Page 300 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
She throws her arms around my neck, her body flush against mine as I pick her up in an enormous hug. “I love you, Lennox,” she whispers into my ear.
“I love you, too,” I say, my voice catching in my throat.
This woman in my arms—it doesn’t feel real.Shedoesn’t feel real.
But TatumfreakingElliott is my future.
And I couldn’t be happier.
After more kissing, more talking, and then more kissing, we head down the trail. It’s fully dusk when we reach the orchard, but it isn’t too dark to see my family hanging around the trailhead.
My family?
“What in the world?” Tatum says from beside me.
Several Gators are parked off to the side, and Brody is leaning over his portable fire pit, feeding wood into an already steady flame. Olivia and Tyler are sitting in a couple of camp chairs beside the fire, Asher sitting on Tyler’s lap. Perry looks like he’s playing a game of tag with Lila’s son, Jack, and Lila and Kate are lounging on a blanket nearby.
What in the worldis right.
Finally, Brody turns and sees us, then lets out an enormous cheer, alerting the rest of the family to our presence. “You’re back!” Brody says.
Olivia jumps up and walks over to Tatum. “I swear, I only sent one text message letting everyone know you were up there declaring your love, and it just kind of happened.”
I look at Tatum. “You declared your love to my sister before you declared it to me?”
She grimaces as she shrugs. “I needed a ride. I had to give hersomereason to drive across the farm like a banshee.”
Tyler comes over and drops Asher into Olivia’s arms. “Olivia doesn’t need an actualreasonto drive across the farm like a banshee. That’s just how she drives.”
“Don’t you know it,” Olivia says before leaning up to kiss Tyler on the cheek.
“So, everyone just came out to meet us?” I reach over and lace Tatum’s fingers through mine, suddenly feeling a little overwhelmed. The good kind of overwhelmed.
Perry steps up beside me, Jack on his shoulders, and claps me on the back. “You know Brody will use just about any excuse to use his new fancy fire pit.”
“It’s called a SOLO stove,” Brody calls. “It’s smokeless.”
“But also, we’re really happy for you,” Olivia says. “Mom and Dad wanted to come, but Dad wasn’t feeling super great. They’re hoping we can do a family dinner at the restaurant tomorrow. I already checked the schedule, and Tatum’s clear if you can cut out of the kitchen for an hour or two.”
I look at Tatum, and she nods her approval. “Sounds good to me.”
“Daddy, can I meet the dog?” Jack asks from where he’s still sitting on Perry’s shoulders.
I’m still not used to hearing him call PerryDaddy,but Perry doesn’t even flinch. “Sure can, kiddo.” He looks at Tatum. “Is that all right?”
“Absolutely,” Tatum says. “He’s very friendly. You can take him for a little walk if you like.” She hands the leash over to Jack,who leads Toby over to where his mom is sitting with Kate. Lila immediately smiles, her gasp of delight loud enough for us to hear it all the way across the clearing.
“Oh no,” Perry says. “I’m going to have to get him a dog, aren’t I?” He moves off toward his family before either of us can respond.
“Come on,” Olivia says to me and Tatum. “I brought stuff for smores, and we need to have a serious conversation about our brother, because I’m pretty sure he just put an offer in on a piece of property on the other side of the river.” She doesn’t wait for us, and I take advantage of the temporary solitude to drape an arm around Tatum’s shoulders and tug her close.
“So Flint’s really moving home?” Tatum asks.
“I guess so.” I give her shoulders a squeeze. “Tatum, I know they can be a lot.”
She slips her arms around my waist. “Are you kidding me? Lennox, I love this. I lovethem.” She leans up and presses a kiss to my lips.
“But not as much as you love me?” I turn her so she’s flush against me, my hands clasped at the small of her back, and she grins.
