Page 356 of Branded

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My lips curved, the past fading and amusement crowding in. “That factors?”

“Gotta look good to play good—” He shrugged. “Or medicine good, as it is.”

I giggled.

Giggled.

And then, oddly, my eyes stung. Because I’d never had anything close to this with my own dad.

And that hurt.

But I kept it together…at least until there was a cheer and I turned and saw Ethan, Cas, his mom, and all his siblings sitting at the kitchen table playing UNO.

My son…he was shining.

Part of this was normal for him—we played UNO a lot.

But part of it was completely out there.

Because he’d never had this. He’d never had the chance to bask in the positive attention of a family. But Cas—and Cas’s family—had given him that.

And that was when I lost it.

“Excuse me,” I whispered, jumping to my feet.

“You okay, darlin’?” Luca asked, following me up.

“Great.” Shit. My voice had cracked on that lie. “I just need some air,” I managed to croak out. Then I hurried to the door, avoiding Cas’s eyes.

His concerned eyes.

And the concerned gazes of his family.

“Jules?” he asked, and I heard his chair slide back.

“I’m good,” I called, still beelining for the front door. “I just need some air.” There. That sounded a little more normal.

I turned the handle, yanked open the door, and froze.

Cas’s voice was close to my ear, having already come to me.

Because…he was Cas.

But he didn’t sound like my Cas when he growled,

“You have got to be shitting me.”

Thirty-Seven

Cas

Chelsea was standing on my porch, her fist raised, poised to knock.

Chelsea.

Jesus fucking Christ.

And when she saw Jules, her face hardened.

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