24. Gavin
Gavin
Ilift the large sign high in the air, making sure everyone coming into the arrivals area can see it. If my brother is going to insist I pick him up at the airport, you bet your ass I’m embarrassing him in the process.
WELCOME HOME FROM PRISON, EMMETT!
THIS IS WHY MOM LIKED ME BEST!
I know, I’m the worst. But hey, the amount of people I see laughing makes it all worth it.
He finally steps onto the escalator bringing people into the area and I hit him with a huge grin.
He just shakes his head and sticks up both middle fingers as he walks my way. “We both know that’s a lie. I was obviously mom’s favorite.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, little brother.”
He pulls me into a tight hug. “Missed you.”
“Missed you more. We have a lot to catch up on.”
I haven’t told him yet about Dani and me. We’ve been in this getting to know you phase for nearly two months now, and while it’s going really well, I don’t want to tell Emmett anything until we have things figured out.
He took the original breakup hard, and while I don’t see things not working out, I don’t want to get his hopes up if something doesn’t happen.
But he’s visiting for a few weeks, and I have two objectives while he’s here.
Convince him to move to town, and tell him about Dani.
Why do both make me beyond nervous? Nothing would make me happier than to have both my brother and my girl here with me.
Dani also has no idea Emmett is in town.
I made sure he didn’t say anything during their many text chats, so we could surprise her together.
She thinks I’m out right now getting supplies for the next house project, and I know Alexa is keeping her busy with a girls’ day.
I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I bring him to the bar later.
Somehow, Emmett managed to squeeze everything into a carry-on duffel, so we don’t have to wait for anything at baggage claim, and we’re on the road ten minutes later.
“Still living in the retro house?” He laughs.
“You mean the multimillion-dollar beach house I get to live in basically for free? Yep. And I’ll have you know that it’s only half a retro house now. I’ve gotten a ton of work done on it lately.”
“What about my room?”
“Yeah, that’s still straight out of an episode of The Brady Bunch.”
“How’s the living room?”
“The downstairs is almost completely upgraded. It’s been my main focus for the last couple months.”
“Then that’s where I’ll be sleeping, thanks. I need modern around me. How’d you get it fixed up so fast?”
“Was just motivated to get it done is all.”
Truth is, the real reason is Dani. She basically put the kibosh on having sex down there while it looked like a bad porno set. Her words, not mine. I started working on it the very next day.
Emmett fills me in on how things are going back home.
Apparently, he was able to bring on two more guys at the company, and business has never been better.
He might even expand and open a few more locations.
I’m really proud of him for taking this tiny one-man operation I started and turning it into the success it is.
Maybe I’ll get lucky and convince him to switch gears and expand out here instead.
“You still seeing Brad? Or wait, was it Vanessa?” I grill my brother.
“Yes, and yes. I’m seeing a lot of people. You know I don’t do the commitment thing. I date around. Have fun. The beauty of not being tied down.”
“Wow, you and Alexa really are the same person.”
He waggles his eyebrows. “You don’t say.”
I shove my pointer finger in his face without taking my eyes off the road. “Don’t you dare. She’s a good friend, and she’s Dani’s best friend. I don’t want you fucking that up with your dick.”
“Fine. But speaking of my platonic soul mate, what’s going on with Dani? I know she finally ditched the douche, so have you tuned her body’s forbidden radio station yet?”
I turn my head towards him, my eyebrows scrunched. “Have I what?”
He laughs. “I was trying to come up with another way to say bumping uglies that applied to broadcasting. How’d I do?”
“Please don’t ever say that again.”
“Well, have you?”
I want to tell him. I plan to tell him. But not yet. I need to do it at the right time. “We’re just friends.”
I hate lying to him.
“Ugh. You two are anything but friends.”
I avoid taking the conversation any further, and a few minutes later, I’m pulling into my driveway.
Emmett grabs his bag from the bed of the truck, and when we walk inside, my jaw drops. Dani’s on my brand-new couch in nothing but a two-piece black lingerie set made out of see-through lace. She’s on her back, one arm above her head, the other rubbing her clit through the thin material.
Her eyes are closed, but she tilts her head back when she hears the door open. “Surprise, Gavin.”
Her voice makes me want to drop to my knees.
“Oh, I am surprised,” laughs Emmett.
Dammit!
