Page 121 of The Rebel

Anthony

“The weather is amazing,”Daisy exclaimed as we approached the boat. “Will all of us fit on it?”

“I’m not sure.” Grandpa David wanted us all here to celebrate his birthday with him out on the bayou. The boat was big, but the LeBlanc-Broussard clan was huge.

My fiancée smiled, leaning into me. I would never tire of calling her that.

Every time I introduced her to someone, I said, “This is my fiancée, Daisy,” not just “Daisy.” She looked at me funny in the beginning, but then she got used to it. I was crazy about her, and I wanted everyone to know that, to have no doubt.

The gang was already here and boarding as we arrived. David was waiting in front of the boat. He smiled at us and said, “Thank you both for coming.”

“Of course! I’d never miss your birthday.”

“And neither would your lovely fiancée,” he said, looking at Daisy with a big smile. Oh yeah, the fiancée thing was now a running joke in my family, but I didn’t mind one bit.

I glanced onto the boat. Even though there were a lot of us, there was still enough space. It was bigger than it looked.

Both my grandmothers were dressed to the nines. They looked a bit odd out here on the bayou, wearing long dresses. But my grandfathers weren’t wearing their usual gear either—they’d put on suits. Everyone else was much more casually dressed, including myself.

“All right, everyone’s here,” David said. “Except Beckett, but he texted me that he can’t make it.”

My eyes bulged. That was concerning to say the least. No one in the family would miss a birthday unless it was for a very good reason.

Daisy looked up at me, frowning.

“You think something happened to him?” she whispered, putting one hand on my chest and the other on my arm. She leaned closer to me, and the side of her boob pressed against my chest. I loved feeling her body against mine. I’d never tire of it.

“Something’s wrong,” I said. Once the boat started to move, I got out my phone and texted him.

Anthony: Why are you missing Grandpa’s birthday party? I want the truth, not some bullshit excuse.

“That’s a bit harsh,” Daisy said, reading the message over my shoulder.

“I’m sure he’d try to placate me. Something serious happened. He wouldn’t miss this otherwise.”

“Oh,” Daisy said and then frowned.

I caressed her cheek with the back of my hand as everyone moved around the boat to the windows to look outside. I glanced at my phone, but there was no reply.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“That I miss having you at the office.”

“Anthony, it’s been months.”

“I know. What does that say about me?”

“A lot of good things, but I actually meant what you’re thinking about Beckett.”

“I don’t want to have a guessing game. He’ll text.” My phone beeped two seconds later. “And speak of the devil,” I said, opening the text.

It was a picture of Beckett holding a newborn. Did one of his friends have a kid? That was no reason to miss David’s birthday. Then I read the caption, and my blood turned cold.

Beckett: Just found out that I have a baby girl. I flew out to get her. I’ll give you details when I return. Don’t tell the family.

Never in my entire life had I been so shocked.

“Oh, that’s such a cute baby,” Daisy whispered, then gasped, which told me she’d read the message as well. She looked up from the phone at me and then quickly around us.