Chapter 21
“It’s possible I’ve been outmaneuvered but I’ll never admit it out loud.” ~ Eli
Eli
“What are we doing here?” Paisley asks as I park at Mermaid Mystical Gardens. “I thought we were meeting your family.”
“We are. It’s family day.”
“We’re at an amusement park for children.”
I quirk up an eyebrow. “And you’ve never been here with your friends as an adult?”
“You haven’t lived on Smuggler’s Hideaway for a decade. How do you know everything?”
“The smuggler’s grapevine is very thorough.”
“Whatever,” she mutters before asking, “Why are we here on family day when your youngest brother is old enough to drink?”
“When one of us has a birthday, the person having his birthday gets to choose where to spend the day.”
“Whose birthday is it? Why didn’t you tell me? I don’t have a present.”
Panic lights her eyes and I squeeze her hand. “It’s Miles’ birthday next week. And don’t worry. I put your name on my present.”
“Miles? I’m surprised he doesn’t want to spend the day surfing.”
“Trust me, he does. But Mom put her foot down last year when Rhett smacked Zane with a surfboard and gave him a concussion.”
I gasp. “A concussion?”
“In Rhett’s defense, Zane deserved it. Zane kept teasing him about Dakota.”
“What is the deal with Rhett and Dakota anyway? Are they exes?”
“Nope. They’re an explosion ready to happen.”
She grins. “I do love a good explosion.”
“My chemistry nerd.”
She scowls at me. “Chemistry is essential to human life. Without chemistry, medicines wouldn’t be possible and—”
Instead of explaining how I was teasing her, I stop her rant in another way. I lean across the console and mold my lips to hers. She sighs and I plunge my tongue inside her mouth. Her taste hits me and I growl as I palm her neck to bring her closer.
There’s a knock on my window. “Are you joining us or are you going to make out in your car all day?”
I wrest my mouth from Paisley’s to glare at Kai.
The door behind me opens and Zane settles in the back seat.
“What are you doing? ”
He shrugs. “I thought we were meeting in here since you two won’t come out.”
Miles climbs into the seat behind Paisley. “What are we talking about?”
“Are all of my brothers going to join us in my SUV?”
“It’s not our fault you decided to buy a vehicle bigger than the Smuggler’s Hideaway school bus,” Miles says.
“My SUV is not as big as a bus,” I grumble.
Paisley’s nose wrinkles. “It is pretty big, though.”
Zane and Miles stick their heads between our seats. “What do you know about size, Paisley?” Miles asks.
“Yeah.” Zane nods. “Do you know what six inches is?”
She appears adorably confused. “Of course, I do.”
Miles rolls his eyes. “Paisley the Perpetual Know It All knows everything.”
Paisley shrinks into herself and I growl before slapping Miles on the shoulder. “You do not tease Paisley with a childish nickname.”
Miles focuses on Paisley and grimaces. “I’m sorry, Paisley. I didn’t think. I won’t use the term again. Cross my heart and hope my surfboard doesn’t die.”
“It’s okay,” Paisley mumbles.
“No, it’s not. You’re Eli’s now. I should have more respect.”
“I don’t belong to Eli. Women are not property.”
He holds up his hands. “You’re Eli’s special lady friend now was what I meant to say.”
“Special lady friend?” Zane asks. “What are you? Four?”
Miles shoves him. “If I’m four, what are you? A baby? ”
“Out of my SUV,” I order everyone.
Zane launches himself at Miles, who opens the door and shoves him outside. He tumbles to the ground while laughing.
Paisley observes them. “Are we certain an amusement park is a good idea for them?”
I grin at her. “It’ll be fun.”
“I don’t think your definition and my definition of fun are the same.”
“I guess we’ll find out.” I hop out of the SUV and rush around to open the door for her.
I’m helping her down when Jaxon and Rhett arrive.
“Where’s Mom and Stuart?” Rhett asks as he surveys the group.
“If they skipped out on this juvenile event, I will not be amused,” Jaxon mutters.
Miles scowls at him. “Could you at least try not to be boring on my birthday?”
“It’s not your birthday yet.”
I clap my hands. “You know the rules. You have to behave on family day.”
“What kind of stupid rule is ‘you have to behave’?” Zane asks.
“I agree with Zane,” Paisley says. “Behave is incredibly subjective. I’m certain the word behave means drastically different things to Zane than to Rhett.”
Rhett grunts in response .
I raise an eyebrow at Paisley. “Do you want to end up stuck in the Atlantis Adventure because one of these yahoos jumped out of the boat?”
The Atlantis Adventure is a water ride through the lost city of Atlantis. It’s for children but my brothers don’t care.
She shrugs. “There’s a secret exit after the capital city near the hoard of gold.”
“Best. Birthday. Ever!” Miles shouts. “We’re exploring the lost city of Atlantis.”
