I held back a laugh at Prior and looked over as Paris stomped her way over to where we sat and took a seat herself.
“I feel like I’m never appreciated.” Paris mock-pouted.
“I appreciate you,” I said, leaning into Nate.
“You’re only saying that because you’re cuddling with the love of your life and acting all lovey-dovey. Believe me, it doesn’t last,” she growled, and Nate blew her air-kisses.
“I’m kidding,” Paris added quickly.” I shouldn’t even joke like that,” she muttered.
“Good, because I was going to have to hurt you,” Prior said as he moved into the living room, kissing the top of Paris’s head as he winked at me.
“You two feeling okay?” Hazel asked as she joined us.
I let out a sigh, the same as Nate. “Yes, for the eighteenth time, we’re both fine. We could stand, you know. Help out.”
“If you two stand up, we will push you right back down,” Cross growled. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
“He sure is grumbly,” I muttered, and Nate snorted.
“Oh, this is him in a good mood. You should have seen him before he met Hazel.”
“Hey,” Cross said.
“Nate’s not wrong,” Arden added, coming into the room with Liam following behind her. “Okay, I am going to go help Dakota because now that Paris has been kicked out of the kitchen, she’s all on her own.”
“No, no, we have it.” Nate’s mother waved her hands, his father right by her.
“Yes. All of you guys just take a seat and let me help my future daughter-in-law,” Nate’s mother said, clapping her hands before making her way into the kitchen. Because the room was large and open-concept, everybody was pretty much hanging out in the same area anyway. Still, I knew Dakota liked having a little bit of space. However, one look at the three of them together, and I knew that this was what Dakota wanted. She wanted to get to know her future in-laws, two people I was now getting to know, as well.
It was weird to think that I was only just now finding out who they were and how we fit together. Even though I had once been married to their son, this was all new.
That hadn’t been an easy conversation at all, telling them about our marriage and divorce, but there was no going back. We had made our apologies, and now we were living with our consequences. But nobody held a grudge. I think we were all simply happy to be alive and able to annoy and be annoyed by each other.
“Okay, dinner’s ready. We’re sitting around the house, not at the table since I don’t think we have one big enough for all of us,” Dakota commented, looking around her. “Macon, you’re going to have to convince your brother to build something.”
“I already had it on the list,” Cross said. “I’ll build a big enough table, but I’m trying to figure out whose house can handle it.” Cross narrowed his eyes and studied all of us before his gaze rested on mine. “Myra, you do have the largest dining room.”
Liam frowned. “Really? Even me?” Liam questioned.
“We know, we know, everything you have is big, darling,” Arden soothed, and everyone in the room groaned.
“Never say that again,” Nate said, visibly shuddering next to me.
“What? I’m just telling the truth,” Arden sing-songed.
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. I loved Nate’s twin, and I was so happy that she was going to be my sister again.
I looked down at the shiny ring on my finger and smiled. I had pulled it out of my jewelry box when I came home from the hospital, and Nate had been right beside me as I did, looking down at the ring that he had once worn. We both looked at each other, and without words, had slid the rings onto our fingers. There was no need to propose, to ask each other to be with one another for the rest of our days. We would have that, and we would take the next step when it was time.
We were a family now, and as I looked at the people around me, I smiled.
“I would welcome a large table in my dining room. The one that I have now might fit everyone, but as the families grow, I might need a larger one.”
“I’ll fit one to your style perfectly,” Cross said. He looked over at Liam. “And I’ll make one for you, too. That way, we don’t always bug Myra and Nate.”
“I take it I’m moving into your place,” Nate said, giving me a look.
I blushed and shrugged. “I need my studio. Plus, where’s the table going to go?”
Nate snorted and then kissed me softly. “Okay, sounds like a plan.” He kissed my ring finger, and everybody oohed and aahed, even Joshua, who came back, puppies immediately piled on top of him.
Cross sighed. “Looks like I’ll be busy for a while.”
“I don’t mind. It just means we’re going to be together for a long time,” Hazel said. “I mean, the pact is over, I guess. Everybody got their blind dates.”
I looked around at the others. The girls grinned. “Even if it didn’t come about the way we planned.”
“Hey, I’m everything you planned,” Nate complained.
“Of course, of course, my love. What was I thinking?” I rolled my eyes, and everybody laughed.
“Be nice, he still has stitches,” Paris admonished.
“See? Even Paris says you need to be nice to me.” Nate paused. “If she agrees, maybe you don’t need to be nice.”
Paris narrowed her eyes. “Hey, Prior, hit him for me, will you?”
“Nobody is going to be hitting anybody. Behave, children,” Mrs. Brady said, winking at me.
“I’m so glad we’re moving back,” Mr. Brady added. “That means I get to know the new ladies in my boys’ lives, and Liam, and this little one over here.”
Joshua beamed at his new grandpa. “And all the puppies. And kittens. We have a lot of cats.”
Macon rolled his eyes, and their father grinned. “So I hear. I can’t wait to get to know all of them. You guys have created a pretty spectacular family here. Thank you for letting us join.”
I wiped away tears as the other girls sniffed. Nate looked at me and shook his head.
He leaned down. “Dad is good with the speeches. He’s like Captain America in that way.”
I laughed like he wanted me to, and then leaned into the man I loved.
The pact sisters and the Brady brothers, as well as Arden and Liam, had found their way to each other, even if it wasn’t in the most conventional of ways—or easy.
