Page 43 of An Unexpected Everything
The woman who looked so much like Bella smiled brightly. “Yes. Yesterday. And I’m just so happy.”
“Congratulations, man,” I said as I held out my hand to Cale. I’d already said something to the like, but I hadn’t realized the engagement was so new.
“Thanks. I’m really glad that you’re here because I was sweating about this dinner.”
“We haven’t forgotten about you. She might be my new little sister, but I am ready to grill both of you. We can make it like a game show.” Dorian rubbed his hands together, and I narrowed my gaze.
“You forget I’ve known you longer than some of your newest siblings. I know where the skeletons are.”
Dorian waved his hand at me. “I don’t have any skeletons.”
Aston choked on the rest of his champagne. “Oh, you’re not going to say that in this family, are you?”
“I want to know some skeletons. But only the good ones. The happy glowy skeletons,” Blakely said, and then she set down her drink. “Apparently one glass of champagne has already gotten to my head.”
Bella pulled me into the kitchen with the others, pointedly not looking at me. Did she not want me here? Or was she just nervous. But when she squeezed my hand, I realized that it had to be the latter. Well, I had been just as nervous before the prom, and it wasn’t even our prom. We were just going to have to figure this out. Whatever this was.
“I have appetizers ready, but first, family photo for the damn lawyer.”
“Can’t we photoshop this?” Cale asked.
“We don’t ask questions, plus, they can do a surprise visit.” Bella rolled her eyes. “We have to tell them when and where the dinners are. It’s ridiculous.”
“To Dad being an asshole,” Dorian said as he held up his drink.
“To the asshole,” the others chimed in, and for some reason I was in the photo.
“Are they going to think you’re a Cage brother so that way we can just add people on?” Sophia asked, tapping her chin with her finger.
“No, I’m pretty sure they have our photos on some form of murder board in their office, complete with red strings so they know who’s who and what we do,” Bella said with a roll of her eyes. “Seriously. Eat. And I need help.”
I blinked down at her. “Did you just say you need help? Are you really not doing okay?” I reached to touch her forehead, and Blakely burst out into laughter.
“Oh, he really has your number.”
“I bet that’s not all he has,” Hudson mumbled.
I raised a brow at him. “Really, you’re sounding more and more like Flynn and Dorian right now.”
“This is all just so interesting,” Sophia said as she leaned on the breakfast bar, her chin on her fist. “You know them morethan we do. I really do want to know all the stories. Did you grow up here?”
I looked at Bella as she handed me a small plate with appetizers on it and nodded. “Yeah. Born and raised. I had a little while down in Denver, and I went to college down there too, but this is where my family is from.”
Everybody looked between us, and Bella cleared her throat. “Okay, let’s just get it out of the way. Wes and I dated for a little while eight years ago. Then he had to move back for personal reasons, and we’re just figuring things out. Please stop asking about future things.”
“We were just asking about the past,” Aston said pointedly. “But don’t worry, I’m not going to be the one that pries. Considering everybody pried into mine and Blakely’s relationship.” Blakely leaned into Aston and grinned. “And they were relentless. I promise I will be good. Until we’re in private, and then I’m going to need all the tea.”
“I would like to be there too. Complete with wedding planning.” Sophia beamed. “Oh, you have to come to the wedding.” She set down her drink. “I mean, if you know you’re around, I mean, in town. I’m really going to stop drinking now. But I still would like you to come to the wedding. The more the merrier. We need people on my side of the family because the other Cages outnumber us. Not that it should be other. I love you guys.”
“How much did you have to drink, love of my life?” Cale asked as he handed over a water.
“One silly glass, but I’m a lightweight. All those years of dancing.”
Everyone began to talk at once, and I leaned over to whisper in Bella’s ear. “I’m sorry for getting here so early. But I wanted to be here. After all, you were there for mine.”
“It’s okay. Seriously. We’re a lot to deal with. You should get used to it.” She met my gaze, raising a brow.
“I want to get used to it. Even if we’re pointedly not talking about the future.”
