“We don’t hide?” Ethan asked. Lincoln nodded. His throat closed, and he couldn’t speak.
“Okay, good. Because I’m really not good at lying.”
“I know. I remember the time you tried to pretend that the paisley shirt I was wearing looked good on me.”
“I’m sorry about that. Because it really didn’t look good. At all.”
“Thanks,” Lincoln said, snorting again.
They made their way from the car to the front steps.
Timothy Montgomery was at the door even before Ethan and Lincoln got there.
Ethan’s dad was a big man with a big smile, and Lincoln loved him.
He was always there. Always helpful.
Lincoln knew that Timothy and Francine had been through a lot in their lives, but they had both come out stronger because of it. And Lincoln was proud of that. Nobody was perfect. People didn’t need perfect lives or a perfect past with no mistakes. He didn’t think that actually existed.
Lincoln liked that the couple owned up to their mistakes and had raised their children the best they could. Considering that the Montgomerys were some of his favorite people in the world, he figured they had done a pretty damn good job.
“Well, it’s about damn time you showed up. Your mom was stressing out that you weren’t coming, and then wondered what she was going to do with all this food.” Timothy rolled his eyes and hugged his son hard before reaching out to do the same with Lincoln. Lincoln inhaled the man’s scent. He smelled like home.
Lincoln loved his mom and dad, they were the best parents he could have ever hoped for. But he also loved the Montgomerys. They were his second home. Even with his first being amazing, he liked the fact that he had a second one.
A different place to call home when his other family had been pulled across the country because of a job.
“I’m sure we won’t eat all the food. I mean, there’s how many of you guys in there? And she’s worried about us?” Lincoln asked, and Timothy just smiled.
“You know Francine. She wants all of her little baby chicks in a row.”
“I thought it was ducks in a row. Or squirrels. I never understood that saying because it’s not like the ducks are always in a row. Sometimes, they go off on their own, and then the mama duck has to keep finding them.” Francine just kept speaking as she hugged Lincoln tightly and then did the same with Ethan. “It’s good to see my boys here. It’s been forever since we had all the family together.”
“It’s been like three weeks,” Liam said as he walked over.
Liam looked just like Francine, and had a wide grin on his face just like his dad.
Lincoln would have assumed that Liam was a Montgomery like the rest of them. They all looked so much alike. But, apparently, Francine’s DNA had pulled him right out of the gene pool of whoever Liam’s birth father was and had made him look exactly like a Montgomery, as well. The eyes were different, that much Lincoln knew, but it didn’t matter. Liam was a Montgomery through and through, even if it wasn’t full-blooded. Lincoln even felt like a Montgomery, and he was just the friend.
The friend currently dating Ethan, but they weren’t going to mention that today.
“Oh good, you’re here,” Bristol said, pushing past Liam to throw her arms around Ethan. “I’ve missed you something fierce.” She kissed her brother’s cheeks and then came and did the same to Lincoln.
“Well, you kind of missed the last dinner. How was the performance?” Ethan asked. Bristol just shrugged, the light in her eyes dimming a bit.
Lincoln hated to see that, but as a fellow artist, he got it. Sometimes, work sucked. And when it was your literal soul being thrown onto the canvas—or in her case, through her fingers into her music—it felt like a double-edged sword in the chest rather than just the single blade.
“It was fine. You know, play a little cello, meet some royalty, laugh and dance and pretend that everything’s okay.” She looked over at her mother and smiled widely. “And everything is fine.”
“Tell her what that duke did,” Marcus growled from behind her.
Lincoln met the other man’s gaze and raised a brow.
Marcus shook his head, his dark brows lowering as he glared at Bristol.
