“He’s really taken a shine to you,” she says as we work side by side serving up apple pie and cheesecake for the adults.
“He’s adorable. I wasn’t joking when I said I’d run away with him. You must be so proud.”
“I am. He’s a great kid.” Her eyes glisten proudly. “They both are.”
“I hope Daisy wakes soon. I’m dying to meet her.”
Gabby glances at the clock. “She’s having a power nap today, but she had a turbulent night, so I’m not surprised.”
“You must be exhausted.”
“It comes with the territory.” She shrugs. “We live in a perpetual state of sleep deprivation, but I wouldn’t swap my life for the world.” A sad, nostalgic look sweeps across her features momentarily.
Miley and Lucy appear in the kitchen then, and together, we return to the dining room, handing out dessert before reclaiming our seats.
“This apple pie is to die for,” Paul, Ryan’s dad, says a few minutes later. “Ryan said you made it yourself from apples grown on your family farm?”
I nod. “Yes, and the apple jelly too.”
“You know, we’ve had Austin over to dinner plenty of times, and I don’t think I’ve ever asked him much about the farm,” Lucy says. “I thought it was a cattle farm?”
“It used to be,” Austin responds before I can. “But Dad had to diversify over the years.”
“We grow a variety of vegetables, fruits, and flowers,” I continue. “And we sell the produce locally online and via the farmer’s market in Milton. Although the focus is on beef and duck, the farm wouldn’t be profitable without the other side of the business.”
“You seem very knowledgeable,” Lucy adds. “Do you plan on working on the farm after college?”
I shake my head. “Definitely not. That’s my brother Charlie’s forte. He recently returned home to work on the farm after getting his agricultural degree.”
“Summer wants to be a teacher,” Ryan confirms. “When she’s not performing Katy Perry songs on stage, that is.” We share a conspiratorial grin.
“How the hell do you know about that?” Austin asks, quirking a brow.
“Summer put on an impromptu show the other day.” Ryan smirks at the memory.
“She what?” Austin splutters, almost choking on his pie. “You better not have been prancing around the apartment in that excuse for a costume.”
“Oh, for the love of all things holy, keep your hair on. I wasn’t wearing the costume.” His shoulders visibly relax, and I can’t stop myself from pushing his buttons. “Although I would have if I’d thought to bring it with me. Ryan deserved the authentic experience.” I shouldn’t wind Austin up but he’s making it too easy.
My brother is lost for words, and I’m struggling to contain a grin when Ryan sticks the knife in. “She played me the video from the show though, and damn, that was some costume.”
“Why the hell would you show him that?” Austin asks, getting worked up and now he’s just pissing me off. However, we’re guests in Gabby’s home, and I don’t want to bring tension to the table, so I work hard to offset my annoyance.
“We were talking about it in the car on our way back from the gym, and I thought it’d be funny to show him.”
“Do I look like I’m laughing?” Austin growls, and I notice Miley clamping her hand down on his thigh under the table in warning.
“This is priceless,” Slater says, showcasing a mad grin. “I never thought I’d see the day where Austin would be all loved up or act like he has the biggest stick up his ass, and now I’ve witnessed both. Today’s a good day.” He rubs his hands together, as Gabby swats the back of his head.
“Don’t tease our guests. It’s not hospitable.”
Slater snorts. “We’re talking about Powers.”
Austin flips him the bird just as the baby monitor emits a loud wail. Slater stands, but Gabby tugs on his arm. “I’ll go. Summer wants to meet Daisy.”
I hop up out of my seat with no further encouragement, practically skipping out of the room after Gabby.
“Hello, my little princess,” Gabby murmurs as we pad carefully into the baby’s room.
A nightlight rotates a smattering of tiny stars across the ceiling in the dimly lit space. Daisy cries, kicking her legs out and reaching her arms up to her momma. Gabby holds her close to her chest, gently rocking her. “Would you mind switching on that lamp?” she whispers, gesturing at the dresser off to the side of the crib.
