Page 18 of Chasing Forever
Then she stops at the end of the escalator, hands fisted at her sides. “Mom.”
The rest of her family laughs and hugs Darla and Brad.
I read their sign and manage to hold back the smirk that wants to make an appearance.
After everyone has gone to grab their luggage, Darla approaches me, bypassing her daughter’s open arms. “I’ve always wanted a son. Welcome to the family, Brooks.”
“Mom, you have Bennett.”
Darla squeezes me tightly, laughing in my ear. “Bennett’s not a sheriff.” She pulls back but holds my upper arms, winking at me. “Where are my get-out-of-jail-free cards?”
I always figured my feelings for her daughter were transparent. I tried for a long time never to let anyone know, but over the years, I’ve had a hard time keeping them hidden, causing minor slips here or there. Like taking a softball to the groin because I was too busy ogling her ass to notice the ball flying at me.
Bennett comes over with his suitcase. “Gee, thanks, Mom.”
She pats his cheek. “You gave me Wren, so you’ll always have top billing.”
Brad eyes his daughter, then sticks his hand in front of me. “Brooks Owens has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“Is it too late to ask for her hand?”
Brad squeezes my hand a little harder than usual. “Next time just shoot me a drunk text.”
Darla and Brad crack up.
He pats me on the back then goes over to his daughter, opening his arms for her to step into. “Oh, come on. Lighten up. You could’ve married worse.” He wraps his arms around Lottie, swaying them back and forth, but she never wraps her arms around her dad.
I don’t say anything since I know Brad is joking. At least, I hope he’s joking.
“Yeah, he’s the sheriff.” Bennett raises his eyebrows at his mom.
Darla wraps her arms around Bennett’s waist. “Oh, you know where you stand in my line of favorites.”
“Not sure I do now,” Bennett grumbles.
“Well, I brought you a surprise too.” She puts her fingers in her mouth and whistles.
Bennett’s daughter, Wren, pops up from behind a row of chairs. “Daddy!”
“Mom, someone could’ve taken her.” He crouches and opens his arms, and Wren runs into them, her arms tight around his neck.
“Please, she was ten steps away, and it’s so late no one is even here.” She waves off his concern that she’d put her granddaughter in danger.
“God, I missed you.” Bennett holds her.
Wren mumbles something into his neck, but I can’t catch it. He stands, and she swings her legs around his waist. As I watch, Bennett’s words from the hotel room run through my mind. They’ve got all of us, but I understand what he’s saying. If I had a daughter or a son, I’d do about anything to protect their fragile heart, which would mean sacrificing my own wants.
“What about your other daughter?” Romy comes up with her suitcase.
Darla looks at her youngest. “You didn’t bring me home a son-in-law.” Darla elbows Romy. “Though I heard Zander Shaw was in Vegas this weekend.”
Romy’s head whips in my direction.
I shrug. “I told you I saw him.”
She rolls her eyes, looking exactly like her sister.
“Plus, it’s like Lottie gave us all a gift. Brooks.” Brad holds his hands out to me as if I’m an award or a prize, like the goldfish at the state fair after spending a hundred dollars to win the game.
