Page 78 of Easy Reunion
Chapter 31
Kelsey
Alittle over a week later, we’re at Angel’s family’s home for Sunday dinner and forced family karaoke night. I think Ry’s rethinking our relationship if the terrified look on his face is any indicator while Angel and I sway our hips in time to belting out Destiny’s Child.
Forced family karaoke night is a tradition Angel’s family started years ago when Angel and her brothers began getting lives and disappearing all over the city to meet up with friends. Their mother, Maria, laid down the law about being home for one meal a week to spend some “malditofamily time together.” When I used to come back from college with Angel to visit, we’d be breaking it down in the kitchen—much to her younger brother’s amusement—while we’d be helping Maria with dinner. It eventually led to Carlos challenging his sister to a boys versus girls sing-off.
What a mistake that was. Not once in eleven years have the boys won. I grin as I swivel my hips. Ry chokes on his beer as I belt out how I refuse to be played.
Maria’s selection comes up, and soon the three of us are harmonizing with Fleetwood Mac. By the end, I stop mimicking Christine McVie and stare at “Stevie” in concern.
“God help this child. She’s going to be on my teet learning to sing. Right out of the womb,” Angel bemoans.
“Classic rock runs through your blood, that’s for sure,” I agree, watching through narrowed eyes as Angel rubs a hand over Lucy before she collapses against Darin. “You okay over there?”
“She just gets active when…”
“When her mama is shakin’ it like she used to at college,” Darin pipes in.
Angel glares at him. “You keep scaring Ry,” she chastises her husband.
“No, sweetheart, I think you all are managing that all on your own,” he retorts. Facing Ry, he says, “The trouble I used to have to keep these two out of was ridiculous.”
“Really?” I’ve dropped down on the floor in front of Ry. As he’s talking, I feel his fingers run through my hair. “Even Kels?”
Darin snorts. I gasp. “I was a model…”
I can’t even get the rest of the sentence out before Darin jumps in. “Of how to be corrupted. Yes, you were.”
“I—”
“Resemble that remark. Don’t even try to wiggle your fine ass out of it, Kels.” Darin warns me, “You have no idea how many guys I warned off when you’d jump up next to this one”—he squeezes Angel—“on a table to dance.”
“Pshaw.” I dismiss his remark. “I think your memory is screwy.”
Carlos laughs from across the room where he’s been conspiring with Luis for the guys’ songs. “Not hardly, Kels. The first time you came home, I swore I’d figure out a way to get you to notice me.”
“You sure did that,” Luis pipes up. The shyest of the Riviera family, he often sits in the background letting the conversation flow around him. “How many times did you steal her bra and parade it through the house?” Even as shock courses through my own body, I feel Ry’s fingers clench in my hair.
“He was fourteen,” I quickly say, justifying it to the entire room. “He was likely just teasing the overweight girl.” I shrug off another memory that at the time burned a little, but since I never had siblings, I assumed was normal behavior. I’m mortified, and a little ashamed, to realize I made assumptions based on my own experiences. Not that it would have made a difference on the outcome, but I would have been more sensitive. Heart racing, I glance around at everyone with consternation. “Umm…”
Carlos’s face takes on a comical cast. “Is that what you thought?”
Luis smirks. “I told you, you don’t have as much game as you thought you did.”
His brother hits him. “Asshole,” he says before turning to me somewhat abashed. “Kels, I had a huge crush on you for years. I finally gave it up when I put it together you weren’t interested.”
Ry’s body is rigid against me. I slide my hand along his leg to reassure him, even though I never thought I’d ever be in a position where I have to defend a nonexistent past against my incredible present. “I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings in any way, Carlos,” I say.
And it’s true. Having lived my version of hell, I don’t want anyone else feeling less because of my actions. Well, maybe I would still savor jabbing my heels in the hearts of a few of my former classmates on both Ry’s and my behalf, but that’s different.
“Trust me, I’m more than content being your ‘brother.’” Carlos’s words nudge me from my reverie. His dark brown eyes crinkle at the corners when I collapse in visible relief. “Is that because you can’t handle all this?” he teases as he gestures up and down his body.
I shake my head. “No. I’m just thrilled I don’t have to feel guilty for having waited half my life for this—” I jerk my head back at Ry, who’s gone still again beneath me. “—and I don’t have to feel guilty about bringing it home with me.”
Before anyone can say a word, I’m being lifted off the floor and onto Ry’s lap. Before I can fully process the sudden change of position, his lips are devouring mine. Twining my arms around his neck, I fall into his kiss completely, forgetting where we are and who we’re with.
Moments later, when he lets me up for air, his lips gently brush against my still-closed eyes. “Waited half your life for? I’d swear, Kels, I’d wait not only this life but the next one to be right where I am right now with you.”
