by Vaughn, Ann
"Oh, yeah, whatever, Trev," Aaron said, flipping his brother off.
"Geez, Baby Boy, chill with that," Jack scolded him, "you're going to have half the kids here flipping everyone off."
Aubrey shook her finger at Aaron. "You're already in my doghouse, Aaron Stanton."
"Why? What'd I do?"
"My two-year old is going around calling everyone a not-so-nice name that Uncle Aaron says all the time. That is not cool."
Aaron busted out laughing. "Then tell his dad to quit acting like one!"
"Oh, my gosh! When are you going to grow up?" Aubrey shouted, making Aaron laugh even harder.
"Try, never!"
The back door opened and everyone turned to see who was there.
"Where my ladies at?"
"CAM!!!!!!!" several young voices cried, all the kids running up to embrace him.
"There's the Rock Star," Riley said, smiling up at his stepson.
After Cam disentangled himself from all the kids, he embraced his mother, kissing her cheek, then shook Riley's hand and embraced him as well. He'd been traveling on the circuit lately and hadn't been home in months.
"I thought you had an event today," Jenna said when Cam sat on the porch rail.
"I did, got first place again."
"Of course, you did," Trevor said, embracing him. "How ya been kid?"
"Good."
"Cameron," Jenna said, turning his attention. "What's wrong?"
Cam smiled, dimples flashing. "Nothing's wrong. I missed everyone, I wanted to come say hi."
Jenna folded her arms over her chest, making Riley chuckle.
"You're getting 'The Look', Cam, I don't think she's buying it."
"Can't a guy miss his family?"
Jenna pulled him to her once more, kissing his cheek.
"Yes, he can. He can also admit to his mother that something's wrong and let her help. What is it?"
He sighed, shaking his head and glancing over at Riley.
"Can't get anything past her, can I?"
"Not really," Riley said, "so you may as well spill."
Jack shook his head, "He doesn't have to. I can read him like a book. It's a girl, isn't it?"
Cam winced, letting every single one of them know Jack had nailed it.
"Is he right?" Jenna asked her son.
Cam rubbed the back of his neck, one of his very Riley moves.
"Yeah...she threw me out."
Jenna's eyes widened. "Threw you...have you been living with someone, Cameron Wade?"
"Not living with...but," he said, shrugging.
"Oh, man," Trevor said, shaking his head. "Did you learn nothing from us? You're only twenty, kid. Live a little."
"Trevor, shut up," Aubrey said, shaking her head.
Jenna shook her head, "Far be it for me to agree with anything Trevor says, but honey, you are only twenty. Don't -"
"Don't tell me I'm too young, Mom. You and Dad..."
"Yes, me and Dad, and look where we ended up."
"Because Dad was an idiot. I'm not him."
"Then why did she throw you out?"
"Oh, man," Cam said, looking up toward the sky before taking a deep breath and answering, "because I asked her to marry me."
"YOU WHAT????" everyone cried.
Later that night, while Trevor and Aaron oversaw the fireworks, Riley and Colt played their guitars while Mike played the old piano he kept on the back porch. Tessa had said once, long ago, that Colt was the better singer, but Riley was the better guitar player. The girls had had many debates about that over the years, but they'd all agreed that the three guys plus Jenna and occasionally Lainey singing were pretty good. Even their new good friends, Jack and Leila Lair had been impressed with them, and that was saying something since Devil's Lair was one of the hottest bands going, still, ten years later.
Shane McCanton came and sat beside Lainey while they watched the fireworks and listened to the music. Together, they watched Tessa, Colt, Riley, Coop, Whit and Mike laugh while they played their songs.
"They've come a long way, haven't they?" Shane asked, nodding toward the six of them.
"Yes, they have."
"I used to hate the thought of Tessa being so close to all these guys," Shane admitted. "But now...they all helped shape her into who she is now. Colt taught her to fight and he and Riley and Whit and Coop taught her to laugh and not take things so seriously."
"And Mike?"
"Mike taught her to lead by example. Always steadfast. Between him and Gib, she learned a lot."
"They all learned from each other. And from all of us. They may have all taken the long way to find their place, but I think we can all agree...the Orion Team is finally home."
THE END
for now...
Look for my next book, Tempting Trouble, coming Summer 2014. It will be the story of Trevor Stanton and Aubrey Donovan.
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