Chapter 21
Dylan
We were walking toward baggage claim when Faye came to a stop in the middle of the terminal.
“I’m not going to have any of my things,” she stated, sounding slightly panicked.
Jase tilted his head. “What?”
“My things,” she reiterated. “I checked my bags for my flight to Boston. I don’t have any clothes.”
“That’s not really a problem, Princess.” I smirked.
She shot me a glare. “Maybe if we were staying at a hotel, but we’re going to be with your family. Besides, it’s not just my clothes. I don’t have any of my toiletries, not even a toothbrush.”
Jase wrapped an arm around her shoulder as we started moving again. “Cammie probably has something you can wear. After we get settled at the house, we can go to a store to pick up the toiletries you need to get through the night, then we can go shopping tomorrow.”
She nodded. “Okay. That’s probably better anyway. I doubt any of my island clothes would work well with this rainy, cold weather.”
A few minutes after we got to baggage claim, the carousel whirled to life, and I glanced at Jase. “Do you think we should give our dads a heads-up that we’re bringing Faye home?”
He shook his head. “And give them time to think of the most embarrassing stories to share on the drive to their house? Absolutely not.”
“Good point,” I agreed.
Faye laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I can convince them to give me all the tea on you guys.”
“It won’t take much,” I grumbled.
“So, how long are you planning to stay, Princess?” Jase asked as the sliding glass doors opened, and a blast of cool Portland air hit our faces. It was a stark contrast to the warm island temps we’d left behind.
She lowered her sunglasses. “Honestly, I haven’t thought that far ahead. It was all just a spur-of-the-moment decision. I do have that gala I mentioned in D.C. two weeks from now, though.”
“Two weeks with you here. I like the sound of that.” Jase threw an arm over her shoulder. “Hopefully, my family doesn’t scare you away before then.”
“Does yours come with security clearances, Secret Service agents, and dinners with politicians and diplomats?”
He grinned. “Nope.”
She snorted. “Then I think I can handle them just fine.”
I desperately wanted to hold on to her the way my stepbrother was, but he was the one the media thought she was dating. It was fine for them to touch in public. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that luxury, but knowing I could have it in private was enough for me. At least for now.
“Speaking of family…” She hesitated for a second. “Do you guys want to come to D.C. and go with me to my event? Maybe meet my parents as my official boyfriends and not just friends of my brother’s?”
“You’re talking about a black-tie thing full of politicians and donors?” I asked, wanting clarification.
She shrugged. “Well, this one is for a charity I’ve worked with in the past, and my parents won’t be there. But yeah, it’ll definitely be black tie, and probably a little boring.”
“Way to sell it.” Jase laughed.
“I’ll be suffering right along with you.
Plus, it’s a way for us to do something in public without drawing too much attention.
Since the press thinks I’m dating you”—she looked at Jase, and that little twinge of jealousy twisted inside me a bit more—“we can just let them think I brought my boyfriend and his brother. What do you say?”
“Whatever our Princess wants, our Princess gets.” I smiled at her.
Dad’s SUV eased up to the curb and rolled to a stop. The driver’s door opened, and my dad climbed out. He wore a hooded jacket, worn jeans, and a beanie like he’d looked up “cool dad” vibes online.
Chase climbed out of the passenger side and pushed his sunglasses up on his head. They both took in the three of us standing together, then their gazes landed on Faye.
They knew we were both dating her from our text conversation the day before, but seeing her with us in person felt different. Our dads were the definition of laid-back and accepting, but I still had a tiny worry in the back of my mind that they might judge us.
“Okay,” Dad said, walking around the front of the car. “I was expecting you two.” His gaze slid to Faye, and his grin warmed. “Didn’t realize we were getting a bonus.”
Chase’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “You must be Faye.”
She stepped forward and offered her hand. “Yes, sir. It’s nice to meet you. And sorry for crashing your family time. It was a last-minute decision.”
“Oh, you think this is the wildest thing my boys have done?” Dad snorted. “My oldest dated his professor. Now these two are dating the same person. Bringing home the president’s daughter is tame in comparison.”
“Dad,” I groaned.
He squeezed my shoulder. “You know I’m just giving you a hard time. But you have to admit, you all like to keep things interesting.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Jase moved to the trunk. “How about we load up and get on the road. You two can keep giving us shit on the way.”
We tossed our bags into the back of the SUV. Faye climbed into the middle row to sit between Jase and me like usual. The second we were all in, Dad pulled away from the curb.
Chase twisted in his seat to look back at us. “So you went and got a girlfriend and non-roster invites while you were away. Anything else you two want to drop on us?”
