Page 25

Ronnie

“ C ome on Kat we’re going home.” Melanie storms out the front door, shaking with rage.

“Melanie, wait. Let’s talk to the kids first.” Tiffany calls from behind.

“But Mom let me explain,” Kat stumbles outside the door, her voice filled with worry.

“No buts. These kids are trouble. First you, now Kat.” She points at Amber with an icy expression and my nostrils flare. “You need to focus on your future, both of you, not these brothers with their wide smiles and broad physiques.”

Yet all she cares about is getting Amber back with her ex.

“It’s okay sweetie,” Johnny rushes outside, holding Kat’s shoulders. “Thank you Tiffany for this lovely dinner, I hope we get the chance to do this more often.”

“Absolutely.” Tiffany grins at him and Kat, understanding it’s better to let them go than to have this conversation in front of everyone.

“See you later boys,” he waves at everyone and ushers his daughter to the car. Melanie slams the door after she gets in the passenger seat, curling her lip and pinning Amber with a deadly stare. Why can’t she pretend to have a nice time? Why ruin it for her daughters?

“Bye, Mr. Turner.” The brothers chant.

Right before he hops inside he blows Amber a kiss.

“Love you, Dad. Love you, Kat,” Amber shouts as they back out of the driveway.

“Family meeting,” Tiffany announces sharply and dashes inside the house.

“What did we do?” Cole glances at all of us, searching for an answer. “I was in the bathroom and I heard them arguing.”

We file inside the house, confused about everything that happened outside. Josh is standing near the counter, crossing his legs with Teddy in his arms. Ryan gazes at the ceiling. Bradley paces in the space between the kitchen and the living room. I glance at Amber, digging her fingernails into her palm. The vein in her neck pulses violently. Her skin is flushed. Her eyes are calculating yet her embarrassment is caught in them too.

“Come here,” I whisper, digging my fingers inside the firm seam she created until she loosens her fist and allows our hands together.

“Did you know about him and Kat?” Tiffany points at Ryan, raising her brows.

“Definitely not.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Nah, I had no idea.”

Everyone answers at the same time, dropping their gaze down immediately.

“Three, two…” Tiffany’s eyes go wider.

“Yeah, I caught him sneaking out a few hours ago,” Bradley confirms.

“And you didn’t tell me?”

“I gave him the lecture.”

“He even climbed to Kat’s window to deliver it,” Ryan adds.

“You could’ve prepared me. I was completely exposed to Melanie and her claws.” Her tone is soft yet her voice goes up and down to accentuate her point. “I love Kat. She’s Josh’s best friend.”

“So this whole fiasco is about Ryan and Kat. I knew about them months ago.” Cole drops on the couch, leaning backward as he crosses his hands over his chest. “From Melanie, it sounds like we’re a bunch of womanizers who came to steal her daughters. I hate to break it to her, but we’re one woman type of men. Loyal as steel. Except for Bradley …“ he says the last word in a playful hesitation, taunting him.

“Shut up,” Bradley’s flip-flop finds its way toward Cole’s face before he jumps on him. It’s funny that I never saw him wearing flip-flops until we came here—it’s either socks or boots back home.

“Boys, calm down.” Tiffany orders. “The best gift your father could’ve left me is all of you, but most importantly, is your relationship. I want you to always love and care for each other no matter what. No matter where the road takes you, be there for one another, and we will know we’ve done our jobs right.”

“So no punishment for sneaking out to meet a girl…” Ryan’s eyes move between hers.

“No. You’re seventeen, you’re old enough to make your own decisions and I know you’re responsible for your actions, but, Melanie has been through a lot and I don’t know the whole story so you’ve got to be careful. She’s a mother. We can be overprotective when it comes to our kids.”

I wonder if she’s being overprotective or controlling like she’s trying to be with Amber.

“Let me ask you this,” Tiffany looks between the brothers, “How many of you already knew about this and talked with Ryan as big brothers?”

“They all did,” Ryan immediately confesses. “We didn’t do anything just had fun keeping each other’s company but I intend to see her again.”

“She really likes you.” Josh smiles, reassuring his brother. “She missed a few group meetings with our friends to spend her time with you.”

“I know I raised handsome studs, no shame. Own it. Don’t apologize for it. But you are worth so much more than your good looks and I’m sure the Turner girls see that.” A smile slowly reaches her soft eyes when they meet Amber’s.

“We got Mom’s good look and Dad’s sense of humor.” Ryan reaches to hug his mom.

“Are you insinuating I’m not funny enough?” She steps back and stares at him with expectant eyes.

“No… that’s not what I meant.” He lowers his voice to a whisper.

“Get out of here.” She pretends to kick his ass and snorts of laughter envelop us.

“We promise to always be there for each other.” Josh is the first to make a move and embrace them and the other brothers wrap their arms around each other.

“You too,” Tiffany signals Amber and me to join their big group hug and we step into the circle with a big smile.

I know he is afraid to hurt us too. I know that there is an intrinsic reminder within him that he will never forget. He will always look over his shoulder at that reaper he can’t get rid of. But all I want to say to him is “Let us in, baby, we’re not going to hurt you. I promise to tend your heart and shower you with all the love that resides in me.”

The words stare back at me with resolution. They are not mine. They belong to him. I close my laptop and put it on the nightstand.

“I know you’re not sleeping,” I whisper, not wanting to wake Amber who sleeps softly between us but I slowly roll over to his side.

“So, what are you going to do about it?” His tantalizing eyes study mine, and a sense of understanding flashes between them. “You can ask me anything.”

“Have you been with other men?”

“Yes, two. Have you?”

“No.” I avert my gaze away from him, not wanting him to see my nervousness.

“It’s okay, look at me.” He places his hand over Amber’s belly, tapping her lightly and waiting for me to put mine on top. A tiny moan escapes her. I smile as I let my hand slide over their soothing warmth. “Do you want to be with men?” He asks.

“I don’t know about other men but I want to be with you.”

“Smartass,” Bradley smirks, pulling me into that welcoming space he always built around me, brick by brick. “But great answer. I like it better.”

“Are you clean?”

“I am, I checked myself after. It’s also been a long time since I’ve been with them, but it’s like muscle memory right?” He tries to lighten up the conversation and I appreciate that he does. “I haven’t been sexually involved with anyone for two years and I’m horny as hell if you can’t tell.”

I caress his hand to calm my racing heart, “I want to try when we return home.”

“Being intimate you mean?” The sparkle of hope in his eyes makes my heart swell.

My eyes trace the structure of his face, the tiny freckles, and the subtle reactions contorting his features. I fall in love with each fraction of him. And her. “Yeah, I think I’m ready if you are.”

“I’ve been waiting for this moment so trust me, I’m ready.” He doesn’t skip a beat as the words escape him to eliminate any source of doubt.

“I’m ready too.” An adorable sleepy voice drifts between us. “I’m good to go.”

We press our lips to her cheeks and kiss her loudly.

“We’re ready for you too.”