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“You don’t. Dad does.” It’s a calm but heavy accusation. And it breaks my heart.
“I don’t think you’re unsuccessful. I think you’re wasting your talent and, in turn, your life,” Oakley says, far too honestly.
Tinsley sets her hand on Noah’s shoulder in a calming but also protective gesture. She’s chewing on the inside of her cheek, and I’m unsure if it’s to keep herself from telling Noah to drop it or from coming to his defence again. By the slight gleam of anger in her eyes as she stares at Oakley, it’s probably the latter.
I step in before things can spiral the way they tend to. “How about we don’t talk about this right now. You just got here, sweetheart. I’m going to be cheesy and say that I missed you so much I may need a solid two days straight of your time to refill my Noah meter.”
He nods stiffly.
“I think that’s a great idea. I’ve been missing my Addie girl something fierce and need to visit her ASAP,” Tiny adds.
“That’s right, you haven’t seen each other since before she and Cooper got together. Oh, are you ever in for a treat,” I exclaim, grinning.
Oakley chuckles, kissing the top of my head. “Here we go.” I roll my eyes.
“I’m probably too excited. I nearly started crying when I found out they thought they were married in the first place. Have mercy on me when they actually do this time around.”
“If. Not when, Tiny,” Noah grunts.
She scowls at him. “No, it’s a when. Your opinion is irrelevant right now.”
The closest thing to humour I’ve ever seen on Noah’s face appears as he shifts closer to her.
“And Maddox already punched Cooper?” Noah asks bluntly.
I bite back a smile. “Yes. There will be no more punching.”
“Shame.”
“Noah,” Tiny squeaks through a laugh. “Don’t go all protective big brother now. I asked you if you were going to fly home to have a talk with Cooper, and you said no. You rightfully lost the chance to beat your brother to the punch.”
“Did Maddox make him cry?” he asks.
I shake my head. “No, he didn’t.”
“I would have.”
“Have mercy,” I breathe. “Not everything is a competition between the two of you.”
“Yeah, right,” Tiny says, laughing.
At least my two boys are getting along. That’s better than the alternative, so if competing over everything works for now, then I guess I can’t complain.
It’s not often I have the whole family in the same province, let alone city, so I’m going to make the best of it. Starting with Adalyn and Cooper and what I hope is an upcoming wedding.
EPILOGUE
ADALYN
“Areyou going to tell me where we’re going yet?” I ask.
Cooper’s hand is warm on my thigh as he drives us out of town. It’s a beautiful day, and the sunroof is open, letting the warm wind blow my hair around.
“You haven’t figured it out?”
“I know that the turnoff to my parents’ house is coming up.”
“It is.”