I switch it on, and the room comes into clearer view. “Wow. This is a beautiful room.” It’s painted in a pale shade of green with matching white wooden furniture. One wall has large daisies floating across it as if they were blowing in the breeze, and the wall at the back of the crib spells out Daisy’s name in large white foam lettering. Fitted shelves hold tons of cuddly toys and family photos, including a cute one of Billy holding his baby sister in his arms.
Gabby watches me looking at it as she changes her baby’s diaper. “That was minutes after Daisy was born,” she explains. “Billy was so excited to meet his sister, but it completely overwhelmed him when the time came to see her.”
“I can tell from his expression.” I run my finger along the frame, my heart full as I take in the wide-eyed shell-shocked stare on her son’s face.
“He loves her so much,” Gabby admits, tickling her daughter as she dresses her.
I return to her side, smiling at the gorgeous little blonde princess. She’s gurgling and kicking out her legs, and I want to bundle her up into my arms. “It’d be hard not to. She’s beautiful, Gabby.” I place my finger in the baby’s hand, and her tiny fingers latch on. “She looks so much like you with her blonde hair where Billy is dark-haired like Slater.”
Gabby smiles quietly at me as she lifts her daughter up. “Would you like to feed her?”
“Oh, yes, please.” My grin is wide. “I didn’t want to be rude, but I’m dying to hold her.”
“C’mon then. Let’s go down to the living room, and I’ll get you set up.”
I’m seated on the brown leather couch, while Gabby has gone to the kitchen to fetch a bottle, cradling her gorgeous daughter in my arms. Sounds of conversation and laughter trickle in from the kitchen as the rest of the adults enjoy an after-dinner coffee. Daisy gurgles, and I can’t stop peppering her face with little kisses. I’m rewarded with the biggest smile, and my heart seriously melts.
I can’t wait until my brothers settle down and pop out little Petersens. I know Mom’s dying for some grandkids too, and I’m betting they will subject Austin and Miley to lots of teasing about weddings and babies when my brother finally plucks up the courage to bring her home.
Even though she’s hungry, little Daisy is impeccably well-behaved, giggling as I blow raspberries on her chest.
“You have mesmerized both my children,” Gabby says with a smile as she steps into the room. “Are you sure you aren’t Mary Poppins in disguise?”
I laugh as I prop the baby up higher on my shoulder, accepting the warm bottle from Gabby and bringing the nipple to Daisy’s mouth. All the years of babysitting the neighbor’s kids means I’m well accustomed to babies. Daisy latches on instantly, sucking greedily on the bottle, and I run my finger along her soft cheek as I smile at her. “I wish. How cool would it be to fly over the city via umbrella?”
“It might be a bit cold and wet,” she jokes with me.
“It’d be worth it though.” I coo at Daisy as I gently snuggle into her while she feeds. “I’m happy to babysit if you ever need a sitter.”
“You might be sorry you offered,” she quips.
“Not at all. Honestly, if I can help, I’d be happy to.”
“That’s sweet of you. Thanks.” She sits back farther in the couch, casting a glance at the large family photo, of her with Slater and the kids, hanging over the mantelpiece, an automatic smile cresting upon her face. “Date nights are rare these days, but if we have something to go to, usually my parents babysit, or sometimes
Dean and Alice if they don’t have the twins with them.” She folds her hands in her lap. “Ryan used to babysit Billy a lot when he was a baby, but he’s way too busy now with the gym, and I’d only feel like I was imposing.”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind once he could arrange cover.”
“I know he wouldn’t,” she agrees, her eyes drifting to the photo on the side wall. Her expression turns nostalgic, and I stare at the man locked in an intimate pose with Gabby, trying to keep the curiosity out of my eyes, but I’m a naturally nosy person so it’s difficult.
“That’s Dylan,” Gabby volunteers. “Billy’s father.”
“I didn’t want to pry, but I was wondering. I’m sorry,” I add, realizing my faux pas upstairs. “I shouldn’t have presumed anything about Billy and Slater.”
“It’s okay. Slater gets that a lot when he takes Billy out, and it’s a natural assumption.”
“Does Billy see Dylan often?”
“Dylan passed shortly after Billy was born,” Gabby quietly admits, and I feel awful for opening this topic of conversation.
“Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. I’m too nosy for my own good.”
Gabby pats my arm, smiling. “It’s fine. We don’t shy away from talking about Dylan. Billy knows all about him, and he loves bragging he has two daddies, one of whom is an angel looking after him from heaven.”
Her smile is radiant and full of love and pride for her son. She looks up at the picture again, and my eyes follow suit. It’s a beautiful photo but tinged with sadness now I know the history behind it. They are both sitting on the floor, and Dylan has his arms wrapped around Gabby’s baby bump from behind. She’s leaning back into his chest, staring up at him, and he’s meeting her eyes, the look of love and adoration transparent in his gaze.
“He was my first love,” Gabby continues explaining, “and I thought we’d be together forever, but fate had other plans.” She wipes a lone tear aside. “I will always love Dylan, and I love that I have a piece of him in Billy, but Slater is the love of my life, and he has made me so incredibly happy. He adopted Billy, and he treats him as if he’s his own flesh and blood, and don’t even get me started on how he is with this little one.” She squeezes her daughter’s toes. “I’m lucky to have him, and I love the life we share.”
Slater appears at that exact moment, as if he’s in perfect tune with his wife. From the expression on his handsome face, I’m guessing he heard the tail end of our conversation. “I love you,” he tells her, not fazed at the fact I’m right here. Sitting down, he slides his wife onto his lap, wrapping his bulky arms around her. I’ve been watching the way they are together, and it’s obvious they are very much in love.
Someday, I hope to have what they have. When I’ve lived my life to the fullest and I’m ready to settle down and start a family.
“We’re so very lucky,” Slater says, kissing his wife on the cheek, as he talks. “And after the things we’ve experienced, we never take a single day for granted.”
“I love that,” I truthfully admit, draping Daisy over my shoulder after she’s finished her bottle. I gently rub her back, and she emits a loud burp almost instantaneously. “And it’s how I want to live my life. With no regrets. Grasping every opportunity to live life to the fullest because you never know what’s lying in wait around the corner. It’s part of the reason I want to go traveling after college before I settle into my career. There is such a vast world out there, and I want to explore.”
I carry Daisy over my shoulder, continuing to rub her back as I wander back into the kitchen, letting Gabby and Slater have some precious alone time. Miley and Lucy have been busy cleaning up the kitchen, and some of the others have meandered outside to watch over the kids, while Ryan, Austin, and Paul are still sitting around the kitchen table drinking coffee.
“You look right at home there, Summer,” Paul says when he spies me.
“I adore babies, and this one is precious.” I sit down, turning her around in my arms, still holding her close.
“Stop hogging the precious one,” Ryan jokes, holding out his arms. “Hand the cutie over.” I carefully deposit his niece into his arms and our fingers brush. As usual, delicious tremors ricochet up and down my arms from the contact, and from the way Ryan jerks a little, I can tell he’s definitely feeling it too.
The back door swings open rather forcefully, and a little ball of energy barrels through. “Pretty girl,” Billy says, raising a smile to my lips. “Can you play basketball with me?”
“Her name is Summer,” Ryan reminds him.
“I know.” Billy pouts, comically folding his arms across his small chest. “But Daddy Slater calls Mommy beautiful, so why can’t I call Summer pretty?”
I extend my hand toward him and he links his small fingers in mine. “I don’t mind if you call me pretty girl once I’m allowed to play ball.”
“You can play anything of mine. Anything.” He looks so sincere, and my heart melts again. Seriously, these kids are making me feel broody in a way I’ve never felt before. Which is crazy because I’d never consider having a child at my age. I definitely want kids, a whole host of them, but when I’m much older and I’m at a place in my life where I can devote my full attention to them.
“Wow, Sum.” Austin says. “You’re hooking them young these days.”
“Age is only a number,” I toss out. “And I’m sorely tempted to kidnap your sister’s kids and never give them back,” I admit, eyeballing Ryan.
