Page 40 of Suddenly Beck

He looks up and locks eyes with Joss, smiling widely. ‘She’s so tiny,’ he whispers.

Joss watches him assessingly for a moment before smiling and nodding. ‘You’ll do.’ She decides. ‘Welcome to the mad house.’

It’s as simple as that with Joss, I leave Nat with her and the kittens, heading outside into the bright sunshine. The garden is huge, sloping downward, and although we’re a way back from the beach, the house was built on the top of the incline giving a panoramic view of the bay.

There’s a decked area and sun terrace, covered with a vine enshrouded pergola, which is also twined with fairy lights. There’s a huge, heavy wooden banquet table and benches, which my dad built when we were kids. My parents have always loved big rowdy family affairs. Georgie and her parents were always a permanent fixture at our house, as well as Ryan and Deacon.

That’s something that hasn’t changed since Dad died. Our world may have got a bit smaller, with Georgie’s parents traveling the world, Deacon trying to win every boat race ever devised and my dad gone, but all through our mourning, we’ve kept up the Sunday dinners with everyone crowded around the table. I think it was something we all needed, and I’m grateful for it.

‘Hey.’ A small pair of arms wrap around me, and I feel a warm body press against my back.

‘Hey, Juni.’ I smile, turning and wrapping my arms around my other sister.

‘So, I hear you’ve got a massive crush on the new chef.’ She grins.

‘Oh, where could you have possibly heard that I wonder?’ I glance across at Georgie who just grins unapologetically as she places a covered dish of potatoes on the table.

‘You don’t need anyone to say anything.’ Ryan appears with Jesse beside him. ‘The guy is hot as fuck. Beck’s tongue practically rolls out like a cartoon character whenever he looks at him.’

‘No, it does not.’ I frown.

‘Sorry, bro.’ Jesse grins. ‘But Ryan has a point. I can almost see the little love hearts in your eyes.’

‘Fuck off,’ I growl.

‘Language, Beck.’ Mum steps through the door carrying more covered dishes of vegetables with Quinn following behind her carrying a platter of carved roast pork.

Jesse smirks, and I flip him the finger as soon as Mum’s not looking. I guess some things never change no matter how old you get.

‘Juni, go get you sister and Nat.’ Mum gives the table the once over, checking she has everything. ‘And Jesse, you go get the gravy.’

Within minutes, Joss and Nat appear, and we all take out places with Mum at the end of the table, and the rest of us lined along the long sturdy benches either side. Nat is pressed into my side, and I can feel the heat of his thigh against mine. I can feel myself breaking out in a light sweat, and I’m sure it’s just the fact we’re sitting outside in the sunshine rather than the thought of skimming my hand up his thigh beneath the table and stroking the long hard length of his…

‘Beck.’ Georgie smirks from across the table as she hands me the platter. ‘Pork?’

I give her a tight smile and take the offered platter.

‘Hey, guys, sorry I’m late,’ a familiar voice calls from the doorway. My oldest brother steps out onto the deck and rounds the table dropping a kiss on Mum’s head. ‘I see we’ve got a newbie.’ He smiles warmly as he sees Nat leaning over the table and offering his hand. ‘I’m Reed.’

‘Nat,’ he introduces himself.

‘Ah, the new chef.’ Reed nods as he slides into the vacant space next to Mum and starts loading up his plate. ‘You look like you’ve had an interesting morning,’ he chuckles as he nods to the aquarium sticker Nat had forgotten to remove from his T-shirt and the baseball cap I’d bought him, that he’s still wearing.

‘Oh.’ Nat blushes. ‘Beck took me to the aquarium while we were in Newquay this morning.’

‘So, I see.’ Reed smiles. ‘Beck always loved that place, even when we were kids. Dad actually had to stop him from climbing in the tank at one point because he wanted to swim with the turtles. It hadn’t occurred to him that it was also filled with sharks.’

‘Well, this time it wasn’t me getting into trouble,’ I reply as I pick up my knife and fork. ‘Nat got us banned from the giftshop.’

‘What?’ Jesse snorts. ‘What happened?’

‘It wasn’t my fault,’ Nat replies sheepishly. ‘Beck started it.’

‘Yeah, but you finished it.’ I grin.

Nat pouts adorably. ‘How was I supposed to know that water canon was full. I mean, who puts a fully loaded super soaker on display? That’s just asking for trouble, so really it was their fault when you think about it.’

Ryan laughs loudly in delight. ‘You know what? I’ve got just the thing for the occasion.’ He scoots up from the table and disappears into the house, returning moments later with a crate of jangling beer bottles.