Chapter 20
Hit pause. I didn’t order an expansion of the family.
Addy
W e arrive at our house within minutes. Unfortunately, it’s not enough time for me to figure out a way to finesse this situation with Mom. Who happens to be standing on the porch waiting for us.
Gage captures my hand while Otis trails behind us.
“Who told you?” I ask Mom.
“Jennifer messaged me.”
“Let me explain,” I begin.
“No. This is my mess. I’ll handle it.”
My eyes widen at Otis’s insistent voice. He sounds like a man. Not the whiney teenager I’m used to.
“But—”
Gage squeezes my hand. “Otis has this.”
Mom’s gaze rakes over Gage. “Who’s this?”
Gage steps forward and offers her his hand. “I’m Gage. I’m Addy’s friend.”
“Who she happened to be with at nine in the morning when Otis phoned her from jail? ”
I groan. “Mom.”
“What?” She winks at Gage. “I’m not wrong, am I?”
“No, Ms. Price. You aren’t wrong.”
I elbow him. He couldn’t lie? Or make up some story? Maybe something about me being captured by mermaids and how he didn’t have a chance to rescue me until this morning?
“Ms. Price? You can call me Nora.”
“Nora. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Mom motions us inside. “Why don’t you come in?”
“Gage needs to get to work.”
He grins. “I have some time.”
“Don’t you need to get to training? I don’t want you to get in any trouble.”
“I already messaged Coach and told him I’d be late due to a family situation.”
Family situation? This is my family. Not his.
“I like him,” Mom declares before I can think of another reason to ask him to leave. Doesn’t she understand? I need to push him away before my heart gets involved.
Being with Gage is a one-way street to heartbreak. He’s a landlubber, and he’s a famous athlete. He won’t stick around.
Gage places a hand on my back and nudges me into the house. I frown at him and he smiles down at me as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“You don’t have to stay,” I hiss at him.
“I want to make sure everyone’s okay.”
“It’s not your job to protect us.”
He shrugs. “ It’s my privilege.”
Dang the man. He has to say the exact right thing? Rude.
“Okay,” Mom says once we’re inside. “What happened?”
Otis crosses his arms over his chest. “Some kids were harassing Penelope. I made certain it won’t happen again.”
“Otis,” Penelope whines. “Stop embarrassing me. Everyone will be talking about me at the start of the school year. Poor little Penelope needs her big brother to save her.”
Otis throws his arms in the air. “What did you expect me to do? Let Vincent speak to you that way?”
Penelope’s face darkens until she’s bright red. “You embarrassed me.”
I step toward Penelope but Gage shackles my wrist to stop me. “May I?”
I want to tell him no. This isn’t any of his business. But the sincere look on his face stops me. Maybe he can get through to my siblings. The pirate knows I’ve never been able to. I motion for him to go ahead.
He kisses my forehead. “Thank you.”
“Penelope, do you mind if I wade in? Give my opinion.”
My heart melts at how he asks permission. He doesn’t simply shove his way into Penelope’s problems.
Penelope studies him for a moment. “Go ahead.”
“What Otis did wasn’t embarrassing. It’s what a big brother does to protect his sister.”
“I can handle things on my own.”
“You sound like a mini-Addy.”
She purses her lips .
“It’s a compliment.” Gage’s gaze meets mine. “Your sister is amazing.”
“I was right. I like him,” Mom declares. “Who’s hungry for lunch?”
Otis’s mouth gapes open. “That’s it? I’m not in trouble?”
She wraps her arms around him and kisses his cheek. “In trouble for protecting your sister? Never.”
For once, Otis doesn’t squirm to get away from her affection. He sinks into it. “Thanks, Mom.”
She releases him. “Now. Lunch. Who’s hungry?”
Gage’s stomach rumbles in response. “Sorry. I missed breakfast.”
“Don’t you need to get back?” Maybe this time he’ll get the hint.
He tweaks my nose. “Nope. Now,” he rubs his hands together. “How can I help?”
“I was planning on sandwiches.” Mom rakes her gaze over Gage’s form again. “But I’m thinking I need to add pasta for a big boy like you.”
He rubs his hand over his stomach. A stomach I happen to know is flat and hidden under his six-pack abs. Abs I touched and licked last night. I shiver.
“I love pasta,” Gage says and I remember I’m trying to push the man away and not draw him nearer.
“Penelope, Mila,” I order. “Clean up the living room while we prepare lunch.”