I quickly slap a hand over my brother’s eyes.
Dani’s eyes rip open when she realizes I’m not alone. “Oh my God!”
She jumps off the couch, repeating “oh my God” while running up the stairs.
Emmett slowly turns his head towards me, the biggest grin on his face. “I knew it. I fucking knew it! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to tell you, eventually. Probably tonight. And definitely not like this.” I rub the back of my neck.
“I thought she was out with Alexa today?”
“So did I.” I rip out my phone and that’s when I notice the string of missed texts from my partner in crime.
ALEXA:
Dani bailed on me. Said she wasn’t feeling up for going out. I tried suggesting we stay in, but said she wanted to be alone. I’m worried she’s heading to your place!
I just gave her a call to “check on her” and she was clearly in the car. If you want your surprise to work, I wouldn’t go to your house, or you need to hide Emmett.
Gavin! Please tell me when you see these.
I may or may not know about a plan. And I HIGHLY recommend you don’t go back to your house with your brother. Bring him to my place. Then go to your place.
I won’t be held responsible when everything goes to shit because you didn’t see these texts.
Welp… Good luck!
Emmett laughs reading over my shoulder. “Well, she did try to warn you.”
“Is he still here?” I hear Dani yell from upstairs.
“After that show, I’m not going anywhere,” Emmett yells back. “Get down here.”
I hear Dani’s tentative steps make their way towards us.
“Be nice,” I growl at my brother. He holds his hands up in surrender.
Dani appears at the bottom of the stairs, in one of my gray sweat suits that I know she picked because it makes her look like a giant blob.
She’s staring down at the floor. “I want to be so excited you’re here right now.
But I am so beyond embarrassed that I’m just going to go back home and let you guys have reunion time. ”
“Girl, you aren’t going anywhere. I came here to see you.” Emmett turns towards me. “And I guess your ugly ass too.”
I blow him a kiss.
Emmett turns back to Dani and pulls her into a big hug. “I can see why my brother has been obsessed with you for so long. Damn. If you weren’t like my sister, I would be all over you.” He lets her go, grabs his bag, and starts making his way up the stairs.
“Wait,” I call out. “I thought you were sleeping down here?”
“Dude, I ain’t sleeping on a couch where you two have gotten it on. Please tell me the guest bed is safe.”
I nod. “You’re good.”
“I’m gonna get settled,” he calls from upstairs. “You two chat. See you in a few.”
Dani whips her head towards me and holds up her hand. “Don’t.”
“Dani.”
“Nope. We aren’t talking about this. Ever.”
“I really liked my surprise.” I can’t wipe the smirk off my face.
“Good, because it’s never happening again.”
My face drops into an over-dramatic frown. “But, but, but.”
“Stick that lip back in. It’s not gonna work.”
“What if I use my lips for other things?” I lean in to kiss her neck, but she pushes me away.
“Gavin! Flirting is not going to make this situation any better!”
“Fine. I can tell you’re really bothered by this, so I’ll drop it. But I have to know. Where the hell did that come from? Not that I mind in any way, shape, or form, but you’re not usually one to put yourself out there like that.”
Her eyes pull away from mine, and I catch her fidgeting with the hem of the sweatshirt. I take my knuckle, urging her chin up to look at me. “There you are. Dani, you know you can tell me anything.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her I love her, but I know she’s not there yet.
And that’s okay. I’ll wait until she is.
But I’ve never stopped loving this girl.
I won’t lie and say I’ve been sitting alone the past ten years pining.
There have been other women. Dani and I have talked about them.
Open communication. It’s what she asked for.
But none of them gave me that spark—the raw connection I have with the gorgeous woman standing in front of me.
She’s it for me, and I’ll never let her go again.
“I feel safe with you,” she whispers. “I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me.”
I can’t keep the smile off my face. Considering at the start of all this, she said we had trust issues we needed to work through, those are the best words a guy could hear. I move my hand to her hair, dropping her forehead to mine.
“Sweetheart, you show me every day. Just by being here. By giving us another chance. After everything. Sex could be completely off the table and I would still know.” I place a gentle kiss on her nose.
“The sex doesn’t hurt though.”
“It definitely doesn’t.” I laugh. “But it’s not everything. Not with you. And not to sound cheesy, but it’s so much more than sex.”
She lets out a large sigh. “Glad to know it’s not just me.”