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"Yes, you weirdo. Now stop screaming."
Oakley stands up from the couch and grabs his sister, pulling her into his chest as she starts to shake with sobs. I'm suddenly fully aware that I’m standing in front of them. My heart lurches as I back up and sit on the opposite couch. I want to be the one comforting her right now. Fuck, what is happening to me? Get a fucking grip.
"Why are you crying? This is good news, Gray," Oakley mumbles in her ear as his hand rubs slow circles on her back.
"Because I'm happy, you dumb ass!" she croaks.
"Then stop crying. You're freaking me out."
The cushion beside me sinks as Ava sits down beside me, mumbling, "You really like her."
Turning my head, I search for any sign of judgment. Unsurprisingly, I come up short of anything but pure happiness and a thick sense of approval.
"I do," I admit, knowing there's no point in trying to deny it anymore, especially when it comes to Ava. No matter how hard I try to pretend Gracie hasn't swung a sledgehammer at my defences, I always find myself helping her brush away the smashed pieces.
I look at Gracie when she pulls away from her brother and wipes a hand across her tear-stained cheeks and let myself stare at her without the fear of being caught.
"Good."
"Good?"
"Yes, good. Gracie might be the only girl on this planet that can put up with all of your bullshit. She's good for you."
I find myself nodding at her words, although my eyes are still locked on Gracie. My girl turns to me now, eyes red and starting to become swollen, but still somehow just as beautiful as she always is. The wide grin on her lips tugs at my heart, bringing a wave of foreign feelings to the surface. She flops down on my lap and wraps her arms around my neck, sticking her face in my neck. A soft kiss is placed on my exposed skin as she lets out a content sigh, blocking out the glare Oakley is currently hurling my way.
Ava stands up from beside me and moves quickly over to her fiance before pulling him up by his arm. She sends me a wink and leads Oakley into the kitchen so that Gracie and I are alone.
"I guess this means that the gang will finally be back together," Gracie whispers against my neck, sending an electric zap down my spine.
"Back and better than ever, Gray."
"So, are we the first ones that know about your new team?" Gracie asks excitedly, using my lap as her own personal stool like she has been for the past half-hour. Not that I mind. I'm more comfortable now than I think I have been in a long time. Maybe ever. But I would never admit that to anyone, especially not her. I would never hear the end of it.
Her left cheek is moulded to my chest and a slim arm is wrapped around my side. Gracie’s fingernails are trailing along my rib cage as she keeps herself busy talking to her brother, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he hasn't taken his narrowed eyes off of me since she plopped down on my lap.
Long strands of blonde hair rub against my chin when she lifts her head, connecting our eyes just long enough for me to notice the annoyance in hers. I raise my brows and get ready to ask what crushed her mood when she glares at Oakley, snapping, "Oakley, for Pete's sake, what do you think he's going to do to me in front of everyone? Slip a hand up my shirt? Cool it and answer my question."
Oakley flinches, his eyes widening to resemble saucers as he fumbles with a response, finally choking a few words. "No. We told Adam about the move yesterday."
"Wow. Fuck you too, then."
"Gracie Rose! Watch your language," Anne scolds her in a way that I could imagine her doing quite a few times in Gracie’s teenage years before returning to us with her hands on her hips. All eyes fall on her intimidating posture—a sight that looks weird on someone so lighthearted and sweet.
"Sorry," Gracie mutters under her breath like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. I drop my head and place a kiss on her shoulder, laughing lightly.
"Who wants to watch a movie?" Ava asks, bouncing off the couch and moving towards the wide assortment of DVDs resting on the shelves under the T.V.
"Sure, baby. Something good this time, though.” Oakley pokes fun at her with adoration beaming across his face.
"I would rather go upstairs and make our own," I whisper in Gracie's ear, nipping at the sensitive, smooth skin and loving the shiver that runs down her spine as she moves further into my body. "I vote for something scary." I address the entire room now while Gracie attempts to reel back in her scattered breaths.
"Scary works for me," Ava says while shuffling through the seemingly endless piles of movies. I had no clue the Hutton's were such movie fanatics. That's because you never asked, I scold myself and tighten my grip on Gracie's waist.
"I hate you," Gracie mutters under her breath, wriggling in my grasp. I laugh under my breath, knowing full well the last thing she wants to do is pull away from me. I move my open palm down to her thigh–bare from the shorts that have ridden up–and squeeze the area I've learned is more than ticklish.
"We both know that isn't true, baby."
I grin when she jolts in surprise, a loud shriek flooding the room. I ignore Oakley's curious eyes as Gracie turns around, glaring at me. I tilt my head and smile innocently.
