Chapter 12 #2
“That is true,” Nate put in. “And remember that. There’s family members that can look up anything. Find anyone.”
“Did you really try this whole acting intimidating thing on my wife?” James asked, and then he ducked Nate’s flying fist. The two started to wrestle, and my brothers moved forward, trying to join in.
I pinched the bridge of my nose and let out a breath. “They do realize that we’re not teenagers anymore?” I asked my mother.
“Didn’t you tackle Denver like two days ago?” Brooklyn asked, and I scowled down at her.
“I thought you were on my side?”
“How close to his side are you?” her dad asked, and my gaze shot up to him.
“Um.”
“Oh, look at that. In your forties and you still get all flustered when it comes to meeting a girl’s parents.” My mom clapped her hands, and I rolled my eyes.
“And with that, I’m going to go get a drink. Have fun making my life hell.”
“I can’t help it, I live for these moments.” My mom patted my cheek and then pushed me towards Brooklyn. “Go, save yourselves. I’m going to go see what’s wrong with the other children in my life.” She sounded so put upon, that I couldn’t help but laugh.
Brooklyn dragged me towards the beverage area, laughing. “Okay, that was ridiculous, and I love them. But wow. I didn’t expect them all to be there in one little spot. It’s better when it’s in small spurts.”
“And with the way that some of your cousins and uncles are glaring at me, suddenly I’m not just the guy that works with the Montgomerys that used to be a fireman in their neighborhood, now I’m the one who dares to touch their precious Brooklyn.”
She winced, and I moved closer to the table, getting her a can of hard seltzer, and me a beer.
“I didn’t mean to make this a big thing. You’ve just always come to the picnic, and I guess hiding what we are would’ve been awkward.”
I cursed under my breath. “I don’t regret it. I just didn’t think it through.”
“Same here. But Bella seems okay with it, right?” The caution in her voice nearly broke me.
“I think so. I’ve never dated someone while I was a dad.”
“And I’ve never dated a single dad before.”
“I guess we’ll make things up as we go along?”
“Yes. And by the way, I should also warn you that one of my cousins who didn’t know the backstory, invited Duke’s parents.”
My hand clenched around the beer can, and I let out a breath before I accidentally burst.
“Oh?”
“They were immediately apologetic, and sorry they didn’t hear the news. But it’s not like they can uninvite them.”
“They would have some nerve showing up.”
She rolled her eyes though I still saw the pain in them. “Like they would come to something so lowbrow as a picnic.”
“There’s nothing low about you or the Montgomerys, baby.”
“I’d like to think so. Either way, if they show up, we’ll deal with it. But that’s another added layer you know. You and me, even though it’s been over a year.”
I ran my thumb over her chin and nodded, studying her face.
“As long as you’re okay, same with Bella, that’s all that matters.”
“I am. I’m not that same person, I’m not broken.”
“I don’t think you ever were, Brooklyn.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers, ignoring the whistles and the cat calls.
Then Bella was at my side, grinning.
“I love it here. You guys sure know how to have a party. Can I have something to drink?” Her gaze went straight to the seltzer in Brooklyn’s hand, and I scowled.
“Let’s get you something non-alcoholic,” I said dryly.
“Of course. I don’t want to drink. It makes you stupid and I would rather be on a sugar high.”
“Honestly, I’d take a sugar high too.” Brooklyn winked, and we moved towards the drink area, and then the food. People came and went, either looking completely shocked that Brooklyn and I were together, or as if they had known and suspected all along.
I didn’t know what the hell we were doing other than this felt good. Almost like we were a family. Though it was way too fucking early to be thinking that.
But as we moved about, and I joined in a football game, regretting it instantly because I was at least twenty years older than some of these Montgomerys, I couldn’t help but know that my kid was safe here.
Not only would Brooklyn do anything to protect her, but so would every Montgomery, and those connected to the Montgomerys.
I hadn’t gone into this summer knowing what my life would look like.
I assumed it would be more work, countless destroyed buildings, and bureaucracy.
Now I had multiple lives to think of, and two women in my life who altered the trajectory of my eternity. At the end of the summer, Bella would start school, and we would finalize the paperwork of what this new family meant. Only I wasn’t sure what that meant for Brooklyn.
Because as the two smiled at each other, I was so afraid of what would happen if Brooklyn and I called it quits.
Because we weren’t serious, and there were too many complications in front of us.
She was still healing, and we worked together.
I was a ready-made family, and I wasn’t sure she was ready for something like that.
Nor did I know if I wanted anything like that either.
But the two of them were already a unit.
And if I wasn’t careful, I’d break that.
So maybe, just maybe it would be better if I broke it off sooner rather than later. That way the two of them could remain friends. Because if I waited any longer, I’d shatter the three of us. And I couldn’t do that to Bella, not again.