Lincoln knew that the two of them were best friends, but like he and Ethan, he wasn’t sure if the two of them had ever dated. And he didn’t know if they would ever take that plunge—or if they even wanted to. Considering he was afraid that he was making a mistake with every push, he wasn’t going to edge them in any particular direction. Even though Francine probably would have liked her little girl to be married off by now. But only because she would want Bristol to be happy. And Lincoln agreed with that. He liked Bristol, and he wanted her happy, too. He didn’t know if it was going to be with Marcus, though. She had been dating someone for a while, but her ex-girlfriend was now getting married herself. Lincoln knew that Francine had even tried to get Bristol and him together, but that wasn’t ever going to work.
Especially not when he was in love with another Montgomery.
“What did he do?” Liam asked at the same time as Ethan.
Aaron stood in the back, his arms folded over his chest as he glared at everybody.
“Yes, what did he do, dear sister? Do we have to kick his ass?”
Bristol looked over at Lincoln and pleaded.
“Please, please help.”
Lincoln just held up his hands. “Oh, I want nothing to do with this. Unless I have to kick his ass. I will do that.”
“You’re going to have to stand in line,” Marcus growled. She glared at her best friend and then at the rest of them.
“Why couldn’t I have had sisters? Seriously. Why am I the only girl?”
“Because you’re more than enough for me. I swear, another of you, and I wouldn’t have made it,” Francine said, smacking a kiss on her daughter’s cheek. “And if that duke did anything too untoward, the boys won’t have to do anything. Because I’ll castrate him myself. You hear me, little girl?”
“You’re scary sometimes, Mom.”
“I know. And that’s why you love me. Anyway, what did he do?”
“Nothing.” A pause. “He tried to kiss me. I didn’t want it. He tried again. I kicked him in the nuts. And…I will no longer be playing in that country.”
The boys grumbled and growled, threatening things that would land all of them in jail, but it was Francine who hugged her daughter and then clapped her hands. “It settled?”
A nod.
“Good. We’ll talk later. I promise. You’re my baby.” She looked at all of them. “Now, let’s all actually go into the house and not just stand around in the foyer. We’ll get you guys something to drink. And then you can tell me what’s new in your lives. Because I feel like I’ve missed so much. I swear, none of my children call me. They never tell me what they’re doing. I have to force you to come to my house.”
Lincoln just laughed, shaking his head as he kissed the top of Francine’s hair. “You know that you’re full of it. You know that, right?”
Francine patted him on the chest. “Yes, but none of the others are allowed to tell me that. Only you, my darling.”
“And why is that?” Ethan asked, coming up on the other side of his mom. “Why am I not allowed to say that you’re full of it?”
“Because I will beat you, kid.” She patted his chest and grinned. “Lincoln’s allowed because, while I think of him as my son, I didn’t push him out of me. Nor did I adopt him legally. Yet.” She winked.
“Please don’t adopt him legally,” Ethan said, and Lincoln held back a grin.
“And why is that?” Francine asked as she went over to the wine and started pouring glasses for everyone. Suddenly, she slowly set down the bottle and stared at them.
“Really? Really?” She bounced on her feet.
“What?” Bristol asked, pushing through the crowd of men to get to Francine’s side. “What?”
“Oh, I think I know,” Arden said,
and Lincoln looked over to the side.
“I didn’t even know you were here,” Ethan said, going over to kiss Arden’s cheek.
“I was dealing with a work thing, but I’m here now. What did I miss?”
Bristol scowled. “I have no idea, but I don’t like that I don’t know.”
“Shocker,” all three Montgomery brothers said, then looked at each other before bursting out laughing.
Bristol threw up her hands in a mock huff. “You see? I should have had sisters. Sisters would have helped.”
“You have me now, though,” Arden said. “I’m just saying.”
Bristol’s eyes warmed, and she ran over to Arden, pulling her in for a hard hug. “Yes, I do. Now it’s the two of us against the rest of them. This is good. Soon, we’ll outnumber them.”
“That’s not how this works,” Liam said, pulling his woman away from Bristol.
“Well, shush. Eventually, there’ll be children, and if all of you are good to me, you’ll make sure there are daughters.”
