A Greene Family Summer Bash

by Piper Rayne

  She finally gets the hint to be quiet when I glare at her. I know what she’s talking about and I do not look like that right now.

  “Hey, ladies, I totally appreciate the setup,” Allie cuts in. “I mean, you ladies know your stuff. Nine successful matches with Dori’s grandkids, but—”

  “Technically we’re at thirteen between the families. Marla and Hank, then my three grandchildren, Cade, Adam, and Nikki,” Grandma Ethel corrects her.

  I groan.

  “Well, regardless of the number, I’m not really into being fixed up right now. I want to do the fixing up.”

  Dori links arms with Allie and points toward the pool. I glance over my shoulder to see Cam coming out of the water.

  “That’s Cameron Baker. He’s sweet like you and so personable. Gets along with everyone. He’s funny and his family owns the fishing piers.” Dori whispers the last part.

  “He’s good-looking. Look at those thighs of steel,” Grandma Ethel says.

  I cough up bile from my grandma remarking on my best friend’s thighs. What the hell?

  “He looks nice and all, but I’m just not interested in a relationship at this point,” Allie says nicely as though she’s trying to let them down easy.

  Grandma Ethel slides her arm through Allie’s other one so that the two of them have her locked into place. “One date. Sparks might fly.”

  Cam stands over Chevelle and shakes his hair, spraying droplets of water all over her.

  “Jesus, Cam!” she screeches.

  “Oh sorry, didn’t see you there.” He laughs and walks away. So immature.

  Chevelle stands and pushes him back into the pool on his way to get a towel.

  He springs from the water. “Want to join me?” He winks at her.

  I hate the way he tows that line between flirting and joking around when it comes to my little sister.

  “In your dreams,” Chevelle says and sits back down in her way too small of a bikini. But I’ve learned there’s no point in saying anything because she’ll just dig her heels in harder.

  Both grandmas watch, fascinated, as if they haven’t seen Cam and Chevelle fight all their lives.

  “I’m starving. Can I eat something first?” Allie asks.

  “Sure, I’ll show you where everything is at.” I twist around to let her walk in front of me.

  Somehow, she escapes the grandmas who are now whispering to one another.

  “I’m sorry,” I say.

  Allie shrugs. “I know how those two work. I’ve known them for a few years. I’m such an amateur though. I should’ve realized why they asked me to come today. It wasn’t to help them.”

  I hand her a plate, and while she’s filling it, I spot Jed walking into the backyard with his daughter, Emilia, in his arms. She’s asleep with her head on his shoulder. None of us have gotten a ton of time with her since she’s only been in town for a week and we’re trying not to overwhelm her.

  “Is that Jed? With his daughter?” Allie whispers.

  “Yeah.” It’s still surreal that he has a four-year-old daughter he never knew about.

  “Man, there’s something about a man with a child in his arms that makes your ovaries explode.” I stare at her and she eats a carrot dipped in ranch. “What? It’s true. I realize you don’t understand it because the same thing doesn’t happen to you when you see a woman with a baby.”

  “What does that mean?” I ask.

  She shoots me a look. “You’re a man. Very different thinking when it comes to these things.”

  We watch Marla take Emilia from Jed’s arms. One thing I’ve noticed is that he’s letting his mom do too much of the caregiving. He’s gonna have to man up soon because he’s all that little girl has—with the exception of all her aunts and uncles.

  “I can see the appeal of a single dad now.” Allie hasn’t taken her eyes off Jed. Although I shouldn’t give a shit, something inside me wants to roar to life.

  I leave Allie at the table to get a hold of myself, and Rylan walks past me, grumbling. “Why do they have to keep poking into my life? As if I want to spend the afternoon with Calista Bailey.”

  I can’t disagree with him. At some point, things are going to go south with Ethel and Dori’s matchmaking plans.

  Watching Marla gracefully remove Emilia from Jed’s arms, I catch Adam’s lingering gaze. We both hope to have that one day. And I’m almost certain we will, whether it’s in the form of adoption or one of our own.

