Chapter 6
Miles
“Honey, I’m home,” I shout as I enter Rain and Xander’s house.
“Guncle Mies, Guncle Mies!” Sage, my three-year-old niece, shouts as she rushes toward me.
I’m not even sure where she came from, but this little one is full of energy—the complete opposite of her twin brother, Indigo, who’s more chill, like his dad.
“Hey, baby girl. How are you?” I ask in a soft voice once she’s perched in my arms.
“Good,” she coos, squeezing my cheeks with her tiny, chubby hands.
There’s never a time when I’m around them that I don’t smile—or when my chest doesn’t feel like it might burst open with love.
“Are you here alone?” I ask, arching an eyebrow for effect.
She giggles and covers her mouth with both hands, her unruly blonde curls bouncing around her face, and it makes me grin from ear to ear.
She’s so damn cute.
Sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to have a daughter. I think I’d be the most overprotective dad in the universe. If any motherfucker ever dared to even look at my kid the wrong way, I’d burn the world down.
Which is exactly why I’m never having kids.
“Noo. Mama and Dada here,” she tells me before squirming out of my hold.
The moment her little feet touch the floor, she darts toward the kitchen.
A soft chuckle leaves me as I take off my coat and hang it in the mudroom before following the sound of chattering. I’m sure I’m the last one to get here.
“Miles, you made it.” Rain hugs me, catching me off guard.
“Hey there, sis. Good to see you too,” I say, hugging her back. Her body vibrates, unable to contain her excitement.
I make the rounds, greeting everyone as they catch me up on the latest. Even if we see each other at least once a week, it’s always been like this.
“Hey, Granny.” I give her a tight squeeze and hear her suck in a sharp breath. “Shit, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” I ask, looking her up and down for any visible bruises. She’s always been like an oak—strong, steady, a constant presence in our lives.
“I might be old, but I can still handle a good squeeze,” she says with a reassuring smile. “How have you been, my boy? It’s been a while since you stopped by the house.” She gives me a knowing look.
I laugh. “Nah, Granny. Nothing like that. I’ve just been busy. Building the best ice rink in all of Western North Carolina isn’t a task I take lightly.” I try to sound playful, but her impassive face tells me she’s not buying it.
“That’s great, Miles. Your grandfather and your daddy would be so proud of you—not only for how hard you work, but also because you have such a strong work ethic.
” She cradles my cheek with her warm, weathered hand.
Her never-ending love seeps through her pores.
“But never forget what really matters, Miles,” she says, patting my cheek before walking away.
I frown after her. What the fuck was that about?
“My Miles,” Mama says as she approaches me, and I lean down for a bear hug.
“Hey, Mama. It’s good to see you,” I tell her, meaning it. I squeeze her a little tighter than I probably should. I don’t say it out loud, but she knows my love for her runs deep.
“Good to see you’re alive and well, son,” she says with a smirk that gets a laugh out of me.
“I know. I’m sorry—I’ve been busy. But I promise I’ll come by soon.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” she says, her smile softening.
I don’t think about it much, but the house must be so quiet now that we’re all gone. It’s just her and Granny.
I pull out my phone and set a reminder to have supper with them next week. Make it a regular thing.
“Everyone,” Rain calls out, and the room settles.
My sister’s glowing, standing there in a flowy teal-blue dress with cream embroidery—pregnancy looks good on her. I remember Ruin looking the same way with the twins.
“I’ve decided to keep dinner simple tonight. Since we’re a big bunch, it’s buffet-style. Go ahead—grab a plate and dig in.”
As usual, Ruin and Gio are first in line, fixing plates for the twins. Those two get hangry fast.
I fall in behind River, and I can’t help myself. “Damn, you made it out of the orchard for more than a piss break?”
All I get is a grunt. He’s too damn easy.
“At least I make time to see Mama and Granny almost every day. Not like some people, who are too busy riding invisible horses to show up for what matters.”
