Page 105 of On My Side
I don’t want to go back to that moment. I want to move forward.
My stomach sinks further when Ren has to park on the street in front of the house because their huge driveway is already full.
“Are we the last ones to arrive?” I ask as I unbuckle my seatbelt. God, my voice is shaking, and I hate myself for it. I need to be better for Piper, for myself, for Ren, and the steps we’ve taken towards the future we could have. The future I want more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
Ren puts the car into park and squeezes my hand, like he’s trying to transfer his effortless confidence and charisma he has to me.
Except it’s not effortless. It’s a role he works extraordinarily hard to perform well, a role that’s taken so much from him.
“You’ll be great,” he murmurs. “It’s them I’m worried about.”
I squeeze his hand back. “You love them. I loved them, too. You and I don’t love carelessly.”
He turns his neck and searches my eyes. I wonder if he can hear what I’m not saying, but what I mean.
I love you. And it’s scary as shit because I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to. I want to do it right, but I don’t know how.
“Is this my life now? You two, not even trying to hide the goo-goo eyes you make at each other?” Piper interjects from the backseat.
I bite my lip as I try not to laugh, but Ren isn’t as subtle. His laugh is loud and lovely and warms me the same way he’s warmed the cold parts of me I’ve avoided facing for so long. “Yep. Sorry, pipsqueak. You get to havetwoadults embarrassing you now. And Pipe,” he adds, voice suddenly serious, “if you are uncomfortable or if anyone says anything less than kind to you…”
“I’ll punch them in the face,” Piper finishes, way too seriously for my liking.
“Piper!” I scold, turning my head to narrow my eyes at her.
“Sure,” Ren says, and I want to shake him. “I don’t normally condone violence, but they’ll deserve it.”
I can’t help but laugh as Piper climbs out of the car. I’ve barely gotten out of the car when I’m greeted by a high-pitched noise and a mass of pink and blonde flying at me.
“Oof!” I say, stumbling and trying to keep my balance as Hunter’s body collides with my own.
“You’rehere!” she screeches directly in my ear. “At Sunday dinner! This is the best day of my life!”
“Christ, Hunter.” Ren’s beside me at vampiric speed. “Give her space.”
“Space doesn’t exist in this house.” It’s another masculine voice this time, and I try to peek through Hunter’s lion mane to see who it is. I don’t recognize him at first, but he’s a few inches shorter than me with red hair and a mustache. If I had to guess he was five years or so older than Piper.
That’s when it clicks.
“Baby Leo?” I gasp, and Hunter mercifully detaches herself from me. “My god, you’reold.”
Ren snorts. “He’s a sophomore in college, if you can believe it.”
“Oh my god.I’mold.”
“You? Never. You don’t look a day over twenty-five,” Leo responds with a wink.
I blush. “Oh, I wish. You’re too sweet.”
“I only speak the truth,” Leo says, so earnestly I’m convinced I truly look like I’m in my mid-twenties.
“Are youflirtingwith her?” Ren asks in bewilderment.
“And if I am?” Leo challenges his older brother with a smirk. “She’s not attached, right?”
Oh. Actually, this might be fun, seeing Ren’s siblings rag on him a little.
Ren shoves Leo’s shoulder with a little more force than what I would consider playful. But then again, I’m not around siblings very often. “You’reattached, asshole.”
