Chapter 78
DERRICK
“I’m freaking out,” I tell Charlie. You’d think after meeting my brothers for the first time yesterday, I’d be done with the emotional rollercoaster, but no. Today we’re levelling up. My two worlds are colliding.
Found family.
Blood family.
Rockstars.
And apparently, the Sons of Brooklyn boys, because why the fuck not make it extra stressful.
“It’s all going to be fine,” Charlie reassures me as we wait for my brothers to arrive so we can all head to Sienna and Evan’s for lunch. “Your friends are so excited, they are probably going to be more nervous than you.”
“You think?”
“Um, yeah. They all love you so much, they will want to make a good impression.”
“What about Chance? He’s probably going to be there,” I grumble.
“Pay him no attention ... but,” Charlie smirks, “if he gives you trouble, I’ll happily punch him out again.”
Why does that thought turn me on?
Moments later, the noisy Sinclairs come barreling through my front gate.
“We’re here,” Callum states proudly, “and ready to show your friends how awesome we are.”
“I’m going to say sorry now for whatever he and those two numbnuts say today.” Rowan smirks.
“I’m excited for you to meet them,” I tell him as we head to our car.
It takes us a while to get up to the Hills in weekend traffic, but it goes quickly enough with the boys all chatting away, while Charlie’s hand never leaves my knee. We start to pull into Sienna and Evan’s driveway, and they are already waiting at the front door for us.
“I can’t believe we are arriving at the Dirty Texas mansion.” Tavish bounces beside me.
“It’s just a house, and it’s Sienna and Evan’s,” I tell him. I look over at Rowan, who is shaking his head at his brother.
Tavish presses his face to the glass like a child. “There’s a fucking playground in the yard.”
“Told you it’s daddy daycare,” I remind him.
“I still can’t believe we’re about to walk into a house with actual rockstars in it. This is wild.”
“It’s just my friends.”
Arran hums. “Your friends are famous.”
“And you guys are Lords,” I remind them.
“That’s so boring,” Tavish adds.
“Not to us it’s not. We don’t have anything like that. They are going to think you guys are the rockstars.” I grin.
“Really?” Arran asks.
“We already have one Lady in our group. Olivia will be here, too, which I think you guys know,” I state.
“Olivia is here. I haven’t seen her in years. I can’t believe she married a rockstar, and Penny got knocked up by the ex-President of France,” Callum says, shaking his head.
“Yeah, maybe don’t bring that up.” Tavish nudges his brother.
The car stops, and we all pile out.
“Finally,” Sienna squeals as she rushes up and hugs Charlie and me. She’s barefoot in a floaty dress, bump on display, hair in a messy bun, looking divine. “I’m so excited, hi, I’m Sienna.” She waves nervously at the guys.
“Hi, so nice to meet you,” Rowan says, stepping forward, his hand extended, but she ignores it.
“We’re family, and we hug,” she says, pulling Rowan into a huge hug. “I’m so excited to meet you all.” She hugs each and every one.
“Thank you for having us at your home,” Rowan says as the family spokesperson.
I notice Tavish and Arran staring at Evan wide-eyed.
“You have two fans,” I whisper to Evan.
“I clocked that.” Evan smirks. “Fellas, come on in, there is a rowdy bunch of people who are dying to meet you all and will riot if we don’t bring you all in.”
Evan leads us inside, and the noise level is already at peak Dirty Texas chaos energy, laughter, overlapping conversations, and Finn swearing at something in the kitchen. The moment we step into the living room, it’s like the entire group collectively gasps.
Vanessa is the first to break formation. “Holy shit, they are hot,” she blurts before Christian clamps a hand over her mouth.
“Babe. Indoor voice,” he mutters. “But they seriously are hot, but they would be related to Derrick.”
Aw. I knew my bestie thought I was cute.
The boys all seem to be blushing from the compliments, which is kind of cute.