Well, Jase and I are exploring more than just dating the same person …
“Think that’s it,” I replied. “For now.”
The conversation quickly shifted to baseball, and I was grateful they both seemed cool with Faye coming home with us.
Twenty minutes later, when we pulled into the driveway, the exhaustion from our travels was starting to set in.
We hauled our bags up to the door, and Chase had barely begun typing the door code when it was yanked open from the inside.
Cammie stood there in an oversized Seawolves hoodie, faded leggings, and her hair in a messy bun.
“Finally—” Her gaze landed on Faye, and she froze.
Slowly, she turned to Jase and me. “You brought Faye home? Why didn’t you warn me?
” she demanded. “I would have put on real pants and brushed my hair.”
“Cammie, chill.” Jase walked inside and placed the luggage he was carrying by the stairs, and I followed.
She took a deep breath and addressed Faye again. “I love your style. I’ve stalked your socials a few times when I’ve needed fashion inspo.”
Faye blinked, then laughed. “Thanks. Your brothers are taking me shopping tomorrow. You should come with us.”
Cammie’s jaw dropped open, and I was afraid she might pass out. “Uh … okay.”
Chase chuckled and pulled Cammie into his side. “Why don’t we let them get settled for a few minutes before you commandeer all of Faye’s time.” He guided my stepsister away, then glanced back at us. “Dinner will be ready in about an hour and a half.”
“Perfect,” I replied. “That should give us enough time to run to the store real quick to pick up some stuff.”
Faye nodded. “That sounds good. Thank you.”
“We’re having game night after dinner,” Cammie announced as we started walking upstairs. “And fair warning, everyone in this house is super competitive.”
I chuckled. “She’s not lying. I hope you’re ready for your initiation.”
Faye lifted an eyebrow. “Bring it on.”
After dinner, we all moved to the living room.
Chase set plates of snacks on the coffee table. “All right. Hope you’re all prepared to lose.”
“Nice, Dad.” Jase shook his head. “It’s bad enough you trash-talk when it’s just us.”
“Wouldn’t you rather Faye get to know the real us?” my dad asked.
“Not if it’s going to make us look bad,” I grumbled.
“Faye’s on my team,” Cammie called out.
Faye glanced at me and Jase, then at Cammie. “What are we playing?”
“Pictionary,” Chase answered. “High stakes. Losers have to do dishes for a week.”
“We literally just got home, and you’re already trying to assign chores.” Jase groaned.
“Then win,” Dad replied simply.
Faye slid a conspiratorial look at Cammie. “Think we can take them?”
My stepsister nodded. “Absolutely.”
We’d dragged the coffee table out of the way and set the big Pictionary pad on an easel near the TV.
“Ground rules,” Dad said. “No writing letters, no talking while drawing, and no psychic stepbrother nonsense.”
He aimed that last part at me and Jase.
“That’s called teamwork,” Jase stated.
“You guys can keep talking, but Faye and I are going to clean the floor with you.” My stepsister smirked.
I leaned close to Jase and dropped my voice. “We can’t lose to them, or we’ll never hear the end of it."
He nodded. “Then get your psychic powers ready, bro.”
The game started with my dad and Chase. Chase drew something that looked vaguely like a potato with sticks coming out of it. Dad shouted, “Octopus! Car! Explosion! Tyler’s haircut sophomore year!”
I snorted. “It really was that bad.”
“Christmas!” Dad continued to yell. “Christmas tree. Holiday. Ornament. Hallmark movie where she falls for the small-town guy—”
“Time,” Cammie sing-songed.
“It was ‘forest,’” Chase sighed, flipping the pad around.
“It looked more like broccoli.” Jase laughed
Faye pressed a hand to her mouth to hide her smile.
They didn’t get the point. Cammie and Faye went next. Cammie barely had time to draw a lopsided stick figure before Faye said, “Baseball pitcher.”
Jase and I groaned in unison.
“See?” my stepsister announced. “I knew we’d kick butt.”
“You probably cheated,” I muttered under my breath.
“You’re just jealous,” Faye teased.
Jase took the card and stepped up to the pad for our turn. He glanced at the word and grinned.
The timer flipped.
He drew one line. Just a quick, curved swoop.
“Wave,” I guessed.
“Yes!” We high-fived.
Everyone else stared between us and the single line.
Dad pointed his marker at us. “This is exactly what I was talking about. Psychic bullshit.”
“It’s not psychic,” I argued, but I was laughing. “It’s years of practice.”