“But I didn’t cause any trouble, unlike Princess Penelope,” Mila whines .
“No name calling,” Mom says. “And do as your sister says.”
I follow Mom into the kitchen with Gage on my heels.
“Shall I make the pasta?” He doesn’t wait for a response before digging a pot out from underneath the oven and filling it with water. “Where’s the pasta and sauce?”
Mom points him to the correct cupboard since I’m too busy standing here with my mouth gaping open.
“What’s wrong?” he asks after setting the jar of sauce and bag of pasta on the counter.
“You’re…” I motion to the food and the stove.
“Cooking is the word you’re searching for.”
“But you don’t cook.”
His brow wrinkles. “Who says?”
“Don’t the Seals provide you with meals?”
“I wasn’t always a Seal. Besides, I want to help.”
“Let him help,” Mom insists.
“Fine. Whatever.” I give up. Gage isn’t going anywhere despite my numerous hints and outright demands.
I grab plates and silverware. But when I go to set the table, Otis grabs the items from me. “I’ve got this.”
“He’s a good influence on your brother. I approve. He can stay.”
“Mom,” I hiss. “He’s a friend.”
“Friend?” She snorts. “Sure.”
“I’m not getting my hopes up the way you did every time a man showed you some attention.”
Gage frowns at me. “Low blow, Addy. Low blow. ”
Those words lash through me worse than a whip. “Sorry, Mom.”
“It’s okay, baby girl. It can’t have been easy watching me go off the rails from the front row.”
It wasn’t. It was pretty horrible watching my mom – the only parent I had – drink and party instead of staying home to be with me. Spending all of her money on booze. Not paying the rent for our tiny apartment.
And it wasn’t only me. I thought her behavior would change once she got pregnant with Otis. She quit drinking for the entire pregnancy. But the second Otis was on formula, the pattern started all over again.
“It doesn’t give me an excuse for being a bitch.”
Mom sighs. “You know what? I’m tired of hearing that word today. Let’s agree no one in this family is a bitch and move on.”
“You forgive me?”
“I will always forgive you.”
I give her a quick hug. Tears well in my eyes. There’s no excuse for what I said. I’m lashing out at her because I’m scared of my own situation with Gage.
Gage kisses my neck. “Proud of you, songbird.”
My heart melts. Besides my mom, I can’t remember anyone ever saying they’re proud of me before. If my dad ever said it, I certainly don’t remember, considering I was two when he bolted. It feels good to hear Gage say the words. Better than it should.
I help Mom finish making the sandwiches while Gage prepares the pasta .
“Lunch is ready,” Mom hollers after Gage puts the pasta on the table.
“Wow. That is one huge mound of pasta,” she says as we gather around the table.
Gage cringes. “Sorry. Did I use too much? I’ll replace it.”
“Don’t be silly. You don’t need to replace it.”
“If he’s going to eat here more often, he’ll need to do groceries.” Penelope motions to Gage’s plate, which is brimming with pasta.
“Who said anything about him eating here more often?” I ask.
Gage presses his knee against mine under the table. “You know you want me here.”
“Addy has a crush on Gage!” Otis sings.
Gage puffs out his chest. “I am pretty irresistible.”
“You confused irresistible and incorrigible again,” I mutter.
“I can lend you my dictionary,” Penelope offers.
Gage chuckles. “I didn’t realize lunchtime was make fun of Gage time.”
“My turn!” Mila screams. “Your feet are too big.”
Gage nods. “It’s true my feet are too big. But they do help me to run fast.”
Otis points at him with his fork. “He’s one of the fastest running backs in the NFL.”
“You can be faster, too. I can help you with some drills.”
Otis’s mouth gapes open at Gage’s offer. “You’d help me?”
Gage shrugs. “Why not? You’re Addy’s brother. ”
“Huh. Who knew being Addy the dictator’s brother would ever help me?”
I glare at Otis. “I am not a dictator.”
“I have a dictionary I can lend you,” Penelope says and everyone bursts out laughing. Gage throws an arm around my chair and rests his hand on my shoulder while he chuckles.
I want this. Not just today. But every day. I want a man who enjoys spending time with my family. I want my mom and my siblings to be happy. I want them to joke with my boyfriend.
I glance up at Gage from beneath my eyelashes. And this is the man I want to be my boyfriend. I want him to be a part of this family. I want him to laugh and joke with my sisters and brother every day. Tease my mom about her cooking.
So much for this being my family.