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And that look in my eyes.Wow. We look so happy. So... in love.
And then there are the rings on my finger. They’re on full display for the world to see.
Everly’s caption readsCongratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Easton Hayes!
I look at the girls and cringe. “Hi, Mom.”
LINDY
As Charles pulls up to our building, Brynlee squeezes my hand. “You sure you want to go right over to your mom’s? Maybe you should take some time to think first.”
We landed at the private airport outside of Kroydon Hills about an hour ago, and the knot that had been slowly growing in my stomach during our flight doubled in size. Everly basically live streamed my wedding, and it’s been picked up by a handful of news outlets already, including thePhilly Pressand ESPN.
My mom is going to kill me.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek until I taste the metallic tang of blood. “No. But I’m not sure I have a choice. If I don’t go, Brandon and she will just show up here.”
“True. Then she might bring reinforcements,” Everly adds as she and the girls climb out of the SUV.
“Yup. Like my mom,” Bryn snickers. “Suck it up, buttercup. Better to get it over with. and hopefully avoid the rest of the family.” She follows the others outof the SUV, and I drop my head against the seat.
“Traitor,” I murmur as they greet our doorman.
We used to share a house closer to the main campus of Kroydon University, but once my family’s company purchased this small, seven-unit building, I was conveniently offered the top floor. They combined two units and converted them into a five-bedroom condo. I guess you could say my family has control issues, and this was a way to maintain control.
Maddox and Callen sharing one of the condos one floor below us was another way. There are four other apartments on the two floors beneath them, and a coffee shop and gym on the first floor. It’s a great place to live, but I’m not naive enough to think this place doesn’t come with strings.
My family has always been overprotective.
That kicked into overdrive after everything with Mom’s stalker.
Like I said, control issues.
Charles looks back at me through the rearview. “You ready to go, Madeline?”
“That seems to be the million-dollar question, doesn’t it?” Or at least one of many.
“I think your mother will have a few other questions.” He pulls away, and my stomach drops.
I fight the urge to laugh because I’m afraid once I start, I won’t be able to stop. “Any chance you can take the long way home?”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Unfortunately for me, we hit every greenlight on our way to Mom and Brandon’s. Our town isn’t that big, so there’s only three lights to go through, but still. Would it have been too much to ask the universe for just one of these suckers to be red?
As we pull into the private lakeside estates where half my family lives, I smile at all the holiday decorations lighting up the gorgeous houses. It’s barely December, and already, there’s a hint of snow on the ground and ice on the lake. It soothes my soul. This is my favorite time of year. My mother’s house is covered in white twinkly lights and green wreaths with red-velvet bows hanging from the windows. Small white candles light each one, giving off a warmth I know will change the second I step inside.
As soon as I wrap my hand around the front doorknob, my little sister, Raven, cracks it open with a finger over her mouth. “Shh. Mommy is in the kitchen with Aunt Lenny and Aunt Scarlet, and they’re talking about you.”
My bulldog, Myrtle, runs down the stairs and over to us, excited to see me. Miss overdramatic acts like I’ve been gone for two months instead of two days.
I squat down and squish them both to me. “How do they sound?” I ask quietly.
Her big brown eyes look up at me. “They sound loud,” she whispers, and I almost laugh.Almost.
“Madeline...” My oldest sister, Scarlet, also known as Brynlee’s mom, walks out into the hall and stops a few feet away. Her crimson lips press tightly together, and I prepare myself for the hit she’s about to throw my way. “Is yourhusbandwith you?”
And there it is.