What is it with everyone lately? Am I missing something?
I might be the carefree one in the family, but even I have a heart. And the way they’re treating me? It ain’t right.
Before my mood can sour further, I reach the food ensemble Rain prepared for us. The smell of chicken tarragon hits me as I grab a plate and head to the table.
Xander stands and clinks his glass with a knife. “I just want to say how grateful I am for the way you’ve all welcomed me into the MacAllister clan. From the moment I set eyes on Rain, you’ve been nothing but amazing. And now… I’m even more grateful.”
His voice cracks, and Rain’s on her feet in a second. Xander gives her a shy smile and takes her hand, pressing kisses to her knuckles.
“Yeah, yeah. We know you two are disgustingly in love. But is that why we got invited to dinner?” Gio asks, arching a brow.
Ruin smacks his shoulder with her napkin, and a ripple of laughter goes around the table.
“You’re right, Gio. We are. Just like you and my sister,” Rain shoots back with a wicked grin.
Gio lets out an amused laugh, clearly entertained that Rain just called him out.
“The real reason we wanted everyone here tonight,” Xander says, glancing at Rain—
“—is because we have news,” Rain cuts in, practically bouncing on her toes.
“Xander and I are expecting,” she blurts out, and the room erupts.
Mama and Granny are crying, pulling Rain into their arms, hands already on her barely-there belly.
Ruin jumps up so fast her chair crashes to the floor, startling the twins.
Gio and River move quickly, lifting them from their high chairs, murmuring to calm them down.
And me? I just stand there, looking around like an idiot, trying to figure out where I’m supposed to be in all this.
I spot Xander just outside the whirlwind of women wrapped around his wife.
I make my way over and pull him into a hug. “I know you told me the other day, but… congrats, man.”
“Thanks, Miles.” He steps back, wiping under his eyes. “I thought loving Rain was the biggest thing I’d ever feel. But when she told me about the baby…” He lets out a quiet breath. “It’s like my heart stretched. Like it made room for more.”
I nod, a smile tugging at my mouth. Yeah. That about says it.
“It’s funny because I don’t think I’ve ever been in love. But I know exactly what you’re talking about,” I say. “I thought my parents wouldn’t love me anymore when my siblings were born. Turns out, it just made everything bigger.”
I usually don’t like bringing up the past. It leaves me vulnerable and way too emotional. But today isn’t any day. Today, we’re celebrating Xander and Rain’s family expansion.
I shake my head. “I’m really happy for you all.”
Xander pats my back, grinning so hard it looks like he might split in half. Like there’s too much emotion jammed inside him to say anything coherent, but I get it. We both do.
That’s the thing about us—sometimes words aren’t necessary.
“Who would’ve thought? The GOAT. One of the top scorers in the league crying his eyes out because he’s gonna be a dad,” Gio says.
Perfect timing. Snaps both of us right out of it.
“Papa, tío Xander sad,” little Indigo says, and just like that, Xander’s eyes well up again.
But then Indigo reaches for him and wraps his tiny arms around his neck, and yeah… there’s not a dry eye in the room.
After what feels like the hundredth round of congratulations, we all settle back into our seats and dig into the chicken tarragon Rain made.
Xander helps her set out pies and ice cream for dessert, while River and I start loading the dishwasher.
This time, I make sure I’m first in line, and Mama shoots me a look.
“What?” I shrug. “Sage and Indigo can wait. Their bellies are full anyway.”
I grab a slice of pecan pie just as—
Rain screams so loud I jerk, my plate nearly slipping from my hands.
“What the fuck happened?” I ask, instantly on alert.
“Ruin is pregnant too. We’re pregnant at the same time!”
It catches me off guard for a second, but once it settles in, I’m not surprised. Those two have always been in sync.
“Shit, Rain. I bit my tongue. Damn near had a heart attack,” River mutters, rubbing his chest.
