of height, but she’s much taller than Cammie.

“Cammie-Whammie!” Essie throws her arms around her.

Cammie looks less than enthused. “No. You do not get to call me Cammie-Whammie like we are still toddlers. It’s mortifying.”

“You love it.” Essie kisses her on the cheek.

“I do not, and if you keep it up, I will flip you over my shoulder and everyone will see your underpants.”

Apparently, Cammie has a black belt in karate and has done this to Chase.

“I’m less worried about my underwear and more concerned about potential bruises.” Essie lets her go. “Where are Mom and Dad?”

“Still checking in, but they said they’d be down in a bit,” Cammie replies.

“They’re going to love it here.” Essie turns to Brody. “Look at you! Wow! You’re huge!” She squeezes my brother’s biceps. “Are you bigger than Tristan?”

“I’m an inch shorter.” He might as well have hearts for eyes with the way he’s smiling at her. “But I might still grow a bit more.”

“Well, you look great!” She pats him on the chest. “Very solid.”

He beams like a fucking spotlight.

I want to toss him in the ocean.

Essie turns to my dad and his girlfriend. “Mr. Stiles, it’s so lovely to see you.” She hugs him briefly.

Dad arches a brow at me over her shoulder. I’ve mentioned that we’ve been tackling a lot of wedding related stuff together. And Brody has kindly brought up the fact that she was the hottest girl in high school once upon a time. I can only imaginethe things that will come out of my brother’s mouth, and all the ways I’ll deflect them.

Essie turns her beautiful, megawatt smile on my dad’s girlfriend. “And you must be Sophia. Lavender has told us all about you! If you’d like, I can introduce you to the girls while the boys get everything up to the rooms. But I also understand if you’d like to freshen up first.”

“I wouldn’t mind saying hi to everyone.” Sophia turns to my dad. “If that’s okay with you, Gideon.”

“Of course. I’ll get the boys settled and come find you in a bit.” Dad kisses her on the cheek, and they share a look I would prefer to never see again.

Essie links arms with her sister and Sophia, like they’ve known each other for years and didn’t just meet a few seconds ago. She always makes people feel included and important.

Chase bends to kiss Cammie before Essie guides them over to the girls, who shriek excitedly. Tally and Fee, along with Fee’s little sister, Callie, have also joined the group, having just arrived today.

“How is it possible that Essie’s gotten hotter?” Brody muses.

“You think Essie’s hot?” Chase’s brows pull together.

“Dude.” Brody looks at him like he has two heads.

“Stop drooling,” I mutter.

“She’s a nice young lady,” Dad says.

“She’s a literal human rainbow.” It comes out sounding irritated, mostly because there are enough people ogling Essie, and there’s more to her than just her pretty face and smoking-hot body.

Chase grabs Brody’s arm. “Holy crap! Is that Sam and Isaac? Hemi’s brothers?”

Brody squints against the sun and follows Chase’s finger. “It is.”

---