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Kai barks a laugh, socking Eli’s shoulder. “Don’t fucking tell him. The stubborn bastard would marry her tomorrow if it meant we didn’t see any cash.”
“You realise I don’t get to just drag her to the altar and force her to marry me, right? She actually has to say yes,” I tell them incredulously. “And that’s assuming I even ask.”
“She’ll say yes,” Dad says without an ounce of hesitation.
“What makes you so sure?” Kai asks.
“Because he gives her something she’s always needed.” Dad smiles when I look at him questioningly. “Home, Chase. You give her a home.”
16
Ryan
Isitgingerlyonthe couch, clenching the stem of my wine glass between my fingers.
It was one thing to finally stop hiding, but another to sit here with Chase’s mum and sisters—one of whom happens to be my best friend—each of them eyeing me eagerly as they wait for me to talk.
“I don’t really know what you want me to say. It’s not that I wanted to lie to you or keep it a secret. I just didn’t want you to hate me if it didn’t work out…” I frown, darting my gaze to Bailey.
“You needed to know it was real before you risked ruining everything?” she surmises, a sad smile on her face. “Ry, I don’t care that you didn’t tell me. Though we should talk about why you thought I could ever hate you. What happens between you and Chase is just that—between you and Chase. I could never hate you. You’re my best friend. The sister I never wanted, remember?”
“Should I be offended by that comment?” Daisy asks wryly, narrowing her eyes.
“Absolutely you should,” Bailey says. I laugh, and some of the tension holding my muscles taut seeps out of me as I lift my glass to my mouth. I take a generous sip as Bailey turns back to me. “You’re not her, Ryan.”
“Bailey—”
“Nope. Let me say this.” She pulls in a deep breath, moving to the sofa beside me. “We’ve been friends for over thirteen years, and I’ve seen you at your best—andyour worst.” She laughs, cocking her head knowingly. “But you’ve never been the kind of person to jump into things without thoroughly thinking them through. You don’t make decisions on a whim just because you can. You wouldn’t have even considered anything with Chase unless you were sure there was something important between you.”
I shrug, averting my gaze, but Bailey grabs my hand, squeezing tight. “You’re not your mum, Ry. You’re the best person I’ve ever known, and my brother is damn lucky you’re even giving him the time of day.”
“Bailey…” My vision swims, and I bite my lip, trying to keep the emotions at bay.
“She’s right, you know,” Susan says, pulling our attention. “You’re a remarkable person, Ryan. Even if things don’t work out between you and Chase—and that’s a big if, since we’ve all seen the way he looks at you and has done for the last decade—you will always be a part of this family. Once you’re in, you’re in for life.”
“What if I hurt him?”
“Do you love my son, Ryan?” she asks, not malice or excitement in her tone, just a question, and one I don’t even need to think about as I bob my head. I won’t say the words—it’s not fair to him if they hear it first—but the fact remains. “Then I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”
“I have a question,” Daisy says, and I nod, waiting for her to continue. “So we all know you slept together two years ago, right?” Bailey and Susan nod, and my eyes grow wide.Seriously?“Don’t look so shocked, Ryan. Again, you two aren’t very subtle, and you might want to take Eli up on his suggestion to buy us all earplugs. You’re rather loud.”
Scrubbing my hands over my face, I groan, hiding the deep crimson that flashes over my cheeks.
Is nothing a secret in this family?
“Nope,” Daisy chirps, and I tip my head up, faking a sob. “But, back to my question. Is he why you missed last year? Did something happen between you? Do we need to kick his ass? ’Cause we will, right, Mum?” Susan nods seriously, promising to do damage to her second-born if he hurt me in any way.
I sigh, knowing this conversation was going to come up at some point. “No, Chase didn’t do anything. He was—and is—a perfect gentleman.”
“Okay then, that’s good.”
“My mum was meant to come to visit. She promised she’d be in London on the twenty-third and stay right through until New Year, but she bailed last minute … something about a new boyfriend she couldn’t bear to leave.” With a shrug, I tip the remaining wine down my throat and thrust my now empty glass to Susan, who holds up a bottle, ready to pour. “I didn’t tell you guys, because I was embarrassed. I should have known, really, that she’d let me down, but I guess I wanted to believe. The magic of Christmas and all that.”
“You know what, Ryan,” Susan says, swapping my glass for the bottle instead. “Fuck that bitch.”
“Mum!” Daisy and Bailey shout, eyeing her with wide eyes.
“Oh, please. As if you two weren’t thinking worse.”