Isla steps forward with her bump on display, glowing like the literal sun. “Hi! I’m Isla,” she says, hugging each of them like she’s known them forever. “My husband Finn is in the kitchen.”
“Hello!” He waves as he messes around with something on the stove. Finn’s really moved into his chef era.
Tavish whispers loudly to Rowan, “She looks like a fairy.”
Rowan groans. “Please stop being weird.”
“Never.” Tavish grins, loving the fact that he is annoying Rowan.
“I’m Chris. Do you guys play golf, seeing as you’re Scottish?” Christian asks.
All the girls groan, as do I. “Ignore him, he is trying to get people onto his team.”
“I’m still waiting for the big man to come out on the course with me,” Christian says, pointing at Charlie.
“Chris, I just started a new job.”
Christian rolls his eyes. “Excuses.”
“I play, but the others suck,” Callum says.
“I’m a ninety under par.”
Chris nods, seemingly impressed. “I’m eight-five,” he tells him.
“Nice,” Callum says, giving him a high five. I think they just became best friends.
“Looks like I’ve been replaced,” Charlie whispers to me.
“Looks like it, but Callum doesn’t live here so Chris will come back to you again,” I joke.
Olivia waves dramatically from the couch, while Axel is massaging her feet. “Boys! I’d get up, but I am carrying two basketballs, and I don’t have the energy.”
“Livvy, it’s so good to see you. It’s been too long,” Callum says, rushing over and giving her a hug, then the rest of the guys do.” Axel introduces himself, and Tavish and Arran fan boy again. While Olivia and the boys catch up, we head into the kitchen to grab drinks.
“The oldest one looks so much like you, D, you could be twins,” Vanessa whispers.
“It’s weird, isn’t it?”
“They seem nice,” Sienna adds.
“Callum has the same personality as you,” Isla points out.
“And Tavish, too, and you guys aren’t even related,” Christian adds.
“I think they are going to blend in so well with everyone,” Sienna adds.
“Sorry the boys are coming over. You know Blake and Charlotte are a package right now,” Evan grumbles.
“And where they go, the others follow,” Christian adds.
“Are you okay seeing Chance, Charlie?” Finn asks him.
“Yeah. As long as he keeps his hands to himself, we will be fine,” Charlie tells them.
“I love it when he gets all protective,” I joke with my friends.
“Can I help with anything?” Rowan asks while the others chat with Axel and Olivia.
“No. I’ve got it,” Finn says.
“So, Rowan, how are you feeling? I can’t imagine any of this is easy on you guys either?” Vanessa asks.
“It’s weird for sure, but it’s probably weirder for Derrick as he’s always been an only child. I grew up with those idiots,” Rowan jokes. Charlie slides a beer to him, which he thanks him for.
“It’s wild how similar you and Derrick are,” Sienna says, looking between the two of us.
“It is. It’s like looking in a mirror,” Rowan answers as he takes a sip of his beer. “He’s obviously the better-looking one.”
“Obvs,” I say, flipping back my imaginary hair. “Still, I can’t believe you are single.”
“You’re single?” Vanessa asks.
“Babe, I’m right here,” Christian grumbles. She rolls her eyes and places a kiss on his cheek.
“By choice. I would like to meet someone, one day, but I don’t have time right now. I’m focused on my career, and it wouldn’t be fair to any woman to start something.”
“Green flag.” Isla smirks.
“He’s more mature than we were at his age.” Evan chuckles.
“Too true.” Christian smirks, fist-bumping Evan.
“We’re practically the same age,” I say, shaking my head.
“Well, we feel old as shit,” Christian says.
“Because of the kids,” Finn adds.
“Those little fuckers will age you real quick,” Evan adds, just as those little fuckers start screaming from the playroom. “I’ll go check on them.”
“I’ll come,” Christian says as they head off on dad duty.
They disappear toward the playroom, and for a moment the kitchen settles into a warm hum of voices, clinking bottles, and my brothers trying to pretend they’re not internally combusting with excitement.
