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“They’re all going to Rainly Park tomorrow,” she said. “They asked me to come.”
She looked sad about that, so I frowned. “Well, that’s cool. Why aren’t you smiling?”
With a sigh, she patted my arm and turned away. “Because I’m not going.”
When she tried to move away, I caught her around the waist and tugged her right back around. “What do you mean you’re not going? Go!”
She shook her head. “No. Not unless they invite you too.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Baby, you know that’s not going to happen. Just go and have fun. You haven’t seen those blackmailing little shit brothers of yours in too long. Don’t worry about me, just go.”
That stubborn Gamble blood of hers wouldn’t give in, though. It was going to bug her all weekend, and in turn, it’d bug me, so finally, on Sunday morning, I dragged her out of bed and into the shower, saying, “Let’s get ready. We’re both going.”
She brightened after that, and I knew I’d done something right. But the fucking drama started as soon as we showed up.
Noel scowled at me, then his narrowed eyes moved to where I was holding Caroline’s hand as we strolled up the front walk to meet them in front of their house.
“This is a family outing,” he said, making it clear I wasn’t invited.
“And I’m family,” Caroline argued, lifting her chin.
He seared her with a scowl. “I didn’t say you couldn’t come.”
She glanced at me, and I knew exactly what she was thinking. She was considering whether or not to drop the “we’re married” bomb on him, see if he’d deny I was family then.
I shrugged, letting her decide if she w
anted to reveal anything or not.
“What?” Noel demanded, noticing our byplay. “What the fuck was that look about? Oh God. Please don’t tell me you’re pregnant.”
A moment of awkward silence followed his question before I exploded. “What the hell, douche bag? You know she can’t get pregnant.”
Gam immediately closed his eyes and winced. “Shit. I forgot. Sorry.” When he opened his lashes, Caroline took a step away from him.
She gave a small shake of the head. Then she glanced at Aspen and her younger brothers. “You guys have fun. I think I’m going to stay behind this trip.”
She turned away from them, and me too, but her asshole big brother rushed after her, catching her arm.
“Caroline.” His voice was desperate and regretful. He pulled her back against him so he could squeeze his eyes shut and press his lips to her hair. “I’m an idiot. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ve been so concerned with getting you away from him so he can’t hurt you, I end up hurting you, myself. I don’t know how to do this, how to back off. I’m used to being your big brother—and a surrogate parent—it’s second nature for me to want to jump in and pull you away from anything I think is dangerous. It’s scary as shit to watch you walk into something I can’t protect you from. And I don’t know how to...I just keep fucking it up. But what I know for sure is that I can’t lose you. You’re a part of this family. I don’t want you to leave us just because I’m having trouble behaving myself. If...” He sent me a scathing glance. “If you want to bring someone else along with you, fine. But it can’t be a real family day without you.”
Caroline drew in a deep breath. Then she glanced over at me. “Okay, but Oren’s coming, too.”
Gam lifted his hands in surrender. “Fine.”
“Can I ride with Ten and Caroline?” Brandt asked.
“Ooh, me too. I want to go with them.” Colton skipped toward his sister to wrap his arms around her waist.
Gamble shot me a look full of hatred, silently accusing me of stealing his entire family from him. I lifted my eyebrows, daring him to say something. He opened his mouth, but no words came.
Shakespeare hooked her arm through his. “Looks like you and I have an entire ride all to ourselves.”
When he glanced at her and she smiled up at him, a warmth entered his gaze. I guess the two of them had made up from the biggest fight of their marriage. That was awesome, because I was forever grateful for that woman’s presence in his life. No one calmed his moody temper as much as Shakespeare did.
“I guess it’s settled then,” I announced, clapping my hands together. “Everyone, load up!”
I definitely rode in the “fun” truck on the way to Rainly Park. We barely got a mile down the road when Oren smacked me lightly on the side of the arm with the back of his hand.