  I follow Marla with Emilia up to the room she plans to decorate for her new granddaughter.

  Jed’s still outside and already has a beer in his hand. We all know this hasn’t been the easiest of transitions for him, but I know he’ll turn it around. He’s way too good of a person, plus I see his love for Emilia. I think he’s just worried he won’t be a good enough parent. I think it’s the caring part he feels he’s not capable of. Which is why Marla is the one taking Emilia upstairs.

  “Hey,” I whisper.

  Marla’s struggling to get Emilia’s coat off without waking her. I sit down and help Marla get Emilia’s arms out of the jacket. I’m not sure why she’s wearing one when it’s a beautiful summer day, but I would never question Jed about it.

  “Mommy,” she says in a soft voice.

  Both of us freeze, looking at the other.

  “Go to sleep, baby,” Marla whispers and lays the little girl on the twin mattress that used to be Jed’s when he lived here briefly before college.

  I look around the room. There are still pieces of the glorified prom king Jed once was present in the room. There’s a picture on the dresser of the double dimple smile that won over every girl in the school. But Jed swore off any kind of commitment early on. Never interested. Now he’s got this angelic girl to raise.

  Once Emilia is settled, I walk out of the room. Marla’s right behind me, turning on the intercom and shutting the door. She went out and bought everything when we got the news about Jed bringing Emilia home after the paternity test results revealed that he was the father.

  Just like with any other tough time this family has had, the Greenes all got together, redoing Cade’s old bedroom in the boys’ house to be suitable for a little girl. Now only Jed, Fisher, and Emilia live there.

  “It breaks my heart,” Marla says, shaking her head.

  We walk down the stairs. I’m not sure what to say because I don’t know if she’s referring to Emilia growing up without a mom or Jed’s lack of parenting thus far.

  So I just nod in agreement because I feel for the girl on both accounts. Although I know in my bones that Jed will stand up and be the father he needs to be. He only needs some time to adjust to his new role.

  Marla stops in the kitchen. For a moment, I watch her staring out the window to the backyard. Although I have a mother of my own and we rekindled our relationship after my accident, there’s still a pull inside me to watch over Marla like any daughter would her mother. I see the worried lines on her face.

  Instead of joining the others, I go over to the sink and grab a dish towel to dry the dishes Marla’s pretending to clean when really, she just needs time.

  “You know he’ll be okay, right?” I say in a soft voice. “He’ll come out of this fog and be the dad he needs to be.”

  She glances over and nods. Jed’s still got a beer in his hand and he’s sitting on a chair with his phone in his hand. “I hope so, but there’s a lot about Jed he doesn’t like others to see. Scars that he hides well.”

  Since Adam and I are so much younger, Jed was long gone when we entered high school, but Adam’s told me enough that I understand what she’s saying. Jed fights his own demons when it comes to his dad.

  “I know, but he’s too kindhearted and protective of the ones he loves to do anything other than be the father Emilia needs.”

  She turns to me, stopping the washing, and there are tears in her eyes.

  “Oh, Marla,” I say and open my arms to hug her. She’s done so much for me over the years, thi
s is the least I can do. I want to smack Jed over the head and tell him to shape up, like a basic training drill sergeant.

  “I’m fine. I really am.” But her voice trembles.

  The back door opens and Hank stops, a dish in his hands, watching us for a moment. Then he puts the serving tray on the counter and nods to me that he’ll take over. Soon Marla is in his arms, her head buried in his chest.

  “Go enjoy the party, Luce,” Hank says.

  I do without looking back, because I know Hank can make Marla feel better. Adam is so similar to his father in the way that they care for their family.

  When I step outside, Adam’s in the water and the girls are gossiping about some new reality show they’re all watching. I sit on the edge of the pool and dip my feet in.

  “I’m out,” Adam tells his brothers, tossing the basketball at them. His eyes remain on mine, clearly sensing some shift in my mood.

  Sometimes I can’t believe I was lucky enough to win him twice. “You don’t have to quit on account of me.”

  His palms skate up my inner thighs, parting them so he can slide between. “You always come first.”

