Page 40 of Blindsided

“Yeah, watch your mouth, Nolan Edward,” I tease.

Nolan shoves my shoulder, making me fall over. I retaliate, tackling him to the ground. His skills have improved, but I’m still bigger than he is and know all his dirty tricks.

“Boys, can you please behave for one dinner?” Mom’s scolding has always made us call a truce, no matter what reason we had for wrestling. “Now, everyone, wash up. Dinner is ready.”

CHAPTER17

Tilly

Matthew helps me off the couch and leads me to a bathroom down the hallway. This house is exactly as I remember it. The entryway leads directly into the living room, and the walls are covered with family photos. The boys look identical to when they were little. I have no idea how Cindy managed to discipline them. I swear, I’d have caved every time they hit me with those blue eyes.

I feel that way right now with the way Matthew is looking at me. He pushes me back against the closed bathroom door, his hips pressing into mine while his fingers thread through my hair. Then his mouth is on mine, as if he hasn’t kissed me in days. His tongue glides against mine so smoothly that my thoughts scatter until there’s nothing left but him.

A little whimper escapes my mouth. My whole body is vibrating with need. “Matty,” I whisper.

“Fuck, I couldn’t wait any longer. Watching you with Noah and then kicking ass against my brothers… You’re perfect.”

Butterflies flutter in my stomach at his words. I was so overwhelmed when we walked in, and somehow Noah knew I felt that way. When we sat down on the couch, Noah whispered, “They can be a lot sometimes. That’s why I like to bring books.”

Then he read his book about dinosaurs to me, and I loved every second of it.

“We better get back out there. I realized if we do anything to hint at something more between us, my mom is going to go straight to your mom.”

“And she’ll let it slip to Desmond.” I grimace. “Good thinking.”

We wash our hands and make our way back to the dining room. Everyone is standing around the table. There are entirely too many people here to fit comfortably around the table, yet it’s everything I’d want a family dinner with the Ellises to be. I always loved going to their house for holiday parties. The kids had free rein to play while the adults got to have a few drinks. It was a blast every single time.

Matthew gestures to a couple of chairs, and I sit down next to him and Ellie. I’m grateful she’s sitting by me. I’ve been wanting to ask her if she’s talked to Adam yet, but there were too many people around to keep it semi-private.

“I’m telling you, Mom. We’re about to bust at the seams,” Nolan says from across the table.

“And I am tickled pink.” Cindy grins.

“I’m working on a bigger table, Nolan,” Steve says. His salt-and-pepper hair is artfully messy. I can’t tell if he purposefully made it that way or if it was an accident. I can’t deny the man is the epitome of a silver fox. And each of his sons looks exactly like him. Sara got Cindy’s coloring, with the exception of Cindy’s blue eyes.

“Good. Any day now, I’m gonna bring home a girl, and she won’t fit at the table, and then I’ll lose her forever.”

“Whatever. The likelihood of you bringing home a girl is as good as Noah bringing over a girlfriend.”

Nolan gasps, making me laugh. He’s always been hilariously dramatic.

“I have a girlfriend. She just can’t come over ‘cause she’s six.” Noah bites into his roll while everyone around the table silently stares at him in surprise.

“I can’t decide if I should be jealous that my nephew has better game than I do or if I should be proud…” Nolan frowns at his plate.

“How about we ignore you and start eating?” Adam suggests.

“Hear, hear.” Matthew taps his hand on the table.

Everyone starts digging into the meal over Nolan’s protests. Matthew fills my plate first and then adds to his own. As high-handed as it sounds, I’m grateful he helped me out. It’s very chaotic, with the bare minimum of manners going into this meal as everyone gets food. I look over to find Adam doing the same for Ellie, and I lean in to ask her a question.

“How many more dinners until you get comfortable enough to enter the fray?”

“I’ve come to at least twelve, and I’m still not quite confident. Plus, Adam likes doing it for me.” She shrugs.

“Have you two had a chance to chat yet?” I raise my eyebrows in an attempt to hint at what I’m talking about.

She shakes her head. “I chickened out last night. I’ll try again, though.”

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