Chapter 44
44
ASHER
I clasped Summer’s hand as we walked to Eugene and Heather’s front door together, our feet crunching on the thin layer of snow that had fallen overnight. We hadn’t been apart from each other since Friday evening, and I was riding high from being wrapped up in Summer.
Somehow, that only made me more anxious about what was to come.
The fact we hadn’t been inundated with visitors might mean that the Braddocks had been respectfully giving us space, or it might mean that they were all furious and never wanted to see our faces again.
Summer squeezed my hand. “It will be okay.”
“I know.” I could say as much for her sake, even if I didn’t totally believe it. But at least, after today, the big reveal would be done. We’d break the news to my family this afternoon and pray to God they hadn’t heard it from anyone else or Mum would complain until my dying day.
If there was gossip to be spread, she needed to be the one spreading it.
I knocked, and then opened the door. We each took our boots off and left them in the foyer but didn’t make it any further before Grace and Kennedy appeared from the direction of the kitchen.
They each grabbed one of Summer’s arms and whisked her away. I started to follow, but Toby stepped in front of me, his arms folded across his chest. He jerked his chin toward the living room.
“Through there,” he said.
So, they were going for a divide and conquer approach.
I turned and headed toward the living room, feeling like a man on the way to his execution. There were reasons Summer hadn’t dated much in high school, and her brothers ranked high on that list. Even when I’d counted myself among the men determined to protect her, I’d realized we were a bit over the top.
Now, I just prayed they could keep calm enough to have a rational conversation despite the fact I wasn’t what they wanted for their sister.
“Morning, Asher,” Heather said as I entered.
I frowned, surprised she wasn’t in the kitchen, interrogating Summer. But perhaps she thought I was the more pressing issue.
“Good morning,” I replied cautiously, glancing around the room. Toby and Max were sitting on the sofa. Max met my eyes and didn’t glare. Off to a good start. Liam and Nate occupied the armchairs, and Connor was leaning against the far wall, his chin lowered, expression unreadable.
Heather’s kind face creased in a smile. “Before I go, I just wanted you to know that I’m happy for you.”
I was so stunned it took me a moment to respond. “Thank you.”
She clasped my shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t let these knuckleheads scare you away.”
She left the room, and I couldn’t help but wish she’d stayed. Now I was alone with the Braddock brothers, and I didn’t know whether any of them would support me, even if I could be reasonably confident that Max wouldn’t let anyone permanently injure me.
Where was Eugene when I needed him? I’d been counting on his presence.
“What about the rest of you?” I asked, not sitting.
Liam didn’t make any move to respond. He didn’t look thrilled, but he hadn’t punched me or sworn at me, and I was willing to celebrate the small wins.
Toby leaned forward, his forearms on his thighs. “As long as you treat Summer right, you and I won’t have a problem.”
The band around my chest loosened slightly. “Thanks, Tobes.”
He grinned. “No problem. I’m going to have so much ammunition to tease Summer with after this.”
Poor Summer.
“Don’t fuck it up,” Connor said.“I don’t care what else is going on in your life, she comes first, no matter what.”
I met his dark, steady gaze. “Agreed. I won’t fuck it up.”
At least, I’d do my best not to.
“Good.” The corners of his mouth twitched. “Because if you do—if you let her down—I know all the best places to hide a body.”
A prickle of apprehension zapped down my spine. If I didn’t know Connor well, that might genuinely frighten me. As it was, I was one of the few lucky enough to have realized that his bark was usually worse than his bite. Usually. Connor might grump and growl, but he had the softest heart. Not that anyone would dare say so to his face.
“I’ll help dig the hole,” Nate warned.“Even I know she used to have a thing for you. If the two of you don’t work out, it’ll hurt her more than you, so I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“This isn’t temporary. It’s the real deal.” At least, I desperately wanted it to be. I turned to Max. “Do you have any threats to add?”
He shook his head. “I’m not surprised you’re dating. I always thought something might happen between you.”
I blinked at him, caught off guard. “You’re more perceptive than me then, because I didn’t see it coming.”
“You are taking this seriously though?” Nate demanded, his eyes narrowed.
“Yes.” I tried to hold his gaze without giving the impression I was staring him down. “I told you that, and I meant it. I wouldn’t mess with the status quo if I didn’t legitimately think our relationship could go somewhere long term. We’ve been testing the waters, but it’s still very new. I can’t say it’s forever, but there’s a possibility it could be.”
Nate nodded and stopped glaring. “I did wonder whether something was going on when Summer was at your place after you called about the broken window. I didn’t ask though, because I hoped you’d come clean on your own. I don’t like the fact you were pushed into it.”
“We had plans to speak to Liam this weekend, and we intended to break the news to everyone else after that,” I told him. “It wouldn’t have been a secret for much longer.”
Speaking of Liam, he was the only person present who’d yet to say anything.
I knelt beside him. “Are we okay?”
He scowled. “I don’t know yet.”
My jaw tightened. “Okay, then. I won’t push.”
I wanted to. God, how I wanted to tell him to just hit me and get it over with. Or to yell at me about how selfish I was. If he told me all the reasons he didn’t think I was good enough for his sister, at least I’d have the chance to argue. This silence gave me nothing to work with.
Still, if he needed time and space, I’d give it to him as best I could.
“I’m trying to get my head around it,” Liam said, giving me more than I’d expected. “I can see how you might be well-matched, but I don’t like the fact you kept things secret as they were developing.”
I nodded. “I get that.”
“Like I said on Friday, I also don’t know how to feel about the fact Summer has had a crush on you since high school. It seems like a power imbalance. It makes her more vulnerable than you.”
I nodded again. In his shoes, I might have the same concerns. “My feelings for her are newer, but they’re intense. This isn’t some whim.”
Before he could reply, Eugene appeared in the doorway. “Brunch is ready in the dining room. Come on through.”
Toby stood and whistled. “Phew. The tension in here is a bit much.”
The Braddock men trailed out of the room in single file. I went last but was glad to see that Summer had saved me a seat beside her. I pulled it out and sat.
The table was almost full. There was one chair free because Tess was with her mother this weekend. Grace held baby Finn against her chest, and I was curious how she planned to juggle him and eat.
A breeze swept into the room, carrying the scent of patchouli and weed. Desdemona glided in, a deck of tarot cards clutched in her hands. She smiled serenely at each person in the room.
“Sorry I’m late.”
I glanced at Grace, whose eyebrows were raised. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t expected Desdemona. As I looked around, it seemed everyone else was as startled as me. So if no one had invited her, what had brought her here?