by Mj Fields
I open my bottle of water and take a drink.
“So, look … your mom, she doesn’t want you to move out.”
“I don’t see any other way.” I shrug.
His jaw muscles tick, and his nostrils flare. Then, through clenched teeth, he tells me, “I don’t want you to move out.” He sits back and crosses his arms. “That’s not true.”
My heart sinks.
“I know you can keep a secret, so I’m gonna trust you, the second oldest of generation”—he holds up two fingers—“two.”
Still hurt over his confession, I try to act casual. “Not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Like I said, I know you can keep a secret.”
“Contrary to what you and everyone else thinks, I didn’t know I was pregnant until Truth asked if that’s why I was getting sick.”
“Your mom told me that. She believes it.”
It hurts to hear him doubt me, but I gave him a reason to. “But you don’t.”
“Charlee, Bella’s mom, and I were scared shitless when we were your age.”
“She was my age; you were seventeen.”
“Trying to fix this and move forward, Katherine, but if you wanna fight through it, let’s do it now, not with your mom, my wife, getting involved.”
Feeling guilty, I shrug and cross my arms over my chest. “Fine. Spill it.”
“You’re moving out.” He slides off the stool, grabs the back of my head, and pulls me forward, kissing the top of it, then steps back. “We all are. House goes on the market tomorrow. We’re renting a place until we find a new one.”
I shake my head. “But this is home.”
“Not if you have to move out of it to get through this pregnancy, so if you go, so do we.” He stabs another piece of meat and shoves it in his mouth.
“Dad, I—”
He shakes his head. “And don’t tell Max, or the little crew. We want to.”
“He’s going to be so pissed at me,” I whisper.
“You think so?” He laughs.
I scowl at him.
He pops a kiss to my cheek. “Not if you agree to Seashore Academy. You finish school, they all get to go.”
I feel like smiling for the first time in days. “All eight of us?”
“Yeah, all eight of you.”
Giddy, but I try to hide my smile. “Are you bribing me?”
“If that’s what you need to think, then”—he pauses, swallows hard, and nods—“yeah, Katy girl, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
As soon as I see a tear forming in the corner of his eye, I know I’m going to lose it … again.
I hurry to him as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Dad, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
He sniffs as he hugs me tightly. “So am I, Katy girl, but I promise you it will be okay.”
“You promise?”
“Yeah, I do.” He kisses the top of my head a few times then steps back.
“I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
He nods. “I know.”
He holds out the fork still in his hand. “Wanna wash this dinglehopper for me?”
“Huh?” I ask as I take it from him.
“Dinglehopper, fork, your favorite movie growing up, favorite Disney character, Ariel.” He shakes his head. “Fitting that she was the most headstrong, too.”
As he walks away, he looks over his shoulder. “I don’t care who this punk is, but you may have to face it someday.”
I swallow hard.
“Do me a favor?”
I nod.
“Grab another package of that steak out of the freezer. I’ll grill it up tomorrow.”
Instead of heading back up the stairs, he walks into his office and shuts the door behind him.
I don’t know why that bothers me, but it does.
I tiptoe to the door to listen in.
“It’s a go,” Dad says.
I hear Uncle Zandor ask, “She agreed?”
“Yeah.”
“One hundred percent on board?” Uncle Xavier checks.
“I know my girl. I know she’s hurting and wants to run.”
“Same as you wanted to,” Cyrus adds.
“Yeah,” Dad sighs.
“Bekah’s on board. She’s ready for a move.” Zandor sounds happy.
“So is Taelyn,” Xavier says then laughs. “Patrick’s gonna flip the fuck out. Seashore has an amazing arts program.”
“Yeah, Max is gonna love the surf team.” Dad sounds relieved.
“Tara’s happy in our little house, but when I mentioned living right near the new school, she looked real fucking relieved.”
“She know our kids are gonna be rubbing elbows with the elite?” Dad asks.
“Fuckers don’t have a chance with our crew. Always thought Justice was the one to worry about, but clearly, my girl’s a little badass, too.” Cyrus chuckles. “They’ll be fine, so will we. Straight up? Can’t wait to be farther from the headquarters.”
“All right then”—Dad claps his hands—“let’s get our places on the market and secure a rental until we decide to build or buy.”
“Jase, this is a good move. That fucking bitch nun’s days would have been numbered if she talked to our girls like that again.”
“Agreed. Let’s do this.”
“Can’t wait to wash sand out of my kitten’s creases.”
To Uncle Zandor’s cringy comment, I’ve had enough.
Back in the kitchen, I open the freezer and grab a package of steaks out. The label catches my eye.
Falcon Farms.
Fuck him.
Mantoloking
Katherine
“It’s like watching porn and not physically touching tit,” Max sighs as he looks out at the ocean.
“Gross.” I fake-gag.
“Nine o’clock, bro,” Patrick groans. “That’s nice titties.”
I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders. “Kiki’s gonna have tig bitties soon.”
I elbow Amias in the ribs, pretty hard, too, and he laughs. When Patrick and Max laugh, too, I scold them all.
“It’s Thanksgiving; the only breast any of you assholes should be thinking about is turkey breast.”