“I’m sorry, big brother. But how freaking cool is this? We didn’t even plan it.”
Rain and Ruin get swallowed up by Mama and Granny, the four of them already talking baby showers, nursery colors, and every other baby-related thing imaginable.
I head back into the kitchen and grab my abandoned plate, then take a seat next to Gio, who’s working on a slice of cranberry pie by himself at the table.
“Congrats, man,” I say, digging into mine. “Not your first rodeo, though. You kept that quiet.”
He grins. “I wasn’t a hundred percent sure when Xander told us, but I had a feeling.” He shrugs, then adds, “I’ll have as many kids as she wants.”
I snort under my breath, already thinking these two are going to give me a dozen nieces and nephews—or, like Gio says, an entire soccer team.
When the doorbell rings, I barely register it.
“Everyone, we have one more guest,” Xander announces from the door.
I know who it is before I even turn around. The sharp click of her heels gives her away.
“Hello everyone, I’m sorry I’m late,” Penny says as she walks into the family room.
I try like hell not to look at her. She never replied to my text after missing work, and yeah, maybe it’s stupid, but I meant it when I asked if she was okay.
My willpower lasts all of two seconds.
The moment my eyes land on her, a rush of electricity shoots down my spine.
She hugs Granny, and something about the sight stops me in my tracks. As much as Granny loves people, she doesn’t give her affection freely unless someone earns it. They speak quietly, but I catch enough of their conversation.
“Penny, dear. I finally got my medication the other day. I’m sorry I didn’t call to thank you sooner, but I’m so grateful you took it upon yourself to deal with the insurance company. I would’ve lost my last marble if I had to keep arguing with them over the phone.”
Penny gives Granny a soft, genuine smile, and something inside me stirs.
Penny’s already part of this family. Everyone loves her. Respects her. But hearing she took care of all that for Granny without ever mentioning it hits me harder than it should.
I haven’t seen much of her this week—we’ve mostly stuck to emails instead of her stopping by my office—but fuck if my body doesn’t light up the second I see her.
She’s so fucking gorgeous. She’s wearing black pants and a deep red sweater. And my body reacts like it remembers every inch of hers.
“Miles, are you okay?” Gio asks.
I frown, not sure what he means. Then I glance down—my spoon’s frozen midair, my mouth hanging open.
Fuck.
“Yeah, of course. Just thinking about all the shit I’ve got to do tomorrow,” I say, trying to play it off, but Gio’s not buying it.
“Tomorrow? I sure as hell hope you’re not working weekends,” he says, his brows pulling together.
“Pfft, no. Just stuff at home.”
Before Gio can keep questioning me—and before I have to come up with another shitty excuse—I stand and head to the kitchen to rinse my plate and load it into the dishwasher.
Now that the sight of Penny has me all revved up, the last thing I need is more pie.
Even if it was damn good.
I take a breath and head back. I don’t want Penny to see how she affects me. I don't want her thinking she has any kind of power over me.
“Congratulations, sisters,” I say as I lean down and hug each of them. “Thanks for making Mama the happiest grandma ever—and taking that pressure off me.”
A few laughs ripple through the room, and some of the tension leaves my shoulders. But when I look up and catch Penny watching me, my heart stutters.
There’s something in her eyes—intrigue, maybe a little mischief.
Still, I haven’t forgotten she ignored me. And if I’m being honest, that shit stings a little.
So instead of giving her my usual smirk, I turn and hug Mama and Granny.
“See you around, everyone. Don’t have too much fun without me,” I call as I head for the door.
I’m just about to open it when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“Hey, do you have a minute?” Penny asks with that easy smile back on her face.
“Not really. I don’t make time for people who ignore me.”
I don’t stick around for an answer. I’m out the door and in my truck in a flash.
I can be civil at work, but I don’t have to pretend I’m fine around her. Not here.
It was a one-time thing.
At least… that’s what I keep telling myself.