Page 64 of Pretend it’s Forever

Both girls giggled with glee, Kyler laughed, and I pulled out my phone to take a photo.

Then of course, I had to record the whole thing, grinning at this side of my brother that he hid from the rest of the world.

When he gave me a look, I rolled my eyes. “I was planning on selling this to one of those terrible news organizations. What do you think?”

“You’d make big bucks. I’m pretty.”

“So pretty.” Hazel reached up and patted his bearded cheek, and my little brother blushed, before he scowled and ran out of the room, leaving me behind.

I smiled softly, my heart aching as I watched him walk towards the living room with my girls on his hips.

Each one of my brothers—whether I had grown up with them or not—were unique and special in the way that they were uncles. My children did not have a grandfather, nor did they have a father. I refused to call Cale their father any longer. If the world were perfect, he would never have access to them again. And because I wasn’t reacting the way that he wanted, he hadn’t come for them. They were his leverage against me and whatever I could give him, and I would be stronger than whatever he tossed at me. But the men in my life—the ones who had married into the family or were Cages by blood—were showing my little girls what it meant to be a protective and strong male figure.

And they would grow up with their cousins, and hopefully never feel the lack.

I ran my hand over my chest, once again feeling a connection to my mother even though she wasn’t here today. Maybe we would invite her for dinner later and reiterate that she was welcome. She hadn’t wanted to intrude on sibling time, and she didn’t know about me and Carson. But perhaps it was time for me to open up to her. To tell her she wasn’t alone in her not-so-great scope of choosing men. Not that Carson was in any way like Loren Cage or Cale. No, he was a man who knew what he wanted and was honest about it. Yes, the way he had practically tossed me out of the house was cruel, but it had been the wake-up call that I needed.

And I would find a way to survive knowing that I loved him. Just like I had found a way to do so when I didn’t love Cale.

I walked back into the living room, as my babies played with my siblings, and leaned against the doorway, wondering what I was supposed to do next.

“Is Mr. Carson coming?” Violet asked out of the blue, and it was like a kick to the chest. Isabella gave me a look, and I ignored her.

I hadn’t introduced Carson as anyone other than a friend, and he would still be in our lives as part of a connection to the family business. So we would find a way to make this new phase of our lives work.

“No, but I hear we’re having pasta.”

“And pasta for me?”

I smiled at my daughter’s question and went to sit on the floor and play.

When the doorbell rang, Kyler frowned, looked at his phone, then went to answer.

“Who is it?” Isabella asked.

Like all of our homes, Kyler’s had security. It was also in a gated community, considering his celebrity status.

“It’s Flynn.”

“Oh. I’m glad he’s here,” Emily said with a smile. “He’s been so grumpy lately. We’ll feed him the carbs and make him happy.”

“Grumpy grumpy,” Violet teased, and my lips twitched. Oh yes, Uncle Flynn would love that.

But as Flynn walked into the room, his face ashen, an equally worried Kyler right behind him, my entire body froze.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, visions of Cale coming at my family screaming in my head.

With that look on Flynn’s face, I couldn’t help but worry.

Flynn glanced at the girls, and then Emily was there, picking them up and carrying them to the back room, mumbling something about secrets and treats, and I knew I would pay attention to that later. For now, I stood up on wobbly legs and moved towards Flynn.

“What is it?”

“It’s Carson. We just landed after getting back from Seattle.” He held up his hand, waving me off. “Please, you can yell at me later for getting in Carson’s face about what happened. I’m your big brother, and sometimes I’m an asshole. But this isn’t it. We took different planes because Carson has an entire team. And they had a private plane. Sophia⁠—”

Flynn had gone to confront Carson? Yes, he was right, we would deal with that later, but for now I put my hand on his wrist and held on tight.

“What is it?”