“What do we look like, fucking pilgrims?” Max asks.
I hear Dad whistle from inside. “Get your little asses inside.” Then he chuckles. “You, too, Truth.”
“Ha, ha, Uncle Jase.” I hear her from the deck below us.
“You need wheels for that wagon?” Amias calls down to her.
“Make it three!” she yells up. “Been sitting in it so much lately, waiting for school to start up, that it’s spreading.”
Patrick yells down to her, “Stop complaining! We were stuck with the menstruating penguins until break. Trust me; I’d rather be sitting on my ass, taking in this view.”
Ever since we got to the rental—the rental—I’ve avoided looking at the area in which I was …. poked … until right now.
I count to thirty and laugh to myself before turning to follow the boys in when I see … him.
He looks different. His clean-shaven face holds at least a week’s worth of scruff, maybe more. Hell, what do I know? But it’s oddly … sexy.
Thirty seconds, thirty seconds, thirty seconds, I remind myself.
I glare at him, and he … glares … back?
Fuck him.
“There’s our little Bell,” Dad says.
I look past him and see Tags, knowing she’s right beside him.
I give Brand a nod toward them, and he looks at me with confusion then disgust, and then … he flips me off. And not in a passive way. It’s a stiff, thick, erect … angry finger.
“Where’s Aunt Katy?” Luna asks, and I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me and the deck has given way, like the floor has disappeared, like I am … falling.
I flatten my hand against my belly to quell the nausea, or is it the return of the butterflies that stupidly dance inside of me whenever Mr. Thirty Seconds
is around? Did they not get the fucking memo that we hate him?
I walk toward the doorway he’s filling. When he doesn’t move, I hiss, “Move.”
“Make me.”
“Make you?” I huff. “What are you? Twelve?”
“That would make you what? Nine? That would explain why you’re acting like a little bitch.”
“Have you been drinking?” I snap.
“Been doing a lot of that lately, thanks to you.”
“Don’t blame your issues on me.” I glance down at his dick. “Fucking joke.” I push past him.
“Hey, Luna.” I squat down, and she runs toward me, arms outstretched. Then she hugs me and whispers, “We got Steel secrets, too.”
Bless this child and her ability to whisper.
“Okay, so let’s keep them really quiet, yeah?”
“Yep.” She pops the P sound as she leans back and grabs my face. “You’re my favorite.”
“You’re my favorite, too.”
She hugs me again, and I tickle her as she giggles.
“Sit by me?” I whisper.
“Yep.”
Once we’ve all sat down, Dad at the head of the table, Brandon oddly at the other end, I focus completely on Luna.
Bella walks behind me, hugs me, kisses the top of my head, and whispers, “We’ll get through this.”
It’s completely ridiculous that I’ve been avoiding her. It’s also ridiculous that I’ve been doing so because of something he did.
I need to get over it.
I have to get over it.
I will get over it.
It’s not Bella’s fault that he’s obsessed with her, so fucking obsessed that when he blew it, he—
Dad clears his throat, and then we all begin to quiet down, but my thoughts don’t. Why is he here?
“Momma Joe’s not here to do this thing, but I think we know the drill. We’ll start with Xavier—”
“Why me?” Xavier asks, running his hand through his hair.
“Because I said so.” Dad smirks at him.
“Fine. I’m thankful for family, you all, and our Forever Four Family.”
“You got it easy, man.” Cyrus chuckles.
Taelyn says, “I’m thankful to be with all of you and looking forward to heading to Boston to see my parents and brothers this coming weekend.”
Carter is next. “Bella, Luna, you all. Thankful for it every day. Nothing more important than this.”
Bella looks at him. “You, Luna, family. Always.” She looks at Luna. “Now you.”
“I can?” Luna grins.
“Of course you can. This is our family.”
“I’m thankful for Momma Bella and Aunt Kiki’s gonna have babies.” She grins.
Holy. Shit. Holy. Shit. Holy. Shit.
“Luna, you for real?” Dad asks.
She grins big, and if I wasn’t having a mild panic attack, it would probably be the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. But I am having a panic attack.
I am so having a panic attack.
Everyone gets up and hugs Bella and Carter while I look for the quickest escape, when I catch a glimpse of the only person not in such a celebratory mood.
Brand looks … destroyed.
Like the little secret spilling angel she is, Luna hugs me. “Are you so happy?”
“Yeah, Luna, of course I am.”
“I’m gonna have two babies to set with, like you set with me!” She burst out in laughter.
Unable to force myself to do the same, I just pull her into a hug and hold on for dear life.
When things quiet down, I get up and hug Carter and Bella. “Congratulations.”
“You, too,” Bella says with a sad smile.
“Thanks, Bell,” I whisper.
Brand breaks the silence. “Just so I get this straight … Bella and Katy are both pregnant?”
I turn my head and pin him with a glare.
“We are,” Bella answers.
“So, you and Carter are having a kid together,” he states with understanding. “And Katy?”
“Is pregnant,” I answer.
His face hardens, and he nods, like an angry Donald Trump bobblehead.
