Page 101 of Haven

“That doesn’t sound like you, Scarlet.” She cocks a brow, and damn, she reminds me so much of our father. “Why?”

“Why what?” I ask, even though I know the answer. Hurt knows hurt.

“Why would you offer me that? To keep secrets from my mom.”

“It’s not keeping secrets, Linds. It’s offering you a safe place to fall. And I’m doing it because I love you. You’re my baby sister. You may be the same age as my daughter, but our bond is different. You’re special.”

Brynlee and Cade make their way over to us, and Madeline gives me a sad smile. “Thanks, Scar,” she says before she and Brynlee run off to do something else. Hopefully not sneak booze the way I’d have done at their age.

“She okay?” Cade asks, and I stand and circle my arms around his waist.

“She will be,” I whisper.

“How can you be so sure?” he asks, worried about my youngest sister, who we’ve all basically treated like our own kid.

“Because in some ways, I was her, and whether you believe it or not, you saved me.”

“You saved yourself, duchess. I was just the lucky guy you let come along for the ride.”

* * *

Max

“Get off the phone, Max.” Daphne finds me outside and glares.

“Sorry.” I end the call and hang up. “I just had to find out from Easton’s agent he’s not interested in being traded to the Revolution.”

She wraps her arms inside my tux coat and lays her beautiful face against my chest. “He’s not ready to come home. Do you blame him? He’s young, one of the best goalies in the league, and living the life in Las Vegas. He’ll be ready one day, but not yet.”

I rest my chin on top of her hair and sway us to the beat piping through from inside. “Becket and Jules really want him home.”

“I’m sure they do, but that’s not their decision. Now let’s go inside and get a drink. I’ve had a lot of champagne. One more glass and I may turn into a sure thing tonight.”

I lift her chin to me, and caress her lips with mine, coaxing them open and pressing myself against her until a beautiful moan slips free.

“How about we sneak upstairs now, siren?”

“Last one naked has to get the coffee in the morning.” She reaches down and grabs a handful of snow to throw in my face before she takes off.

“Oh, it’s on.”

* * *

Hudson

“You doing okay, sunshine? You seem sad.” I tug Maddie closer and rest a palm on her belly. “How’s our boy treating you?”

“He’s treating me like a girl, Hud. Just because you keep calling her a boy doesn’t mean she’s going to come out with a penis. You’re starting to confuse Teagan and Aurora.”

“I know. But I hope you enjoy my hair now while you can. Three girls, Mads... Three.” I take her hands and pull her out onto the dance floor. “Three girls that all look like their gorgeous mother. It’s cruel, Madison. Cruel, I tell you. How am I supposed to not beat the shit out of every guy who knocks on our door to take them out on a date?”

She laughs at me like she always does, then straightens my tie. “What if it’s a girl who knocks on our door, Hud?”

I think about that for a second and smile. “I think that’s perfect. I hope all our daughters are lesbians.”

“Why?”

“Then we gain three more daughters instead of losing the ones we have to men.” It made more sense when I thought it than it does when I actually voice it.

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