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Stevie had become surprisingly shy all of a sudden, just looking around their house at all the photos displayed, taking everything in, which was the total opposite of how she reacted with my teammates this morning, calling them out and yelling that they were dummies. But it made sense she was more nervous meeting family. I was used to being the shy one as a kid, so I didn’t want to push her. Plus, it oddly felt like we were a team now, us against whoever she met. I didn’t want her to be scared, but I fucking loved that she sought comfort in me and used me as her shield.
I scratched my cheek as I stared at my older brother leaning over the stove. Addie hated cooking and burned everything she ever attempted to make, but Casey was practically a gourmet chef, they made a great pair like that.
My brother’s short hair was sticking up messily and his beard was unkempt. From the bags under his eyes, it looked like he hadn’t slept in days, and I suddenly wondered what the fuck was going on. But I had to get my news out first before I dug for what was wrong with him.
“So… Kind of have a surprise for you,” I started, not really knowing how to phrase it.
He briefly looked over at me then did a double take. He leaned a little to see Stevie, who was still huddled behind me, then locked eyes with me.
“Case, I’d like you to meet my daughter,” Casey blanched, “named Stevie Haley,” I continued. Recognition dawned on his face at the last name.
I nodded, wordlessly telling him he was right.
He blinked a few times in silence, then slowly bent down, his knees cracking, to be eye level with her. He leaned a bit to the side to see her behind me but didn’t force her to make a move.
“Hi,” his deep voice rumbled gently, and his face softened. “I’m Uncle Casey. Sorry I didn’t know about you until now, Sweetheart, but it’s nice to meet you.”
Damn, how was my brother so much calmer than I was about this? How come I didn’t say something like that instead of stuttering and demanding answers?
Stevie’s lips twisted as she leaned out from behind me. “Hi.”
Case smiled. “Wow, you look a lot like your Mom.”
“Really?” she asked earnestly, stepping out from my shadow a bit more and pushing her hair behind her ears.
“Oh yeah. I can clearly see the resemblance. I never met her, but I saw pictures tacked on Loverboy here’s wall,” he said with a smirk. “She’s an artist, right?”
“Yeah. Tyler even has a picture in his room.”
“I know the one. With the car and the sunset, right?”
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Mom’s got one just like it. She said it was a picture of her and my dad.”
My chest squeezed at that. I was glad she made one for herself, just like she said she would. That meant she still carried a token of me through the years as well… Well, beyond Stevie. Even though we never had much of a romantic relationship, I did truly love her.
Right then, the boys came storming into the kitchen.
Beau puffed his chest out and pointed an index finger at his dad. “Mommy saysyouhave to come get her right now or she’s gonna walk out all by herself.”
It was my turn to cut a questioning look at Casey. He met my gaze warily, then looked back at his children.
“She says she can hear Uncle Tyler and she says hurry it up Slowpoke,” Ty added.
“Yeah, Slowpoke,” Beau gave a hearty laugh.
“Guys, this is your cousin, Stevie,” Casey told them. “Why don’t you show her the mini-sticks room.” He nodded toward their playroom.
“She likes playing soccer,” I offered.
The two of them accepted her immediately. They flanked her sides, each grabbing a hand, and pulled her toward the playroom. Her face split into a huge smile as they fired off questions about her favorite animal, color, and food.
“So what’s going on?” I demanded as soon as they were out of earshot.
Casey turned the stove down and threw the dish rag over his shoulder. “I could ask you the same thing. Here I was thinking I did a good job raising you. Had no clue you were a daddy.”
I laughed dryly— because I had no clue either. “Youdiddo a good job.”
He grunted, looking unimpressed.