Then the front door opens again.
And the noise shifts to louder, the way it always does when the Sons of Brooklyn descend anywhere as a pack. Blake walks in first, hand tucked into Charlotte’s, followed by Tyler, then Johnny, and finally … Chance, who is walking in chatting with the Gypsy Sisters.
My stomach drops.
Tavish perks up immediately. “Holy shit, they really are here.”
Callum elbows him. “Play it cool.”
Tavish absolutely does not play it cool.
But I’m not even looking at them anymore, I’m looking at Chance, who stops and stares at me.
His eyes land on Charlie, who wraps himself around me, pulling me into his side protectively.
There’s a small frown on his forehead, but he then looks away and returns to whatever Indi is talking to him about.
Johnny claps Callum on the shoulder like they’re old friends. “Scotland. Tell me everything. Do you guys really drink whiskey for breakfast? Because if so, I was born in the wrong country.”
Tavish beams under the boy’s attention. “Hell, yeah, we do. We own a whiskey company.”
“No shit,” Johnny exclaims excitedly.
“You’re welcome anytime,” he tells him.
Tyler tugs Arran and introduces him to Chance and the Gypsy Sisters.
“Hi,” Arran says, polite but warm, offering his hand.
Chance takes it, lips curling. “Derrick’s brother, right?”
“Yes, not blood, though. My brothers are his brothers,” Arran explains as they continue to shake hands, and I notice it’s a little longer than normal.
Is Arran blushing? I shake my head because those intrusive thoughts seem to have filtered in.
Arran is just a big fan, and Chance loves the attention.
Arran is asking Chance questions about the band, and I notice Chance’s eyes never stray from Arran as they talk. Every so often, they dip to his lips before returning to his eyes. Tyler and the Gypsy Sisters have moved away from Arran and Chance’s conversation and joined another.
Charlie leans in, his shoulder brushing mine. “Is Arran gay?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know, I assumed he was straight. You see it, too, don’t you?”
“Chance and Arran flirting?”
“Yeah. I’m not imagining it, am I?” I continue to stare.
“No. I see it. What the fuck is Chance playing at? You think he is doing that to get your attention?” Charlie asks.
“He’d better not be. He can’t fuck with my brothers like that,” I tell him angrily as I continue to watch the two of them chat away. “Maybe we are reading into it.”
Charlie looks at me and then back to them. “Arran never set off my gaydar.”
“Mine either. Maybe it’s broken because he’s European, and you can never tell.”
This makes Charlie chuckle. “Maybe.”
“It’s weird.”
“It is.”
“Should we … I don’t know … intervene?” I ask him.
“No. Last thing you want to do is give Chance that satisfaction, and you don’t want to embarrass Arran.
” Chance laughs at something Arran says, he places a hand on his arm and throws his head back, eyes bright.
Arran’s cheeks are flushed pink, and he is shyly smiling at the rockstar.
My stomach twists. “Whatever is happening, I think you’re just going to have to ignore it,” Charlie advises.
“Ignore it?”
“Yes. Ignore it. Do not butt in. We could be completely off base,” Charlie says.
“What if we aren’t?”
“Arran’s an adult, he can make his own decisions, unless …”
“Unless what?” I turn and stare at my man.
“Unless you’re jealous.”
I gasp and hold my chest. “Jealous?”
“You two were on and off for a while …” Charlie mumbles.
“I never had feelings for him like I do you,” I say, cupping his face and making him look at me. “No one ever made me feel like you do. No one.” I kiss him softly.
“Lunch is ready!” Finn calls out as everyone starts bringing out platters of food to the tables.
“Love you,” I whisper against his lips.
“You two are so cute.” Callum grins as he passes us.
“I got lucky,” I tell him as we make our way over to where the tables are set up. Everyone starts taking their seats, and that’s when I notice Chance and Arran sit together.
Fuck.