“I can’t say I blame you because they’re gorgeous kids, but you’re wearing rose-tinted glasses. Kids are a shit-ton of work. Come babysit them overnight sometime, and I bet you’ll be eating your words,” he says, nuzzling his nose into Daisy’s neck. She giggles nonstop, and he’s fascinated by her. There’s something magical about watching a big, burly guy cradling a cute baby in his arms, and my ovaries swoon as Ryan continues to lavish affection on his niece.
Billy tugs me outside, and I spend twenty minutes running around the backyard with all the kids playing ball. I haven’t had this much fun in ages. They really are a great bunch of kids and such a lovely family. My parents would get on famously with Ryan’s.
I stop to take a breather, heading back inside to grab a bottle of water. The sound of angry voices greets me as I step into the kitchen.
Ryan is standing in the middle of the kitchen with a face like thunder. Gabby has a worried expression on her face as she stares up at Slater, pleading with her eyes for him to do something. The only other people in the kitchen are a strange man and woman who weren’t there before.
The man is standing protectively behind the woman, his arm resting on her shoulder as he whispers in her ear. She’s stunning with shoulder-length wavy reddish-brown hair and expressive green eyes. “I’m sorry, Ryan,” she whispers. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
His gaze lowers to her swollen belly, and a flash of pain glimmers in his eyes before he conceals it. “Whatever, Myndi. It’s not like I care.” But as he looks up at her, challenging her to disagree, it’s blatantly obvious he cares, and a sharp pain spreads across my chest at the realization.
CHAPTER 10
Ryan
I can’t fucking believe this. This is like my every worst nightmare rolled into one. It’s been over two years since Myndi and I broke up, and I’m still pissed over the way she treated me. Seeing her again brings a host of repressed emotions to the surface, and I’m not in the mood to revisit my past.
She moved to Australia shortly after all that shit went down, and except for Gabby and Slate’s wedding last year, I haven’t had to face her since then.
I knew she was in a new relationship, and I couldn’t give two fucks about the stuck-up jerk in the blazer and button-down shirt glowering at me. She’s welcome to her nerdy doctor boyfriend, but seeing her like this is akin to a slap in the face and I’m ill-equipped to deal with the host of conflicting emotions running through me.
She looks up at her boyfriend, and they communicate sile
ntly with their eyes.
I remember a time when we used to do that.
A time when I thought maybe, just maybe, I was wrong about love and marriage.
But I wasn’t wrong.
I’d gotten it right all along.
He nods, and she turns back around to face me. Remorse and pity emanate from her in spades, and I fucking hate that. I want nothing from her.
Especially not her pity.
And her remorse is too fucking late.
“Can we talk in private?” she asks, beseeching me with her eyes.
“We’ve nothing to talk about.” I cross my arms over my chest, trying my best to avoid looking at her swollen belly.
“We both know that’s not true.”
“You had plenty of time to talk before you emigrated to Australia, and I seem to recall the only words you had for me were harsh ones. I’m not in the mood for a repeat.”
“I was in the wrong,” she admits, reaching her hand out.
I flinch, stepping back from her touch, almost tripping over Summer. I didn’t realize she’d come back inside, and I hate she’s a witness to this. I grab onto her elbow to stop her from falling. “Sorry. I didn’t see you there.”
“It’s fine.” Her soft smile is laced with concern, and fuck, if that doesn’t thaw the new layer of ice around my heart.
“Is this your girlfriend?” Myndi asks, her tone hopeful as she pins Summer with an eager smile.
“She’s mine,” Billy cuts in, strolling into the room like he owns it. “But I told Uncle Ryan she could be his until I’m old enough to marry her. He promised to treat her like a princess,” he tacks on the end, like that totally justifies it.
“Oh, jeez.” Gabby bites down on her lower lip to stop from laughing. “I think you need to have a word with our son,” she murmurs to Slate, and Slate promptly brings Billy out of the room for a man-to-man chat.
Myndi’s gaze bounces from me to Summer, and she looks awkward as hell. I really don’t give a shit if she’s embarrassed, but I won’t disrespect Summer. “Not that I owe you any explanation, but Summer is Austin’s sister. She’s living with us at the moment.”
No Feelings Involved: A Brother's Best Friend Standalone Romance Page 8