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“Ugh, adorable. Avery, who knew you had a sweet bone in your body?”
Glancing up at Harper’s voice, I find her staring into the screen of her camera, clicking around.
“I’m loving this whole candid thing you've got going on. You guys are naturals behind the camera.”
Avery slaps her camera away. “That’s because we didn’t know you were taking our picture.” But he slips his chin over her shoulder, peering down at the picture, and one side of his mouth curves before his gaze floats over to me. Then he claps a hand to my ass. “’Kay. Let’s get this show on the road.”
Harper's eyes roll before she flicks Avery’s ear. He puts her in a headlock while she flails around. “Would it kill you to be romantic for more than sixty seconds?”
“I’m very romantic.”
“Name one romantic thing you’ve done for Claire.”
“I fucked her brains out last night and then ordered her pizza and let her eat it in bed.” Avery looks my way, amusement dancing on his face at the way I’m gaping at him while his sister gags. “You good?”
“I…you…that’s…” I shove a finger in Harper’s general direction. “Your sister!”
“Sure is.” He takes my hand before opening the door. “Let’s go, baby.”
I suppose I should get used to the shock factor that’s part of Avery’s whole package. I don’t really mind the honesty. That part is refreshing. It’s the bluntness in front of his sister that’s hard to wrap my head around. Casey and I have always been close, but I’ll be damned if either of us is going to discuss our sex lives in front of the other.
Twenty minutes later, Avery’s sweeping Harper and I into the foyer of the Drake Hotel. The hostess leads us up to the rooftop patio, and the way I’m gripping Avery’s elbow, nearly vibrating, tells him how excited I am.
“I’ve never been here before,” I tell him when his quizzical smile swings my way.
“I think you’ll like it.” He punctuates his sentence with a kiss. The man loves to kiss, and I love to be on the receiving end of his kisses. It makes me realize how deprived I was with Aaron.
“Right this way, Mr. Beck,” the hostess says, motioning toward the back corner, where my gaze lands on—
“Ehhh! There they are!”
“Woohoo!”
“Hell yeah! Finally!”
“Auntie Claire! A’wy! Dey kissin’ again!”
Our friends sit around the large patio table, grinning up at us. I don’t know if I’m more embarrassed that our working things out required a coming out party, or if I’m just insanely happy to be surrounded by the people I love. It’s definitely both.
Charlee embraces me in one of my favorite hugs, warm and squeezing. “I’m so happy for you, Claire, and so incredibly proud of you for taking control of your happiness.”
“Daddy! Daddy, down! Me want down!” Vivi looks to be struggling for dear life in her highchair, chubby cheeks flaming red while she kicks her legs and tries to lift herself out of her seat. Her wild eyes land on me and she gestures a hundred times over with the curl of her fingers. “Me want hug!”
Harper hums appreciatively beside me, shifting her sunglasses down her nose as she gives Casey a once-over. Her elbow nudges my waist. “Your brother?”
“Don’t even think about it,” Avery grinds out, whether it’s because it’s my brother, or because he knows as well as I do that Charlee crushing on him in a major way. It’s also clearly not one-sided. I mean, for God’s sake, Casey can barely take his eyes off Charlee long enough to get his daughter out of her highchair.
With a squeal, Vivi tears across the patio and crashes into my legs. I waste no time scooping her up, holding her tight against me. I rarely go more than a couple days without seeing my niece, but I haven’t seen her since last Sunday.
“I missed you, Little Miss Piggy,” I murmur against her hair.
She squeezes my cheeks together and oinks twice. “I luh you, Care Bear.” Her green gaze lands on Avery and she giggles, batting her long, curly lashes, hands clasped under her chin. Girl’s two-and-a-half years old and already knows how to flirt. “I go see A’wy now.”
And just like that, I’ve been replaced. Avery’s all too happy to take her, showering her with kisses while she squeals.
Wyatt wraps one arm around my shoulders, free hand running down his chest. “Glad to see the advice I gave Avery worked,” he says, voice dripping with arrogance.
“It did not work,” Avery argues with an outraged snort beside me. “Right, Vivi? Say, bad advice, Wyatt!”
