Chapter 14 #2
Once in Nate’s arms, my niece cooed and jabbered on in the cutest of ways as he smothered her with kisses. When he pulled back, he side-hugged Amber and planted a brotherly kiss on top of her head.
The whole reunion between them was natural. A pang of longing hit me hard. It didn’t matter that I understood why or was responsible for the distance. The emotion was there, raising its jealous head and making me feel crap.
I had to look away, my gaze settling back on Gran, whose unwavering focus was on me.
“Come on. Let’s go in and get some tea on the go.” She took my arm, and I smiled, my forehead smoothing out. I needed to get over myself and enjoy every moment I could get with my family, and most definitely Nate.
Already I could see my month home racing by too quickly. No chance would I waste that by wishing things were different.
It was no hardship sprawling on the soft rug next to Ivy. She was adorable and into everything and did this whole cute push-up thing.
The only time I took my eyes off her was when I couldn’t resist a glance at Nate.
For the past couple of hours, we’d been talking about Nate’s visit, omitting the obvious. That didn’t stop me from thinking about all the time we’d spent together, though, or the soft touches and fierce kisses.
I’d never been so grateful to be able to afford business-class tickets before. Between snoozing and murmuring to each other on the flight to Brisbane, I’d captured as many kisses as possible.
There was freedom being back in Australia. Here I wasn’t anybody noteworthy—not really. The status of grandson, brother, and uncle was pretty much it. I couldn’t even consider what label I’d put on Nate and me.
It was early afternoon, and both Gran and Amber were taking it easy on me for some reason.
Twice I’d caught a shared look between Amber and Nate, but if he was the reason they weren’t littering me with questions, or worse, giving me the telling off I deserved, I was grateful.
I had no issue with Nate running interference.
“What do you think, Ryan?” Gran’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts and the bunny I danced in front of Ivy.
“Huh? Sorry, I missed whatever you said.”
Gran smiled. “Nate needs to head and see his folks.” My heart constricted, hating the thought of missing out on a moment of his time. Not only that, but Nate leaving meant I was open to interrogation.
“Goodness me, Ryan, you’re wearing the same look you had when I grounded you for a week for skipping off school that one time.” Gran rolled her eyes, and heat filled my cheeks. “Nate’s still staying here a while, unless the plan’s changed?” She eyed Nate, whose gaze darted from me to Gran.
“No plans to move back to my place yet,” he answered quickly. The news did the trick, loosening my chest and helping me breathe easier.
“Good.” Gran nodded and refocused on me. “You see. He’ll be back, so you don’t have to arrange an escape or have Nate try to climb the veranda to your room or anything. We all know how that worked out last time.”
I chuckled at the memory, more than aware this was a very different house, but the visual remained.
Nate’s laughter joined mine. “In my defense,” Nate started, capturing my attention fully, “my sneaking in when Ryan was grounded would have gone totally unnoticed if it hadn’t been for that possum.”
At the memory and with the laughter surrounding me, all the tension eased out of me.
“Is this that cute possum Gran used to feed that used to hang out in the veranda?” Amber asked.
She’d have been too young to remember most things about my teenage years, but she was right. The possum had been cute and ridiculously friendly.
“When it’s pitch-black and the damn thing screams in your face, it’s not that damn cute,” Nate mumbled, his lips twitching.
“You’re just lucky the bush broke your fall,” I teased.
Nate quirked his brow at me. “I don’t think thorns in my butt are exactly lucky.”
I smirked, my sordid brain dragging me merrily in the direction of thinking about a prick in his ass. And when Nate’s eyes widened, his cheeks changing color, it was clear he knew exactly where my thoughts led me.
“So—” He cleared his throat. “I told Dad I’d stop in, then I’ll go and see Mum. You need me to pick anything up for dinner?” He spoke to Gran, seeming to deliberately avoid making eye contact with me.
“We’re all good. I put something in the slow cooker this morning.
It kept me busy while waiting for a wandering grandchild of mine to arrive.
” Tenderness lit her words, and my heart filled with warmth.
Nate wasn’t the only person I owed a real explanation to.
I knew that. But despite those conversations being needed, I was so glad to be home.
Nate standing and grabbing his keys and wallet snagged my attention. The desire to kiss him goodbye was challenging to ignore, but we hadn’t managed to finish the conversation in the car.
Looking worried, Nate stood near the hall doorway, his brows drawn low.
“I’ll see you soon,” I offered, smiling.
He searched my face before nodding. “See you in a couple or three hours.”
And then he was gone, and I was left alone with the three women in my life. Amber appeared to be struggling to hold back while Gran relaxed in her chair, quietly observing, and Ivy had plastic keys in her mouth and was gnawing happily.
Knowing this was way overdue, I exhaled, kissed my niece on the cheek, and then sat up.
“Questions or my apology first?” Beating around the bush wasn’t a viable option.
While I’d missed out on so many years with my sister, and we had a lot of catching up to do, her personality remained the same now as it was when she was seven.
Stubborn, determined, and armed with an impressive bullshit radar.
Surprising me, Amber looked at Gran first. I glanced in Gran’s direction, saw her pursed lips, and wondered at their silent conversation.
“I think we’ve had enough of apologies since Christmas, kiddo.”
Startled, I stared at her, wide-eyed, feeling unbelievably like a kid again.
“We know you’re sorry and are sure you had your reasons, as foolish as perhaps they seem now that you’re back home.”
I swore she was a bloody witch or maybe a mind reader. More than likely, I had a shit ability at forming a neutral expression, but only where Gran and Nate were concerned. My ability to be unreadable was part of the reason I’d lasted so long in the closet for all these years.
Amber shifting and picking up her daughter caught my focus. Once Ivy was in her arms, she glanced at me. “I have millions of questions, but honestly, none of them seem important right now.”
Confused as hell, I gaped, wondered what on earth was happening and if robots or clones had something to do with whatever this was.
“You know, if the wind changes, you’ll stick like it!”
I slammed my mouth shut at Gran’s words. A quick look at Amber, and I wasn’t convinced she was legit being so chill about everything. Her smile was a little satisfied.
“What gives?” I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Huh?” I definitely wasn’t buying Amber’s wide-eyed innocence. No chance.
“Don’t huh me. Seriously, you two never keep your thoughts or your emotions to yourself.”
“Perhaps I’ve matured, you know, now I’m a responsible adult, a mum no less.” Sass filled her tone.
“Uhm, nope.”
Amber rolled her eyes at me and focused on organizing herself to breastfeed Ivy.
My attention moved to Gran. I stared at her, willing her to give me something.
“We’re just happy that you’re home, Ryan.” Her smile was kind. “Right, I really could do with a walk around the block, get my exercise in. You can come with me, kiddo.”
With neither of them giving me anything, I sighed and gave up. I expected I’d find out what their game was eventually. For now, I’d enjoy the reprieve and try not to let my guard down. These women were too scheming for that.