But as I held up my glass and cheered and toasted the three women I had made a promise to, I knew that no matter what past we each came from, the future would always be paved with family and hope and greater promises.
And, of course, a very special Brady.
Next up from Carrie Ann is MY ONE NIGHT!
Dillon and Elise are ready for their romance!
For more information, go to www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
* * *
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Nate & Myra? CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading FROM OUR FIRST.
I loved this story. It was a little different for me but finding out how to keep these two together was a blast…even if they are so growly!
Next up from Carrie Ann is MY ONE NIGHT. Dillon and Elise are ready for their romance!
And in case you missed it, Arden and Liam might be familiar if you read Wrapped in Ink!
And if you’re new to my books, you can start anywhere within the my interconnected series and catch up! Each book is a stand alone, so jump around!
Don’t miss out on the Montgomery Ink World!
Montgomery Ink (The Denver Montgomerys)
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs (The Colorado Springs Montgomery Cousins)
Montgomery Ink: Boulder (The Boulder Montgomery Cousins)
Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins (The Fort Collins Montgomery Cousins.)
Gallagher Brothers (Jake’s Brothers from Ink Enduring)
Whiskey and Lies (Tabby’s Brothers from Ink Exposed)
Less Than (Dimitri’s siblings from Restless Ink)
Promise Me (Arden’s siblings from Wrapped in Ink)
On My Own (Dillon from the Fractured Connections series.)
If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.
Make sure you’re signed up for my MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.
Happy Reading!
* * *
The Promise Me Series:
Book 1: Forever Only Once
Book 2: From That Moment
Book 3: Far From Destined
Book 4: From Our First
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Nate & Myra? CLICK HERE!
Want to keep up to date with the next Carrie Ann Ryan Release? Receive Text Alerts easily!
Text CARRIE to 210-741-8720
About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
Also from Carrie Ann Ryan
The Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Series:
Book 1: Inked Persuasion
Book 2: Inked Obsession
Book 3: Inked Devotion
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The Promise Me Series:
Book 1: Forever Only Once
Book 2: From That Moment
Book 3: Far From Destined
Book 4: From Our First
* * *
The On My Own Series:
Book 1: My One Night
Book 2: My Rebound
Book 3: My Next Play
* * *
The Tattered Royals Series:
Book 1: Royal Line
* * *
The Ravenwood Coven Series:
Book 1: Dawn Unearthed
* * *
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
Book 1.5: Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed
Book 6.5: Adoring Ink
Book 6.6: Love, Honor, & Ink
Book 7: Inked Expressions
Book 7.3: Dropout
Book 7.5: Executive Ink
Book 8: Inked Memories
Book 8.5: Inked Nights
Book 8.7: Second Chance Ink
* * *
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs
Book 1: Fallen Ink
Book 2: Restless Ink
Book 2.5: Ashes to Ink
Book 3: Jagged Ink
Book 3.5: Ink by Numbers
* * *
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series:
Book 1: Wrapped in Ink
Book 2: Sated in Ink
Book 3: Embraced in Ink
Book 4: Seduced in Ink
Book 4.5: Captured in Ink
* * *
The Gallagher Brothers Series:
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
* * *
The Whiskey and Lies Series:
Book 1: Whiskey Secrets
Book 2: Whiskey Reveals
Book 3: Whiskey Undone
* * *
The Fractured Connections Series:
Book 1: Breaking Without You
Book 2: Shouldn’t Have You
Book 3: Falling With You
Book 4: Taken With You
* * *
The Less Than Series:
Book 1: Breathless With Her
Book 2: Reckless With You
Book 3: Shameless With Him
* * *
Redwood Pack Series:
Book 1: An Alpha’s Path
Book 2: A Taste for a Mate
Book 3: Trinity Bound
Book 3.5: A Night Away
Book 4: Enforcer’s Redemption
Book 4.5: Blurred Expectations
Book 4.7: Forgiveness
Book 5: Shattered Emotions
Book 6: Hidden Destiny
Book 6.5: A Beta’s Haven
Book 7: Fighting Fate
Book 7.5: Loving the Omega
Book 7.7: The Hunted Heart
Book 8: Wicked Wolf
* * *
The Talon Pack:
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed
Book 5: Fractured Silence
Book 6: Destiny Disgraced
Book 7: Eternal Mourning
Book 8: Strength Enduring
Book 9: Forever Broken
* * *
The Elements of Five Series:
Book 1: From Breath and Ruin
Book 2: From Flame and Ash
Book 3: From Spirit and Binding
Book 4: From Shadow and Silence
* * *
The Branded Pack Series:
(Written with Alexandra Ivy)
Book 1: Stolen and Forgiven
Book 2: Abandoned and Unseen
Book 3: Buried and Shadowed
* * *
Dante’s Circle Series:
Book 1: Dust of My Wings
Book 2: Her Warriors’ Three Wishes
Book 3: An Unlucky Moon
Book 3.5: His Choice
Book 4: Tangled Innocence
Book 5: Fierce Enchantment
Book 6: An Immortal’s Song
Book 7: Prowled Darkness
Book 8: Dante’s Circle Reborn
* * *
Holiday, Montana Series:
Book 1: Charmed Spirits
Book 2: Santa’s Executive
Book 3: Finding Abigail
Book 4: Her Lucky Love
Book 5: Dreams of Ivory
* * *
The Happy Ever After Series:
Flame and Ink
Ink Ever After
* * *
Single Title:
Finally Found You
From Our First: A Promise Me Novel Page 20