Page 88 of Loving You

“Hush.”

“I’m serious. I always used to tease you for having something to say about everything, but deep down I fucking loved it every time you opened that pretty mouth of yours. You can’t quit on me now.”

“Says the guy who wanted me to keep my mouth shut about how much I loved you until you knew I was ready.”

His smile faded a bit, and he quirked a brow. “Yeah, well, let’s not get sucked into how stupid I feel about that waste of time. Instead, let’s go join them for a few minutes if you’re up for it. Or we can go home if you’re not. But either way, I’m about done dealing with unresolved hard-ons in front of my family, so we need to dosomethingother than talking about that mouth of yours.”

I laughed so loudly it drew May’s attention, and she waved her arm, beckoning us outside. There was an appropriate amount of concern on her face for what I’d been through, but there was also something like hope and relief dancing in her eyes.

“I thought I was tired, but let’s go dance for a few minutes. Maybe I’ll get a second wind, and then—”

Eric tugged me by the hand and began leading me toward the dance floor, tossing out a growly, “Don’t even finish that sentence, Ms. Carrigan.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied to his back, chuckling as he shook his head and led me out.

To our people, finally united, finally acting like the big, messy family I knew we’d one day officially unite.

28

ERIC

Sammy’s voice reached me before I exited out the back door of Walker’s. “You have a meeting or something?”

I turned to him. “No. Why do you ask?”

He narrowed his eyes, glanced at his watch, then shook his head. “Why do you look like you’re leaving for the day and it’s one in the afternoon?”

“Because I am leaving for the day,” I said, still unsure why this was any of his business.

“Everything okay?” Jake asked, joining the conversation as he strolled in from the brewhouse.

I opened my mouth to say yes, but Sammy beat me to it, saying, “Our big brother’s playing hooky, and I may or may not be having an identity crisis.”

“Is Rachel pregnant again?” Will asked, wiping his hands on a towel tucked into his pocket as he entered the hallway from the swinging kitchen door.

Sammy’s “What? No!” came quickly, right before I lost my patience with them. Notreally, but a little, because I had places to be and things to do.

“Maybe the question isn’t what amIdoing, but what the hell are you all doing hanging out in the hallway in the middle of the lunch hour?”

Will glared at me. “I was grabbing something from my desk and saw you fuckers standing here.”

Jake held up the lunchbox in his hand. “I was coming to see if you wanted to eat together. And I don’t deal with the lunch rush, so I’m allowed.”

“And I was doing something I have now completely forgotten, but I blame my demon spawn of a child for waking up at four this morning and deciding all she wanted to do was play instead of go back to sleep.” Sammy scrubbed at his eyes, then gave me a verySammylook.

I chuckled, love for these idiots damn near bursting out of my chest like a Care Bear Stare. I moved to Sammy and hauled him to me, hugging him tightly. He patted my back in return and gave me a puzzled look as I pulled back and held him by the shoulders. “You’re a great dad. You know that, right?”

He blinked. “Yeah. I do.”

I nodded. “Good.” Shifting my attention to Will, I said, “Pretty sure you need to get back in there, but it must be said, you are, too, and Jackson and Lea are lucky to have you. And…shit. I’m really glad you’re back.”

My twin frowned, clearly as uncomfortable with this probably over-the-top show of praise and approval on my part. “Okay. Uh, thanks.”

Turning to Jake, I said, “And, yes, whenever you and your new wife decide to pop out a few of your own, you’ll be the same, and yes, I’d love to have lunch. Tomorrow?”

“Sounds good,” Jake replied with one of his kindhearted smiles, clearlynotas uncomfortable as the others. Then his brow furrowed. “But... wait.”

I’d made it to the exit, but stopped, antsy to get moving even though I was fully aware they wouldn’t let me bolt just yet. I turned back to them, doing my best not to reveal how much I wanted to leave. “Yes?”

---