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“Mixed metaphor,” Kylee said, and everyone laughed.
“That’s right, swing and an air ball,” Shelly teased, though her green eyes were far too love-struck as she focused on her husband. “Leave those two alone. Pretend you’re a newlywed and focus on your bride for a minute.”
“Oh, I’ll focus on my bride, and for a lot longer than a minute.” Thor’s eyes lit up and he sat back down, slid Shelly off her seat and onto his lap, and kissed her.
Melene and Aiden both laughed at the interaction. Chandler rolled his eyes, turning to look at Kylee. She was watching Thor and Shelly with a wistful expression. She glanced up at Chandler and the world disappeared. He wasn’t a newlywed, but he could focus on his … Kylee wasn’t his anything, no matter how he wanted her to be.
“We need to meet downstairs before Thor, Esther, and Reed go trade out Alivia, Klein, and Greer,” Papa spoke from the next table over as everyone was finished eating.
“I know,” Thor called, interrupting his kissing. “You need my expert opinion to save the world. Don’t worry. I can take care of it single-handedly. That’s what superheroes do.”
“You’re obnoxious, love,” Shelly said.
“You love it.”
“I love you.”
He kissed her again.
“He’s gotten more irritating and cocky over the years,” Chandler whispered to Kylee. “If Hudson ever came home, he’d resume that role. But Thor decided he had to step in for now.”
Kylee smiled at him. “I always liked Hudson.”
“Great guy,” Chandler agreed. Except for the brief visit for Thor’s wedding, none of them but his parents had seen much of his little brother in years. Unless they opened TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram. They could see plenty of Hudson’s insane stunts on those sites. The kid was a natural athlete and show-off, but they all worried he’d kill himself young. With the danger they were all facing, maybe Hudson was the smart one. Mama claimed he was hiding from his destiny. Whatever that meant.
“Thor and Shelly, keep on doing … whatever it is you call that,” Papa said good-naturedly. “Can everyone else please help clean up and convene in the conference room?”
Most of them laughed, but Aiden said loudly, “Melene, let’s start making out and embarrass everyone around us. It’ll be lots of fun and get us out of cleaning up dinner.”
Chandler would happily clean up dinner if he could just get one kiss from Kylee. His brothers were lucky men, and they knew it.
Shelly had already pulled away from Thor’s lips at Papa’s words. Now she glared at Aiden. “I know you’re jealous.”
Aiden gave her a strange look and drank a gulp of his water rather than responding to the weird jealous comment. Aiden had his own gorgeous girlfriend. Why would he be jealous of Thor kissing Shelly?
Kylee raised an eyebrow at Chandler. He shrugged, not sure what Shelly was trying to say.
The area quieted as everyone tried to figure out what Shelly meant by the comment. She and Aiden had never dated … right?
Aiden downed more water as the moment became even more awkward.
“Everybody wishes they could be the one kissing Thor,” Shelly said, all sugar and spice.
Aiden choked on his water and spit it across the table. It hit Thor and Shelly. They both jumped in surprise and everyone else laughed uproariously. The timing was perfect. Aiden should’ve felt justified, but he was still spluttering. “Kiss Thor … oh, gross. Somebody get me a bowl. I am going to spew.”
“Well, don’t spew on us like you just spit on us,” Thor called to him, escorting Shelly toward the serving table and grabbing a stack of napkins.
“Stop making out in front of all of us, or I’ll spit on you some more,” Aiden jabbed back.
Aiden took Melene’s arm and they followed Thor and Shelly into the house, still verbally sparring while Thor and Shelly blotted the wetness off.
Chandler looked at Kylee. “Sorry.” He shrugged. “My family. They’re a little crazy at times.” Crazy was putting it mildly as he tried to survey all the teasing from an outside perspective.
“No, don’t apologize.” She gestured around the patio at various family members still laughing about Aiden spitting on Thor as they stacked food to carry it inside. “You’re very lucky to be part of a family like this.”
Chandler knew he was, even if they did get out of control sometimes. He hated that she didn’t have love, trust, and safety of a strong family. How did he offer to make her part of his family? They’d all welcome her with opens arms, but she’d probably scoff at him even thinking that. She assumed he was a player who’d never settle down. What would she say if he told her she’d always been his dream woman and he’d settle down with her in an instant? Would she kiss him like she had as a teenager? Then how long would it take before she sent him a text and broke his heart? No, he couldn’t think like that. They’d been young, and he had to forgive and move past that, but sadly she didn’t seem to want to give him a chance again and move past his womanizer reputation.
Kylee started stacking the paper plates that his brothers and their ladies had left behind in their argument. They’d all be humiliated if they knew she was cleaning up after them. He helped her and they carried piles to the garbage.
