Chapter Six
Liam
The quiet sound of our movie is the perfect backdrop as I press the call button for our nightly check-in with Lennox and Kamden. The screen flickers, and I see my own face reflected as Lennox’s easy-going smile and Kamden’s intense gaze fill the screen.
“Hey,”
Lennox says, his tone teasing. “Calling late again, I see.”
Kamden’s face, however, changes from amused to concerned in an instant. “Hold up. Where’s Avery? Didn’t you say she was going to join tonight?”
I shift slightly, adjusting the angle of the camera so they can see Avery resting against Jaxton’s chest, her cheeks tinged red not just from the sun but from the pure exhaustion of our day. She’s curled into Jax like she belongs there, her breathing deep and even, completely oblivious to the video chat.
Jaxton nudges me with his foot, chuckling as he leans in so they can see him too. He offers a little wave, versus talking, and possibly waking Avery.
Lennox’s eyes soften, and Kamden leans forward, his brow knitting. “She’s sunburned, isn’t she?”
Kamden’s voice is quiet, almost reprimanding, like he thinks we let her burn on purpose. “Why’s she all red?”
I nod, albeit reluctantly. “She picked up more color than we expected. I swear, Kam, we kept her in the shade most of the time—but the sun by the lake is sneaky. It reflects off the water, makes it feel cooler than it is.”
Kamden’s mouth relaxes a bit, though he’s still watching her intently through the screen. “I’m just saying, you need to be careful. Especially with someone like her. She looks... well, she looks peaceful, like a little pixie or something, but sunburns can creep up.”
Jaxton chuckles, looking down at Avery with an almost boyish smile that I don’t see from him often. “She does look kind of pixie-like, doesn’t she?”
He shifts slightly, brushing a stray hair away from her face.
Lennox lets out a low laugh, shaking his head. “With her leaning against you, she looks even smaller, like a fairy next to a giant. You’re all mountains and shoulders, and she’s this dainty little thing.”
I snort, adjusting the angle again so they can see us both. “Not sure ‘dainty’ is the right word, Len. She’s small, yeah, but trust me, there’s nothing delicate about Avery. She’s got more spirit than either of us combined.”
Jaxton nods, clearly agreeing, his hand resting gently on Avery’s stomach. “Absolutely. You should’ve seen her today. I think she dug out half of her back yard before we got here this afternoon.”
He chuckles, glancing at her affectionately. “She’s no stranger to hard work.”
Kamden’s gaze softens, his eyes warm but still watchful. “Sounds like she had a good time. Just make sure she doesn’t overdo it, you know? Sunburns can really take it out of you, causing you to crash hard.”
Lennox raises an eyebrow, smirking. “I’m sure she did crash hard—she’s literally passed out on Jax.”
“Yeah, well, blame the sun,”
I say, grinning. “It wore all of us out, but her especially.”
Kamden’s lips curve into a small smile as he studies Avery’s peaceful face. “She really does look... happy. Relaxed. I mean, that’s the way it should be, right?”
“Couldn’t agree more,”
Jaxton replies quietly. “This is exactly how I want her to feel—at ease.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, just watching her rest. I can tell my brothers are just as taken with her as we are, even though they haven’t gotten a proper introduction. There’s something about Avery, something that just makes you want to protect her and keep her smiling. I never expected her to settle in so quickly or so naturally.
Lennox eventually breaks the silence, grinning at me. “So, other than exhausting your girl, how was your day?”
Jaxton and I look at each other and chuckle. “Honestly? A lot of fun in the sun, as you can see,”
I reply, rubbing the back of my neck where I can feel a slight burn. “And a pretty intense water fight. Avery insisted she was the winner.”
Lennox lets out a laugh. “Let me guess—she’s competitive.”
“Very,”
I say, grinning. “She almost tackled me trying to get to dunk me. The girl’s got spirit, I’ll give her that. I think if she’d had a bit more height, she would’ve wiped the floor with us.”
Kamden chuckles, shaking his head. “Height or not, sounds like she wiped the floor with you anyway.”
Jaxton sighs in a mock, defeated tone. “She did. And she’s got this way of making everything feel like a mini adventure. Honestly, the day just flew by with her around.”
Lennox smirks, tilting his head. “And you two actually managed to make it through the day without scaring her off?”
I snort. “We didn’t scare her off. She was right there with us the whole time, as bold as ever. I swear, it’s like nothing fazes her.”
Kamden leans back, clearly enjoying our storytelling. “Bold, huh? Sounds like you found a real firecracker.”
“Absolutely,”
Jaxton says with a grin. “That’s putting it lightly.”
Lennox’s smile shifts, softening as he looks over at her one more time. “Well, she’s lucky to have you two, but I think you guys are the lucky ones. There’s something about her... even just watching her sleep. She’s got this calm energy, like everything’s good as long as she’s close.”
I nod, emotion tightening my throat. “Yeah, she’s special. Haven’t met anyone like her.”
Kamden’s expression is a mix of admiration and protectiveness, and I know he’s already feeling a connection, despite not having met her. “Just make sure you’re honest with her. No secrets.”
Jaxton sighs, though he nods in agreement. “We’re not hiding anything from her, Kam. We want her to feel like part of this, not kept in the dark.”
“Good.”
Kamden nods, and there’s a brief silence as he and Lennox exchange a look.
Lennox’s grin returns, but his voice is softer, more sincere. “Well, give her our best, will you? And wish her a good night from us.”
Jaxton’s face lights up as he gives a small, fond smile. “Of course. I think she’ll appreciate knowing that you two thought about her. She’s going to be disappointed that she missed the call, since she was looking forward to it.”
Kamden smirks, crossing his arms. “We’re family. If she’s yours, she’s ours.”
I chuckle, feeling the warmth of the bond between all of us. “Sounds like we’re all in agreement then. We’ll make sure she gets that message loud and clear.”
Lennox leans closer, giving a small wave to the camera. “Good night, brothers. Take care of our girl.”
Jaxton and I nod, and with a final wave, the screen goes dark. I glance down at Avery, still fast asleep against Jax’s chest, and smile.