“You know you’re going to end up with like six boys, right?” Aaron said to Bristol, and she flipped him off.
“Now, children. Act your ages,” Timothy murmured from the doorway.
“We are,” Aaron and Bristol said at the same time and then grinned at each other.
Lincoln just leaned against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. This was family, and he missed it. Oh, he had his cousin, and he and Madison were close and were honestly pretty much like this when they were together, but it wasn’t the same. Mostly because he didn’t have the amount of people the Montgomerys did. All of the extended Montgomerys were wonderful. At least, the ones he had met so far. None of them were truly evil people or any shit like that—like his uncle. And they all seemed to care about each other, even if they were growly and kind of rude about it.
“Now, wait, we’ve gone off-topic,” Bristol said, sliding back into the conversation. “What do you know, Mom?”
Francine looked between Lincoln and Ethan, but it was so quick, he was sure that no one had even noticed. She was giving them an out. A way for them to be secret about it. And he was grateful. Just because she had seen the changes between him and Ethan, didn’t mean she wanted to ruin their surprise. Or their secret. He knew he liked that woman for a reason. But he also knew that secrets weren’t good for family. He reached out and punched Ethan in the shoulder.
See? Caring.
“Well,” Ethan said, clearing his throat.
Bristol looked between them and then bounced on her feet. She jumped so high, Marcus had to put his hands on her shoulders to calm her.
“Use your words. Stop making that high-pitched sound that only dogs can hear.”
“Sorry, Marc.”
“Hate that name.”
“I know. But I also hate when you compare me to a dog.”
“Enough,” Timothy said. “Stop leaving us in suspense. What’s going on?”
“I know! I know!” Aaron said.
“What do you know?” Ethan glared.
Ah, brothers. Lincoln was kind of glad he didn’t have them. However, he had the Montgomerys. He really hoped he didn’t lose them.
“What Dad said. Stop leaving us in suspense.” Liam grinned.
“We’re dating,” Ethan said.
And then there was pandemonium. That high-pitched squeal from Bristol grew into one that was echoed by Francine and Arden. They bounced on their feet, and the men in the room just looked at each other and then laughed, both Aaron and Liam handing over cash to Marcus, who slid it into his pocket.
“Wait, did you bet on us?” Lincoln asked, a little annoyed.
“I bet that you would be together by this year,” Marcus said. “Sorry, it’s really hard not to bet when Aaron starts to sneer about it.”
“I was thinking by next year.” Aaron shrugged.
“And I thought the two of you wouldn’t actually have the guts to do it,” Liam said.
“Liam!” Arden admonished, and Liam blushed.
“What? I didn’t think everybody could be as lucky as I was.”
“Aww,” Bristol said as she leaned into Marcus’s hold. He hugged her tightly, and she wiggled into his side.
Marcus grinned. “He’s probably just sucking up because he did something wrong.”
Bristol scowled. “Oh, you’re such a hard-ass and not a romantic at all.”
“You’re enough of a romantic for both of us,” he said, and she just rolled her eyes at him.
“Yay. I’m so excited,” Francine said, clapping her hands as her husband held her. “How long have you guys been together?”
Lincoln looked at Ethan, and Ethan shrugged. “Not that long, it’s still new. But we knew we couldn’t hide it from you, mainly because I suck at it.”
“Yes, you do,” Aaron quipped. Ethan flipped him off.
“And it’s not just us,” Lincoln said into the void.
Ethan grinned, and Lincoln was happy to see that he didn’t mind that he wanted to tell them about Holland, as well.
Because there would be no hiding her. She wasn’t going to be only a third in their relationship. Wasn’t going to be an afterthought. She was an equal part, and she wasn’t there. Therefore, they had to make sure that the world knew she was important. That she could have been invited. But meeting the parents before an actual first date probably wasn’t the best thing. Even though it didn’t feel as if they hadn’t been on a full date yet. After all, game night and near sex and heavy petting should really count.