  I smile and push my fingers through his wet dark hair. We stay there, not exchanging a word, though I hear his thoughts as my own. Will we get through these coming months of fostering and me going through all these medical procedures? It’s a lot to take on, but we took the year to really figure out what we wanted and now we need to hit the ground running. It might not be easy, but at least it’s summer break now, so I’m off from school.

  He rests his chin on my thigh and looks up at me. “You okay?”

  I nod. “I’m perfect.”

  He gives me his best smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Adam, relax. We’re together and we’re going to get through this. Hopefully with a child.”

  He places his hands on the edge of the pool and uses his strength to push himself up and kiss me on the lips. “With at least one child.” Then he falls back into the water.

  “At least one?” I raise an eyebrow.

  He smiles wickedly. “Maybe a dozen.”

  I put my foot on his shoulder and push him away. He pretends to sink but pops back up.

  “We could only be so lucky.” I sink into the water and he grabs me by my waist.

  “Just like old times. Want to play chicken?” he whispers, keeping us away from everyone else. Memories of his twelfth birthday resurface in my mind.

  “You should’ve kissed me,” I joke.

  “Kissed you? I was twelve. I didn’t understand all the shit happening with my body. You ruined me at twelve.”

  I hug him. “Does it help that you ruined me too?”

  His chest vibrates with laughter. “Definitely. I love you, Luce,” he says.

  “I love you, Adam.”

  “Jed, I need to talk to you,” Hank says so loudly everyone stops talking.

  All eyes focus on Jed sitting at a table of six all by himself, nursing a beer. He raises his eyebrows but stands and tucks his phone in his pocket, following Hank around the side of the house. All the Greene siblings look at one another because it’s not like Hank to hand out a fatherly lecture during a party. But then again, he just consoled his wife, and everyone knows that like all the Greene men, Hank’s wife takes top billing now that all the kids besides Rylan are grown up.

  “You’re Allie, right?” Cameron Baker asks when he approaches me at the table.

  Although Cameron is Fisher’s best friend, we’ve never officially met. Mostly because I usually only hang with Fisher after we’re both off shift for a night. He comes into the hospital for some accident or case he’s working, then we grab a drink at quitting time. We’ve been to the gym together a couple times but we’re not gym buddies. But I’ve heard enough stories about Cameron to know he’s not the guy for me.

  “That’s me.”

  He sits in the chair next to me, snatching a deviled egg from the food that’s sitting out. “I’m Cam, Fisher’s best friend.” He swallows the egg in only two bites.

  “I know who you are.” I move the pasta salad around my plate with a fork.

  “Does my reputation precede me?”

  I raise both eyebrows. No way this guy is as arrogant as he seems. Fisher would never hang out with someone like that. “Fisher. He’s told me stories.”

  He cringes. “That can’t be good.”

  I continue to eat, not really entertaining the conversation. Mostly because I’m upset at myself. I wanted to fix someone up. I had no idea Ethel was Fisher’s grandma. I didn’t even know her last name—which seems weird now that I think about it. And it wasn’t like when she gave me directions to this place. She told me it was the Greene family home. Still, I was so excited for today. All to come here and find out they want to set me up. Likely with this guy and his pretty bad boy frat guy persona. Cam’s hard to explain. Not nearly as inked as Fisher, but enough to not seem preppy, but then his family money and his arrogance paint him as a frat boy.

  Fisher joins us, bringing over three beers, and sits on my other side. “Cam, you met Allie?”

  “I did. I see why you’ve been hiding her.” Cam pops open his beer bottle.

  “Ew,” I say.

  Fisher shoots him a warning glare. “That’s not what’s happening and cut it with the bullshit.”

  “It’s just a line. Relax. Sorry if I offended you.” Cam looks at me, and I can’t tell if he’s genuine or not. “It was meant to be funny. Everyone is tense since Hank called Jed away.” He grabs another deviled egg and pops it in his mouth.

  “I’m sorry, I’m just bummed.” I fork my salad and put a bite in my mouth.

  “Why?” Cam asks, muffled as he’s still chewing.