I look around the room, and all eyes are on me.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“We’re all family here, except you, but somehow you’re here, so listen up.” I narrow my eyes at him. “I have no idea. Had a busy summer. Shit happens. So it’s me and myself who are having a baby.”
“You left out I.” He stabs himself in the chest with a finger.
“Fine, it was a threesome.” I shrug and roll my eyes. “Me, myself, and I are having a baby.”
“Jesus,” Max mutters.
“How far along are you, Bella?” he asks.
“Second trimester.” I smile.
“So you got pregnant around—”
“You see my kid sitting here?” Carter interrupts him.
Brand nods once.
“As my wife said, she’s about to enter her second trimester.”
Uncle Xavier clears his throat. “Max, you’re up.”
“Yeah.” Max chuckles. “I’m thankful for Kiki and Truth getting booted out of school so now we can go to Seashore and live where the ocean meets the sand.”
“Same, man.” Amias laughs. “About time we—”
“Katy got kicked out of school?” Brand interrupts.
Truth answers, “The nuns were having a bad week. Kind of my fault.”
Brand’s jaw tightens, and he does that angry bobblehead nod.
“You have something to share that you’re thankful for, Brandon?” Dad asks, his voice deep and … scary.
Brand looks at me like he doesn’t give a damn who sees him. He’s pissed, and it’s not at all hot. Total bullshit it is, but …
“Lot more I’m not thankful for at the moment, so I’ll take a pass.”
“Xavier just told me you’re doing a European tour starting after the holidays. Ten cities, was it, X?” Dad nearly snarls.
Brand doesn’t even look at him, still looking at me.
Dad continues, “Just thought of something you should be thankful for, Brandon.”
Brand tears his scrutinizing eyes from me and looks at Dad. “What’s that?”
I can’t even look at Dad. I know he’s piecing shit together, and Brandon is dumb enough to hand him the one piece of the puzzle that got shoved off the table, because he’s being stupid.
“Luna.”
“Jase,” Mom whispers softly.
Brand looks at Luna. “I’m thankful for you, I guess.”
Luna grins. “Thanks.”
Never in my eighteen years have I eaten a Thanksgiving dinner that was quiet. It has always been quick-witted banter, laughter, and jokes meant to go over our heads. Never until this moment.
Forks clink, whispered, “please pass” and “thank yous” are said. Then dinner isn’t even over when Bekah, Tara, and Taelyn bring out pie. I didn’t even notice until Tara asks who wants pumpkin. I didn’t notice because I am pushing food around on my plate instead of eating it, since I am sick to my stomach.
“You okay, Katherine Anne?” Bekah asks when I hold up my hand, telling her I don’t want any.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“You sure, because this is Momma Joe’s cannoli pie recipe. Brisa, Tris, and I made it especially for you, because it’s your favorite. We’d love for you to try it out.”
“Okay. Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“I’d love a slice of that pie, Mrs. Steel,” Brand says and rather loudly.
“Me, too.” Luna grins at me.
“You want a brother or sister?” Brand asks Luna.
“Um …” She looks at Bella, who smiles at her and nods, then back at Brand. “I want a sister. Do you have one?”
“Nope, two brothers,” he answers.
Luna continues conversing with the enemy. “I want a brother, too, but first a sister.”
“Katy, what are you
hoping for?” he asks, his voice softer now. It sounds as if he truly cares.
I know better.
“A quick delivery.”
“Most women would answer a healthy baby,” he says disgustedly.
And I’m done talking.
I take a bite of the pie and look around for Bekah. “It’s delicious.”
Not So Thankful
Brandon
“Come on, man.” Patrick nudges me as I sit, unmoving, watching Katherine Anne fucking Steel float around the kitchen like she hasn’t a care in the motherfucking world.
“I’m good here.”
“Fuck you are. My uncle looks like he’s gonna explode.”
“Don’t give a damn.”
“You will.” I hear Xavier say and look behind me. “Let’s go.”
“Not until—”
“Now,” Xavier hisses.
“I wanna talk to—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Patrick whispers. “You will … later.”
“You need to stay the hell out of this, Patrick,” Xavier scolds his son.
“Not like I’m not already right balls deep in the fucking—”
“Mouth,” Taelyn scolds her son then grabs my hand and yanks. “Let’s go.”
Jesus Christ, I grumble inwardly.
Standing, I glare at Xavier, who knows damn well that I’m a fucking gentleman and won’t give a woman a hard time.
He shrugs.
“I’m not River James,” I snap at him. “I don’t need a—”
“Then quit while you’re ahead,” she interrupts.
I look over my shoulder as I get dragged out the French doors leading to the deck.
Katy looks shocked, and I want to yell across a crowded room, one full of people once friends, now seemingly enemies, same, girl, same.
Outside on the deck, I stand looking inside at … her as I get my ass chewed out by Xavier about how I’ve changed.
If I’m honest with myself—which I normally am, brutally so, except in the case of Katy Steel. Clearly, I read that all wrong—I’ve been drinking a bit too much, which has caused me to wear my heart on my sleeve for the first time in my life. Good thing she just shattered it. Won’t even be able to make that mistake again with a handle of Jack in me … if ever.
“I’m out.” I turn to head down to the stairs that lead to the ground level.