And maybe it did.
“Oh?” Francine leaned closer.
“Yes, her name is Holland,” Ethan said.
“Runaway bride?” Aaron asked, grinning. “I love it.”
“The runaway bride?” Francine asked, a frown on her face. “She’s married?”
“No. Remember, we told you that we found that woman after running out on her wedding day because her family’s an asshole and the jerk cheated on her?” Ethan said, and Francine put her hand to her mouth.
“Oh, that poor woman. And, yes, I knew you were becoming friends with her, but now there’s more? How exciting. This is amazing. And it means more chances for babies!”
Everyone went silent, and then Bristol cleared her throat. “Um, you know that’s not actually how it works, but…okay, Mom. Glad to know you’re so focused on babies.”
Aaron grinned. “I told you she was a Regency mom. It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a single Montgomery in possession of our last name, must be in want of a wife—or a husband. Or both.”
Lincoln just blinked at the man. “Did you just sort of quote Pride and Prejudice?”
“I did. It’s my favorite movie. Well, one of them. Though I think Macfayden is a far superior Darcy than Colin Firth. And I will die on that hill.”
“I cannot believe you just said that,” Arden said. “It is Firth Darcy all the way.”
“I don’t know. I kind of have to go with Aaron on this,” Marcus said, surprising all of them.
“Really?” Lincoln asked.
“What? That one scene where he’s walking away and has to stretch his hand because he touched her? Damn hot.”
Bristol just blinked at him. “How did I not know this?”
“You made me watch that movie like forty times. And then the miniseries, as well. Of course, I’m going to have opinions on Pride and Prejudice.”
“I just assumed you did it because you were my friend.”
“They’re good. And, anyway, I’m allowed to have an opinion on my favorite Darcy.”
“Oh, you’re welcome to it, it just surprised me.”
Everybody started talking at once about their favorite Darcy, and Ethan sidled up to Lincoln and leaned against him. “That went pretty well.”
“Yes, it did.”
Francine cleared her throat again and then looked between the two of them. “I just wanted to say I’m very happy for you two. Lincoln, you’re like a son to me already,
and now I’m kind of glad that I never adopted you because that would be weird.”
They all laughed. “But, really, it’s fine if there are no babies. It’s just fun to make you smile when I say it.” She reached out and squeezed Arden’s shoulders, and Arden looked at the other woman, a small smile on her face.
“I just like making you guys laugh and pretend like I’m that Regency mom Aaron always thinks I am anyway. I want you guys to be happy. In any way that happens. And, if anybody gives you shit about being in a throuple or whatever they’re calling it these days, they’re going to have to come through me. And I’m sure if I talk to my sister-in-law, she’ll be able to tell me exactly what she does if someone dares to talk about her daughter’s relationship. Now let’s have some wine and celebrate the fact that there is happiness in the world. I cannot wait to meet this Holland.”
Lincoln cleared his throat and then opened his arms as Francine slid into them. “You’re a good mom,” he whispered.
“I’m the best.”
Then she wiped tears from her eyes and went over to hug Ethan.
Lincoln loved this family. Adored that even when things were tough, and they were fighting, they were still always there for each other.
He just really hoped to hell he didn’t fuck this up. Because he couldn’t lose them. And he just might if he wasn’t careful. Because if things with Ethan didn’t work out, he would lose the Montgomerys, too.
But as he looked at Ethan chasing his sister around the room, laughing when she jumped over an ottoman and protected her hands since those were insured thanks to her work, he knew he didn’t want to mess this up. He couldn’t. Because this could be his future. And all of them were already part of his past.
He needed to find a way to make this work. He had to.
Chapter 10
Ethan wanted to count this as their second date. However, he knew that Lincoln was counting it as their first. If this went past two nights, and turned into something more, and if they actually ended up celebrating anniversaries—something he knew he wasn’t very good at—they really should settle on a date that they’d started this thing.
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