  I eye Ethel and Dori across the pool talking with Marla, Fisher’s mom. I met her in the hospital once. Midge sits off to the side under the shade of a lounger. I think she’s napping.

  “Thelma and Louise? What did they do?” Cam snags a chip from the bowl and pops it in his mouth.

  “Why don’t you just make yourself a plate?” I ask.

  “Because Cam doesn’t like to be tied down. Not even to his own plate at a family barbecue.” Fisher takes a pull of his beer.

  Damn, he looks good in just his bathing suit. Not that I didn’t think he wouldn’t. I’m not sure which I prefer, Fisher half naked or Fisher in his sheriff uniform. I’ve been to the gym with him a few times and Fisher in his workout gear is pretty great too. They’re all core-clenching.

  Cam picks up a chip and throws it at Fisher. “Shut up, man, you make me sound like a manwhore.”

  Fisher says nothing but raises his eyebrows, and Cam throws another chip at him.

  “It’s not about the women, it’s about the freedom.” Cam’s attention is centered on me now. “No offense.”

  “Why would I take offense?” I ask.

  “Because I was the guy they wanted to fix you up with, right?”

  Man, news travels fast around this family.

  “You or Jed, I think,” I answer.

  “Jed’s your better bet. He needs a baby mama,” Cam says.

  Surprisingly, Fisher says nothing. For some reason, I’m disappointed.

  Just then, a gorgeous brunette walks into the yard from the side of the house. She’s in a bikini top and denim shorts with a bag slung over her shoulder. She looks familiar, but I can’t place her.

  “Mol!” Fisher’s stepsister, Nikki, screams. “About time. What happened to the solidarity of a one-piece?” Her voice turns sinister, and everyone laughs.

  “Molly not show off her body at a pool party? What planet is Nikki from?” Cam stands. “It was great meeting you. Let me know if you need me since Fisher here isn’t one to fill a conversation with words.”

  “Fuck you,” Fisher mumbles.

  Cam walks away and gravitates toward all the Greene women.

  “So you’re that disappointed about the fixing up thing?” Fisher asks without actually looking
at me.

  I lean back in the chair. “You have no idea. When I helped them with Kingston and Stella, they acted like I could be a part of the team, then they disappeared on me. I mean, Kingston’s sister Sedona rekindling her relationship with an old flame wasn’t exactly hard work. The two of them had sexual tension for miles. Plus, they had Palmer.”

  “You know the Baileys well?”

  I look over at him and his forehead is creased.

  “Stella is a friend. I worked with her when she first came back to Alaska, and I’ve been invited to some family parties. I don’t know all of them, but I know of them if that makes sense. Unlike your family. You should feel ashamed that you haven’t introduced me to them.”

  I eye him hard, although I’m not mad. Heaven knows I wouldn’t bring Fisher around my family right now.

  “Believe me, you should be happy I kept you out of the chaos,” he says and slides to the edge of his seat. “I can do some quick names and who they are, but you’ll never remember.”

  “Ha! I am so good with names, you’d be amazed. Plus, I’ve always wanted to be part of a big family. It must be great.”

  Fisher stares at me for a beat too long, as if I’m crazy. But I shrug. Who wouldn’t want to have all this all the time?

  After he points out his sister, brothers, stepbrothers, and stepsisters, as well as some of their significant others, he stands. “Now that that’s done, want to go for a swim?”

  Looking at Fisher’s ripped body, images come to mind that shouldn’t. So I strip off my T-shirt because maybe if his annoyingly gorgeous body is underwater, I’ll stop thinking dirty thoughts. But his gaze falls down my body, and a shiver runs up my spine.

  Crap, I think I made a bad decision.

  Leaving my entire family out back, I round the side of the house and find Jed and my dad talking while shooting baskets on the driveway.

  “All I’m saying is I understand how lost you feel, but imagine Emilia. Think about her.” My dad shoots the ball.

  “Fathers usually have nine months to figure this shit out. I had a couple weeks to prepare to have a kid. Hank, I’m not the ‘number one dad’ T-shirt-wearing kinda guy.”