“Can we play ‘I spy’?” Zane asks.
“I’ll play,” Paisley says. “What’s my prize when I win?”
Rhett throws an arm around my shoulders. “She’s fitting right in. You worried for nothing.”
I never worried about Paisley fitting in with my family. Between the six of us, there’s enough diversity for her to feel at home amongst us. No, my concerns with her are different.
“She was too quick to agree to play,” Kai says and brings my attention back to their conversation. “She’s certain of her win. How about another game?”
Miles waggles his eyebrows. “A drinking game.”
Paisley frowns. “I didn’t know we were coming here or I would have brought my flask. The prices in the amusement park are obnoxious.”
Kai points to me. “Don’t worry. Eli pays for everything.”
“You shouldn’t take advantage of him because he has money.”
He shrugs. “What else are we going to do with him? He’s pretty useless. ”
Paisley taps her chin. “I get your point, but he is pretty to look at.”
“Gross. He’s my brother.”
Paisley winks at me. “But he’s not my brother.”
“Are the two of you going to give each other googly eyes all day?” Zane feigns retching.
She shrugs. “Only if it will bother you.”
I throw my arm around Paisley’s shoulders. “Come on. Mom and Stuart are here.”
We walk as a group toward the entrance to Mermaid Mystical Gardens. I slow down to let my brothers get ahead.
I bite Paisley’s earlobe. “I’m useless, am I?”
“I didn’t say you were useless. I merely said I understood Kai’s point of view. I can understand a point of view without agreeing with it.”
I sigh. “I’m never going to win an argument with you, am I?”
She smiles. “It’s good you learn your limitations now.”
We stop at the entrance to the park where my family has gathered. “Paisley, I’d like you to meet my mom. Mom, this is Paisley. Paisley, this is my mother, Jessica.”
Paisley extends her hand but Mom pulls her into a hug. “Welcome to the family.”
Paisley freezes and I groan. “Way to scare her, Mom.”
“What?” she asks as she releases Paisley. “I’m being welcoming to your girlfriend.”
“She’s not his girlfriend. She’s his special lady friend,” Miles says .
Mom ignores Miles. “It’s lovely to meet you, Paisley. I thought my boys were never going to settle down.”
Paisley stiffens and I rub a hand down her back. I wanted Paisley to meet my family because her family are a bunch of assholes. I didn’t think Mom would jump straight to weddings and babies. She should know better. I don’t plan on ever getting married.
Stuart offers Paisley his hand. “I’m Stuart, Jessica’s husband. Welcome to the mad house.”
“I thought we agreed on the term asylum,” Kai mutters.
Miles rubs his hands together. “Did everyone wear their swimming trunks? I think I’ve decided our first ride is Grotto Rapids .”
“I didn’t bring a swimming suit,” Paisley says.
“Too bad since the rule states you have to go on every ride I go on.”
“And what happens if I don’t?”
“You don’t get to pick a location for your all day birthday celebration.” He points to me. “You can join Mr. Fuddy Duddy. He never celebrates his birthday.”
“What if I want to celebrate my birthday by parachuting out of an airplane?” Paisley asks.
“Awesome,” Kai says. “I think I love you already.”
I growl at him and he raises his hands in the air. “What? Do you not want me to like your special lady friend?”
“I want you to stop referring to her as my special lady friend,” I grit out .
Paisley elbows me. “Why? Am I not special? Am I not a lady? Am I not your friend?”
“You’re as bad as the rest of them.”
“My best friends are Sophia, Chloe, Nova, and Maya. What did you expect?” Her eyes light up. “We should totally ask them to join us.”
“Next time. Today is Miles’ day.”
“Sorry Miles. I didn’t mean to distract from your day in the spotlight.”
“You didn’t. In fact,” his eyes sparkle in challenge, “since you’re not afraid of heights, why don’t we start today’s adventure with Kraken’s Drop. ”
Kraken’s Drop is a drop tower ride in the shape of a giant sea monster.
“I bet I can ride it more times than you before you vomit,” Paisley challenges.
“You’re on.” They shake hands before hurrying off toward the entrance.
I start to follow but Mom threads her arm through my elbow to slow me down.
“I like her for you, Eli.”
“I like her, too.”
“Good.” She smiles. “I’m glad you’re finally over your fear that no woman will stick around. I was worried you were going to die alone.”
“Eli!” Miles shouts from up ahead. “We need the tickets.”
I grab at the excuse to get away from Mom and her insightfulness .
I hate to disappoint her, but she’s wrong. No one sticks around forever. But I’ll enjoy Paisley’s company while she’s here.
I just need to keep my heart encased in steel to stop myself from falling in love and getting my heart broken. Because it would be all too easy to fall in love with Paisley. Especially now that we’re beyond the hate.