Page 71 of Love to Hate You

“I think all along you probably had the hots for her.”

“It doesn’t matter because now I know she’s, my world.”

“And a father! Holy shit, Nash. You shifted from grandpa-gear into high speed. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, man.”

I notice Sierra motioning for me, holding a bunch of notepads, and I suppress a groan. “Please tell me she isn’t going to force us to play any silly party games.”

“Are you kidding? Of course, she’s going to.”

And she does. But we all have fun and play along. It turns out to be a great night and toward the end of the evening, I’m sitting in a big, leather chair with Charlie on my lap, surrounded by my family and friends, and we’re talking and laughing and catching up on life together.

It’s a moment I won’t ever forget.

I tighten my arms around Charlie and lean my cheek against her fragrant hair. She’s been wearing it down all the time now and I think it’s because I always tell her how much I love it long and loose. Running my fingers through her hair has become my new favorite pastime. I’m also sporting a more rugged look and have been keeping some scruff on my face because I’ve discovered that it drives Charlie absolutely wild. Especially when I scrape it along her soft, sensitive skin.

If my woman tells me, it looks sexy then why the hell would I shave it?

Charlie laces her fingers through mine as Sierra finishes downing a glass of champagne. At this point, I think my little sister has successfully drunk an entire bottle by herself.

“So, we’re all happily celebrating Nash and Charlie,” she says, a bit tipsy. “But I feel like I’m just getting to know my own brothers again. And I’ve decided that I need to know everything about you four. Starting right now.”

“Who’s driving Sierra home?” I ask and they all laugh.

“Okay, so maybe I had a little too much bubbly, but, youguys,” she gushes. “I missed you all so much and it’s like we’re getting a second chance to have a relationship and I just love you allsomuch.”

“We love you, too,” Tanner says.

“Like a wart that won’t go away,” Sawyer teases and Sierra sticks her tongue out at him.

“I love you like you’re my other half,” Crew says.

“You are my other half, dummy,” she says and smiles at her twin.

I look from Crew back to Sierra and forget how in sync they can be sometimes. They both have brown hair, blue eyes and are 28. When we were growing up, being six years older than them sometimes felt like 20 years older. I’m glad we’re finally learning more about each other and taking the time to be in each other’s lives. It feels really good.

I’ve learned a lot these past few months, but the thing that I’m so grateful for is that I’ve discovered how truly important family is and that it’s necessary to nurture those bonds and, even though they can drive you crazy, to embrace them despite wanting to murder them from time to time.

They say blood is thicker than water and that’s never been my experience. But things change, people and attitudes change, so who knows where my siblings and I will be a year from now.

“So, I want to know which of my brothers has been in love before. Nash, you’re obviously head over heels so I’m basically wanting to know where the rest of you stand when it comes to love and women.”

Crew hikes a dark brow up and smirks. “Love? C’mon, Sierra.” He glances over at me and Charlie. “No offense, bro, but you two are an anomaly.”

“That’s an awfully big word for you to know, Crew.”

Crew flips Sawyer off. “Yeah? What about you, Casanova? Last I heard, there’s a lineup outside your bedroom door.”

“That’s right,” Sawyer murmurs and finishes off his beer. “In and out.”

Sierra claps her hands together. “I may know the perfect woman for you, Sawyer.”

For the first time since he’s been back in my life, I notice Sawyer’s normally cool expression slip just a bit.

“No thanks,” he says.

“What about you, Tan?” she asks.

---