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She nodded. “Let’s not tell anyone else tonight.” She didn’t think she could handle much more of this day. She longed for a bed,andfor sleep. Forhours of nothingness. She needed a break. Herbrain needed a break.
Blake reached down, taking her handandgiving it a playful squeeze. “Well, let’s go introduce you to the circus these two dragged us into, huh?”
Callahancouldn’t help but return Blake’s grin, her good humor and mood. She was so full of light and mischief,it was contagious.Callahanlet Blake pull her into the house, wincing when she called out loudly, “Lover, I’m home.”
A gorgeous girl with long dark hair cameboundinginto the mudroom from what looked like the kitchen. She was wearing leatherleggingsand a crop top, her feet bare. She jumped up and down, clapping with a massive smile on her face.
“Oh,how I’ve missed—”She stopped short, her eyes narrowing and her plump lips pursed. She glared down at their still-joined hands. “Are you cheating on me?”
“Yes.” Blake used her hold on Callahan to make her do a spin. “This is mynewlover, Callahan. She’s brilliant and kind. Not one wicked bone in her little body. She’s everything you’re not.”
The womanCallahan assumed was Axie scoffed. “Well then,I’m left with no other choice.” She stepped forward and engulfed both Blake and Callahan into a warm embrace. “We’re now in a throuple.” She laughed, herwarmthand acceptance instantly putting Callahan at ease. She pulled back, beaming and utterly beautiful. “Anything you need, anything at all, just ask, okay?”
“Thank you.”Callahanchewed on her lip for a minute, trying to get her emotions under control. “For, well, everything.” If she listed all the ways these virtual strangers were helping her, they’d miss dinner.
“Ah, if it isn’t my second and third favorite boys on the planet.” Axie hugged Jasper and Riley while they good-naturedly argued about who was first and who was second. All of them weresuperclose. They joked and laughedandseemed ecstatic to see each other.
The love between them was almost palpable.
Callahan was envious,anda panghither heart:she’d never belong like they did.
Jasper stood behind her, his hand moving down to her back where Axie couldn’t see. He moved his lips closer to her ear, whispering softly, “I’m right here, okay? Even if it doesn’t seem like I’m with you in this, I am.” With those words he stepped past her and disappeared from sight. She was alone with Blake and Axie, the two of them staring at her like she might implode at any moment.
“You ready?” Blake asked.
Callahannodded and followed them through the kitchen and around a corner to a room filled with a massivediningtable. It was the largest piece of furniture she’d ever seen. It belonged in a medieval castle, not this modern mountain marvel she was standing in.
Axie wrapped her arm around her shoulders and Blake was holding her hand. They were letting her borrow their solidarity, and she was grateful. “Family, this is Callahan. She’s gorgeous, I know, don’t stare at her though.”
Blake pulledCallahandown the table, pointing at people and throwing out names at a rapid-fire rate. “Dom, Corey, Hadley, Linc, Maddi, Allison, Baze, Pen, Oliver, Keller, Molly, Bhodi, Riot, and that’s Jace. He’s Jasper’s twin. They may look alike,but Jace is smarter and meaner.”
“Uh, it’s nice to meet everyone.”Callahanwasn’t sure what else to say.She met Jace’sgazeacross the table. “Thank you for letting me stay. Youhave a beautiful home.”
Jace sent her a small smile and inclined his head. “No thanks necessary. We’rehappy to have you.” He and Jasper did look alike. They hadthe same hair color, the same eyecolor,andthe samestrong jaw. She could tell though,evenfrom one interaction, that was where their similarities ended.
Suddenly everyone was eating and speaking all at once. It was carefully controlled chaos and she wasn’t sure how anyone knew who was saying what. There was laughter and baby giggles, mashed potatoes smashed in tiny fists.
A lady sitting next to a blond guyspokeup. “Callahan, I can’t tell you how grateful I am for the help this summer.”Grateful for the help,that must make her Maddi, and the man beside her, Linc.
“There’sonly one doctor in Haxton, and getting most of these physicals out of the way takes a huge load off her shoulders.” Linc, Maddi’s husband, made a weird sound in his throat, as if he was choking.
She whacked him harshly on the back, smiling sweetly. “Chew your food, dear.”
“Honestly,I’m happy to help.” Callahan returned her smile, trying to put some enthusiasm in her tone when she really wanted to go take a nap. “If it wasn’t for this opportunity, I’d be working for my father all summer, and having already spent four summers doing that,I’m sure I’ll have a much better experience with you.” She meant her comment as a joke, but she could see Jasper’s frown from across the table. His opinionofher father, her parents, was low.
Riley took a baby from the lap of her mother, placing her on his knee and seamlessly feeding her and himself. Callahan tried not to stare.
“So, Callahan.” Jace neatly wiped his mouth beforecontinuing. “How did you and Blake become so close?” Jasper’s twin glanced from her to Blake, then to Riley, a smirk on his lips. “I figured Riley wouldn’t really be intosharinghis girl anymore.” Axie reached over and put her hand on top of his, her nails obviously digging into his skin.
Callahan let her gaze drift around the table; all eyes were on her. She liked Jasper’s family, she did. They were entertaining and kind.But beingthe center of attention wasn’t her favorite place to be. “We met in our English lit class.”
Jace nodded, taking a sip of his wine before continuing. “Jasper, weren’t you in that class with Blake as well?”
Jasper chuckled, his hand wrapped around a frosty cold beer glass. “Yeah, when I decided to show up to class, I was. Therewere plenty of days when I had better things to do.” He winked.
She couldn’t help her frown. Jasper never missed a day of class; why was he acting like he barely attended?She guessed hewas playing a part, playing intotheplayer persona of his. Was that for her sake? To make sure there wasn’t a connection between them? Or was this the part he always played for his family?
“You pulled a high B in English lit. How’dyou manage that without showing up?” Jace was studying him over the top of his wineglass again, his eyes assessinghis brotherlike he was searching for something.
