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“Honestly, a nap sounds great,” he muttered, already pulling out his phone. “First time in years I’m not playing today.”
Which was code for:I’mnervous, soI’m texting the group chat for backup.I smirked, watching him type. Probably just tattled to the sibling hivemind.
* * *
Hart Housewasabsolute chaos by the time we stepped inside that evening, after an hour-long video chat with my mom and the siblings who made it to Florida. The decadent aroma of roasting turkey, stuffing, and cinnamon-spicedsomethingembraced me like the warmest hug. Combined with the symphony of laughter and mingling voices, it created the homiest vibe I'd ever felt in this gargantuan museum of a house. Maybe ol’ Suit Daddy did have a heart after all.
A broad grin stretched across my face as Kaia’s exuberant laughter rang off the walls. People can say whatever they want about twins, but having a built-in best friend—and rival—was the highlight of my childhood. Nobody, and I meannobody, has your back like your literal other half. Something about sharing a womb really cements that sibling loyalty.
I’d just slipped out of my peacoat when the heavy thuds of familiar footfalls had me turning just in time to see my six-foot-four brother bounding toward me like an overenthusiastic Great Dane. Maverick might be the baby of the family, but at two-hundred-and-lord-knows-how-many pounds, I couldn't help but panic as he barreled forward, looking far too eager for my liking.
“There she is!” he boomed in that bass voice that still startled the shit out of me every time he opened his mouth. From the bowels of the house, Chip, Alice’s Maltese, began yipping frantically, gradually getting closer.
“Mav, don’t you dare!” I screeched, throwing my hands up. Too little, too late. He snatched me off the ground, crushing my arms into useless T-rex limbs between us, and spun us in a full circle, my feet dangling at least eighteen inches off the floor.
“Put me down, you overgrown Labrador!Jesus Christ.”
“Not a chance,” he growled, squeezing me tighter as he buried his face against my shoulder. “I fucking missed you, beautiful!”
“Can’t…breathe,” I croaked, wriggling uselessly against his absurd biceps. The yipping grew louder, accompanied by the begrudging chuff that announced their German Shepherd’s arrival.
“Mav,” Pax drawled from somewhere behind him, dry as ever. “If you break her before dinner, Alice will demand your head.”
“He has a point!” came a familiar but delightfully unexpected male baritone, right as I reached to pinch the ever-living shit out of the arm I could get ahold of.
“Ouch,” Mav complained, finally setting me down as more footsteps signaled the arrival of another branch of our chaos tree. “Haven’t seen you in months and that’s the greeting I get?”
Chip was now a furry pogo stick between us—promptly piddling all over the floor.
“Ah man,gross,” I groaned, scrambling back as a maid magically materialized with paper towels and disinfectant. I scooped up the overly excitable rescue to prevent another panic pee and burst out laughing when I finally looked up at my “little” brother.
Like Pax, Mav was all Rhodes—towering, warm brown hair, tan skin, and telltale blue eyes. But where Pax was all thoughtful consideration and furrowed focus, Mav was a living dimple with a megawatt smile and boundless energy.
“I see you got properly boa-constrictored,” Kaia noted, beaming over her glass of white wine as she closed the distance and threw an arm around my neck with an actually-acceptable level of enthusiasm. “’Bout damn time you got here,” she muttered, smacking a sloppy kiss to my cheek before passing me off to Alice.
“Don’t listen to her,” Alice insisted. “You’re right on time.”
“Thanks for hosting, sissy.”
“Of course.”
“And you!” I squeaked, dropping the dog into her waiting arms and whirling to meet the expectant, sparkling brown eyes of her best friend.
Max might’ve had a decade on me, but that bright smile and open arms felt like a sliver of home—a little piece of Mistyvale, personified. I threw myself into his hug, burying my face in his chest.
“You came!” I squeaked.
“I did, and you look nearly as fabulous as I do tonight, darling.”
Max was always—always, without fail, even on rainy days—dressed to the nines. Tonight was no exception.
“Aww, thanks, Maxi.”
Before I could say more, Mav demanded, “And what am I, chopped liver?”
“Max just has good taste,” I jabbed.
“AndIwould like some credit,” Mav said, straightening his tie. Emerald Bay green.