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“Yep. I almost m-managed four laps,” I told him proudly.
“That’s amazing. Well done,” he beamed at me, and I felt some pride in it.
“It’s n-not much, but it’s a start,” I shrugged, feeling overwhelmed by his praise.
“It’s a great start, tiny,” Trent agreed with a smile.
“We’ll be sure to warn you next time Rye is in the garden,” Nan told me and I nodded and smiled gratefully. I felt a complete idiot for the way I’d reacted, but I couldn’t change it. Dogs had always terrified me, ever since the day the one from next door took a chunk out of me, and I couldn’t even fathom how I would learn to get over that fear.
“I sh-should go and shower. I’m gross,” I said, needing to get moving if I was going to find a way to get into town to pick up a gift for my Dad before everyone arrived for dinner.
“That’s what that stench is,” Trent joked as he looked to me with a grimace.
A huge smile stretched across my face as I held my arms out and lunged towards Trent, ready to give him a huge, sweaty hug.
“Aww, come here big bro. Let me give you a nice big hug,” I taunted.
“No way! Back the fuck up, Blake. I just got dressed to meet my bud and I am not changing!” he growled as he started to back up in a hurry. He was dressed smartly in pale grey chinos with a loose white cotton shirt. He had taken the time to style and wax his hair and I could smell his aftershave. I suspected the ‘bud’ he had mentioned may be a date, but I didn’t want to question him. It was his business.
“Don’t you want a cuddle, Trent?” I asked, laughing the whole time as I chased after him across the garden.
“Take a damn shower, you menace!” he shouted as he ran into the kitchen and slammed the glass door closed before I could follow.
“You sure you’re alright, Blake?” Dad asked as he appeared behind me where I stood laughing and trying to catch my breath again, near the door Trent had run through.
“I’m fine,” I agreed with a nod.
“Good. I need to run into the office today, but I’ll be back in plenty of time for dinner. Trent’s headed out too. Are you going to be okay here with Nan and Luca?”
“Yep,” I agreed confidently. “I have a few things to do too.”
“Just be sure Luca goes with you, won’t you?”
“I will. You don’t h-have to worry so much, Dad. I’m starting to find my feet here now. I…I’m h-happy,” I admitted. Dad placed his hand on my cheek and cradled my face as he smiled softly.
“That’s all I want for you, sweetheart. You deserve so much happiness,” he sighed. I smiled too, but I couldn’t speak, choked up by his words. He leaned in to place a kiss on top of my sweaty head, then released me. “I should go and change. See you at dinner.”
“Okay,” I agreed, then I turned and walked across the garden back to the doors that led into my bedroom. It had been a crazy morning, but I was once again walking away from it feeling this sense of peace and contentment, that was becoming increasingly familiar to me in this new life I had wandered into.
CHAPTER 14
BLAKE
As soon as Luca pulled up to park in the middle of town I saw the twins leaning against Liam’s black truck, parked directly across the street from us. They both looked amazing in their own unique ways. Tom was looking a little ‘preppy’ in tailored charcoal grey slacks and a white, short sleeved shirt, which he wore untucked, but buttoned to his neck. He had dressed it down with white trainers and he looked relaxed in his black Ray-bans. Liam was more casual looking in khaki cargo shorts and a black t-shirt that sculpted around his muscular biceps. His hair was messy, as though he had been running his hands through it over and over, but with the aviators he wore, he was stunning. They both were, especially with the golden tone to their skin from the amount of time they spent working outdoors, and when I saw them casually leant against that truck, laughing and smiling with each other, my heart skipped a beat.
As soon as Luca stepped out of his car, they saw him and started to head over, waiting to cross the street as Luca came around to the passenger door and held a hand out to me, to help me down from the tall SUV.
“Hey gorgeous,” Liam greeted as he appeared before me. I looked up and tried to contain the ridiculously huge smile on my face, at seeing them both.
“Hi,” I greeted as I let go of Luca’s hand and gave him a nod of thanks for his aid. As soon as I took a step toward the twins I found myself immersed in their arms, the both of them squishing me between them in a hug. “Thanks so much for meeting me. I c-could have just come with Luca, but h-he’s not from here, so he doesn’t know where anything is, any more than I do,” I rambled a little nervously. They just made me feel so flustered.
“No problem, babe,” Tom told me. “We weren’t doing anything and we’ll take any chance we can to spend some time with you.”
“What are we shopping for? It sounded pretty urgent,” Liam asked.
“I had no idea until th-this morning that it’s Dad’s birthday. I n-need to get him a gift.”
“I really don’t think your Dad would care about a gift, Blake. He’s happy enough just to have you around,” Tom said, and Liam nodded in agreement.
