Page 44 of Don't Call Me Daddy
“Of course.” I bat my eyes and flash him another fake smile.
He sighs. “Come on. Let’s just get it over with.”
He’s out of the car and already opening my door before I can do it myself, and I take his offered arm, looping mine through his as he leads me inside. Wow, he’s really putting on a show if he thinks they’re spying on us in the driveway.
Mary and Frank meet us in the foyer, both pulling us into tight hugs, and I’m shocked at how quickly they managed to transform the space from all the Vegas decorations.
Leo loops a single finger in my palm, offering me the tiniest bit of comfort as I follow behind in awe, taking in all the personal touches I missed last time. A gallery wall filled with baby pictures, old family photos on the wall behind the staircase, a mixture of old and new furnishings.
This isn’t just a big, fancy house; it’s a home, and I can practically feel the years of memories that made it that way. And for the life of me, I cannot begin to understand how someone so serious and grumpy as Leo could’ve grown up in a loving home like this.
I drag my fingers across the ornate molding, my eye catching on the peeling wallpaper in the corner of the hall, and I don’t know why, but I find it all that much more endearing. This big, rambunctious family has more money than I can even fathom, and yet they still have peeling wallpaper and scuffs on the baseboards. It’s refreshing, so different from the everything’s-for-show life I grew up with.
The sound of arguing grows louder as we approach a fancy sitting room, and Leo’s four brothers come into view.
I recognize Roman and his younger brothers, Guy and Luka, so that must mean the raven-haired man sulking at the table is Jett.
Fern’s gray eyes flash through my mind, her coloring strikingly similar, and I already know I’ll have a soft spot for the black sheep of the family. Leo hasn’t told me much, but I’m perceptive enough to notice when something’s off with people, and there’s definitely something beneath the surface with this guy.
“Finally decided to join us, did you? I’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes, practically starving because Mom wouldn’t serve the appetizers without theguests of honor.” Guy rolls his eyes as he moves to the bar cart to pour himself a whiskey.
“You literally just ate, like, four dinner rolls. I’m afraid you don’t understand the meaning of that word, little brother,” Luka says, swiping the whiskey from Guy before he can pour his drink.
Guy shoves him away and snatches the bottle back. “Why do you have to be such a dick?”
Luka just laughs and shrugs as he moves to the table to take a seat.
“Boys, now, that’s enough. If you’re going to act like wild animals, then you can go eat outside with Marty,” Mary scolds, and they both apologize under their breath.
I look at Leo, confused that I missed someone. “Who’s Marty, and why does he have to eat outside?”
He huffs a laugh, accepting the drink Frank passes him, but it’s Frank who answers. “Marty would be the pig Mary adopted at the county fair three years ago.” His words sound irritated, but his smile tells me otherwise.
“Do you know what they were going to do to him, Frank? They were auctioning him off to be turned into bacon,” she whispers behind her hand, as if Marty can hear us talking about him.
“I’m well aware. You made your case, and thanks to you, Marty is now living the life of his dreams, feasting off the finest scraps a pig could want.” Frank winks and kisses Mary on top of the head, and they both look to Leo and me like they couldn’t be any happier.
“Well, sounds like I need to meet this special pig.”
Leo wraps a heavy arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his warm, protective embrace, and I have to fight the urge to pull back and look at him like he’s crazy. “I’ll take you out to the barn to meet him after dinner.”
“You two are just the cutest. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing my oldest boy so happy and in love. Come on. Let’s sit down and catch up.” Mary claps her hands together and leads us to the massive oak dining table, set like a fancy restaurant with origami napkins and more forks than feel necessary.
Leo pulls out a seat for me on the end, across from Jett, who only acknowledges us with a nod. “This is Jett. He owns Restaurant downtown. Don’t worry; he’s like that around everyone. It seems like all he enjoys in life is work?—”
Roman’s laughter cuts Leo off. “And you’re one to talk. I swear, I thought you’d taken some kind of vow of celibacy like a monk, committed your life to your work, until this one showed up.” He shakes his head and laughs, and I can feel the heat of Leo’s irritation boiling under his skin.
“He’s not wrong,” Frank adds as servers fill the room, placing small appetizer plates in front of everyone. “I can’t tell you how shocked your mother and I were to run into Miss Ivy in the hospital of all places.” Frank takes a swig of his cocktail and eyes us over the glass. “That just goes to show that people can always surprise you.”
My eyes ping between the men, and I can sense there’s more to the story. Why else would Leo feel so desperate for my help?
“Well, let’s not talk about work. It’s a rare moment where everyone I love most is here, together, under the same roof. Tonight, we’re celebrating Leo and Ivy and their surprising engagement,” Mary squeals, holding up her glass in a toast.
Jett’s eyebrows furrow, and he whips his head to Leo in confusion. “Wait a second. Did she sayengagement?”
Leo clears his throat and smiles, then places an arm around me, as if to prove it, but Jett just shakes his head, staring between us.
“You’re telling me you’re engaged? To be married? And this is the first time I’m hearing about it?” Jett narrows his eyes at Leo like he sees right through him.
