No Vacancy (The Aveline Series Book 2)

Chapter 84

PENN

“Well,what do you think of this one?” I asked Darcy as I straightened out my T-shirt. I was wearing a gray shirt with a picture of Yoda on the front that said, “Yoda best uncle ever!”

Darcy snickered. “I love it. Bruno and Jane really do have the best taste in T-shirts.”

I looked down, examining it. “I don’t know where they keep finding these.”

“Personally, I hope they never stop.” Darcy picked off a piece of lint from my shoulder and kissed my cheek. “We have to go. We’re going to be late for bowling!”

Darcy and I had been to several bowling nights that now not only included my brother’s family but also Freya and my parents. We were making the trip to the city once a month and looking forward to binging on cheese fries and slushies while we dominated in Skee-Ball.

When we arrived, Bruno and Jane attacked both Darcy and me with hugs. “You’re wearing our shirt!” Jane said.

I bent down and rubbed her head. “Of course I am! It’s my favorite!”

“Hi, Darcy! Come on! We got something for you!” Bruno and Jane grabbed Darcy’s hand and ran with her over to where the rest of my family stood. I watched as she hugged each of them, laughing at something my mother said.

Bruno handed Darcy a gift bag, and she looked up at me. I shrugged and watched as she began taking out the tissue paper. She pulled out a T-shirt and held it up as the two kids giggled.

Darcy’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh, you guys!” She gripped it close to her heart. “Thank you. I love it so much.”

“What is it?” I asked, moving closer to her. She wiped her eyes and turned the shirt around. On it, there was a giant pickle with sunglasses and the words “I’m a big dill” spread across it.

“I love it so much,” Darcy repeated. “You guys didn’t have to get me anything.”

“You needed one. You’re part of the family now,” Jane said.

And I watched as my family stared lovingly at Darcy, the only woman I had ever brought home to meet them.