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Me:You’re beautiful.
Those three dots appear and disappear five times. Yes, I counted all five times, waiting with bated breath for her reply. When it finally comes through, I smile. I know my words got to her.
Palmer:Night, Brooks.
Me:Night, baby.
Tossing my now-empty bottle into the tote, I grab another and twist off the cap. Sitting back in my chair, I tilt my head toward the sky and look at the stars above. Palmer would love this. Maybe Dad’s right. Maybe we add another tradition where we take another trip and get to bring the women in our lives. There would have to be rules. Like you have to be in love with her before she can come. We don’t want just anyone breaking into our circle. Kincaid family traditions are sacred.
I’d bring Palmer.
The realization of what I just admitted to myself makes me smile.
“Bro, how many of those have you had?” Sterling asks. “You’re smiling up at the sky like it’s a naked woman.”
“Just enjoying nature.”
“Did you smoke something?” Declan asks.
“Fuck you.” I chuckle. “You know I don’t touch that kind of shit.”
“I know, but you’re acting all weird.”
“Can’t a guy just be happy?”
Declan’s eyes flash to Deacon. “Yeah, man,” he says, “you can be happy. Now you can stay out here and smile at the stars. I’m going to bed.”
“Me too,” Deacon says. “I told Ramsey I’d call her before bed, so I’m calling it a night.”
“Pussy!” Sterling calls out.
“I’ll own that.” Deacon nods. “I don’t care what you call me. Your cousin is about to be my wife. That trumps everything.”
“Didn’t you just talk to her?” Maverick asks.
“Yep.” He waves and climbs into his tent.
I wonder how Deacon would feel if he knew I just realized I’m in love with his sister. I’d like to think that since he’s marrying my baby cousin, who might as well be a sister to me, that he’d be okay with it.
I’m in love with Palmer.
That’s so easy for me to now admit in my head.
My smile is back. “Brooks, bro, that’s creepy as fuck. Put that smile away,” Sterling jokes just as the rest of my brothers come back from their swim. They gather their things to take to the bathhouse, and those of us remaining disappear into our tents.
I pull up a picture of Palmer on my phone. It’s one of the many we took the day at the aquarium. Her emerald eyes are bright and smiling, and it’s so clear to me now what she means to me. I don’t know how I didn’t see it sooner. Then again, I was trying to keep this in the friends-with-benefits category. I’ve hated that from the start.
It’s all making sense.
Now, how do I tell her? How do I tell her that she’s embedded herself so far into my heart there’s not a chance in hell she’s ever finding her way out? I’ve never told a woman who I’m not already related to that I love them. I saved that for her, and damn, am I glad I did.
“I love you.” My softly whispered confession is just for me, but it feels better saying it out loud. Closing out of the image, I shut my eyes, and I can see her clearly. I can see our future as if it’s playing out like a movie reel.
It’s time to take this to the next level.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Palmer
