Page 91 of Family Bonds: Carter & Avery

His brother was grinning and Natalie stuck her tongue out at him. “Because you’ll eat more than anyone else and you know it,” Natalie said.

He and his brother went to his sister’s car to get the snacks she’d put together. He got thinking maybe he should have done or brought something.

Not that he thought his mother would let him, but it shouldn’t be the women doing it all either.

He supposed he never thought much of it before he started to date Avery and saw everything that she did.

Running her own business.

Raising a little girl.

Taking care of her house and the rest of the things that had to be done in her life.

Spending time with him.

He wished they had more time together, but he was taking what he could.

He knew last night she felt horrible that Josie asked him to come and she didn’t. He was actually glad she hadn’t because he would have wanted to go, but it was exactly as he’d said to his mother. He was way too busy.

But he would have felt like shit having to say that to her and it saved them both the stress and the guilt.

It happened anyway because Josie didn’t understand the world as he and Avery did. She just wanted to spend time with him.

You couldn’t get much better than that in terms of acceptance.

“I hear that it’s making the way around the island that you’re dating now,” Grayson said once they set all the snacks down on the dining room table. People would help themselves for hours before the meal was complete.

“Going to the wedding together last weekend is a sure way for that to happen,” Natalie said. “Even you aren’t normally that slow.”

His brother and sister did like to bust each other’s butts more than anyone else.

“It was never a secret,” Carter said.

“Does Josie know?” Grayson asked.

“She does,” he said. “We told her a few weeks ago.”

“Now I know it’s serious,” Natalie said. “Mom, did you know that?”

“No,” his mother said, frowning. Great, now he was going to be on the shit list with his mother, but it’s not like he talked to her about those things in his life.

“I’m not sure what the big deal is,” he said. “Avery and I are taking it slow. It’s been about two months and she knew it was time to let Josie know. I’ve been fine with it either way.”

“Don’t get defensive,” his mother said.

He was glad when the door opened and Mac and Sidney walked in. Mac was carrying his four-month-old son, Jace, in a carrier, Sidney with a large bag over her shoulder.

“The baby is here,” Mac said. “Who wants him?”

Natalie all but dropped what she was doing and took off for his cousin’s baby. He knew his sister loved kids.

“Me,” Natalie said.

“I’ve got wine,” Sidney said. “Who wants that?”

“Me,” his mother said, raising her hand.

“Me too,” his Aunt Alice said, coming behind them with a box of desserts in her hand.

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