by Bijou Hunter
Yulia again glances at Sam before sizing me up. “You’re terrible with children. Even my nephew, who didn’t make a peep, grossed you out.”
“I sensed he was about to crap his diaper.”
Yulia’s grin returns. “He shits in stealth mode, I’m told.”
Sharing her smile, I admit, “I wanted you to be the one.”
Yulia’s dark eyes soften as she nods. “Though I knew we weren’t, you were too amazing to be rational about.”
“It’s why I couldn’t be friends afterward. I felt like I messed up my one chance.”
“But you didn’t,” Yulia says and gestures at a curious Sam watching us now.
“Would you really want to be friends?” I ask, thinking of the hours we spent talking about everything from history to car design.
“Sure, Nevaeh. You’re hot, but I liked the rest of you, too,” she says, laughing in the infectious way I found irresistible. “And I’ve gotten past how things didn’t work out. I knew you were young, and I was your first real relationship. All your drama makes sense now.”
“I am not dramatic,” I grumble, losing my smile.
Refusing to back down, Yulia looks me in the eye and says, “If there was an Oscar for the most dramatically silent breakup, you’d have crushed the competition.”
“I refuse to believe I was dramatic.”
“That’s exactly what a drama queen would say.”
Grinning, I shrug. “Okay, but maybe you bring that out in me.”
“Or failure does. But the end of us led to your new beginning. And I’m not dying for company.”
“You always were a bit of a slut,” I tease, and she laughs again.
“Give me your cell, and I’ll put in my new number. You can text if you’re really over me. Or if your man gives you permission.”
Handing over my phone, I smile at her dig at her own possessive nature. Though Sam never bosses me around, he usually gets what he wants. I don’t even feel him maneuvering me. Finesse is the key, evidentially.
“Even if you don’t want to chat,” Yulia says, stepping back, “send me pictures of Cornflake. I’m curious how the fat bitch is doing.”
Laughing, I hug Yulia. We never really said goodbye. I ended things, packed up, and avoided her. Alyn did the talking for me. I was so confused about how things didn’t work out, and facing Yulia meant confronting my failures.
But I’m past such insecurities now. Those mistakes helped me grow up. Without Yulia, I’d be ill-prepared for Sam. Well, maybe not him, but I wouldn’t be tough enough to open my heart to his kids. I pushed myself a lot with Yulia, making me ready for Raimi and Caesar.
For that, I’m thankful to my first love. I tell Yulia goodbye and join my one and only and our kids.
Sam grins at my relaxed expression. “Thought you’d be more squirrely.”
“I’m where I need to be, so looking back at the past no longer bothers me,” I say, leaning into his embrace. “Do you think I’m a drama queen?”
Sam just smiles, refusing to answer. Caesar laughs at his silence, making me follow suit. I remember how on the first day we met, he chose silence rather than editing himself to soothe my bitchy tendencies. His quiet routine still cracks me up. He gets his meaning across every time.
Deep inside, I knew that very day how Sam was mine. I felt him on my skin, even before he touched me. He lived in my thoughts before I knew anything real about him.
Handsome Sam Donner offered the magic I saw my parents share, but I once doubted I’d find myself.
Now with the wait over, I suffer zero fear over our future.
THE CHARMER
Brick warns me how the Majors family can get confusing when they’re all in one place. I figure I’ll be fine.
Sure as rain, I keep them straight when they’re introduced. There’s oldest son, River, who runs the Shasta chapter, his wife, Max, and their two blond little ones.
The twins are already set in my brain. Maverick and Nev are obviously locked in there, too. That leaves the youngest three. Sylvie is the wild one with a big mouth. Denver is the good-natured, often sleepy-looking youngest son. Cavalry is the one who looks and sounds like Denver but isn’t. I’m still good.
Until they’re all in one room at the farmhouse, preparing for the wedding. From the back, I’m unsure if I’m looking at River or his father with their hair pulled back. At one point, I think Raven is calling me, but it’s Avery. With her bump, Savannah is easy to track. But the children start blending together, too. Io is the sensitive gal, and River’s daughter, Greer, is the temperamental one. Or did I get that backward?
“I’m the only one who isn’t blonde,” Raimi says, frowning at the mass of towheaded people moving around each other.
“Don’t forget me, squirt,” Fred says.
“I’m more gray than blonde anymore,” Pricilla adds and touches her wavy hair.
My dad immediately replies, “Yet, never more beautiful.”
Caesar realizes his grandparents are about to kiss and gets that awkward teenage-boy grossed-out expression.
“What’s that face mean?” Sylvie demands from Caesar. “Are you giving me grief? Did Nev put you up to it?”
“Brah,” Denver—or Cavalry—tells her.
Sylvie frowns at her brother and sighs loudly. “There are too many people in this fucking house.”
“Should we leave?” Fred asks.
Sylvie blinks rapidly before shaking her head. “No, let’s kick out River and the twins.”
“Avery’s getting married,” Caesar says, and Sylvie’s eyes narrow.
“Are you challenging me?”
“I don’t know who you are.”
Pushing through the crowd to get to us, Nev laughs at his response.
“Calm down, little sister,” she says, and Sylvie deflates.
“Are you nice now?”
“No.”
“Are you nicer, then?”
“No, but I no longer hate you.”
Sylvie smiles at Denver—or Cavalry. “She loves me now.”
“I always loved you, dumbass,” Nev mutters. “I just hated your guts.”
Taking the challenge, Sylvie growls, “I hated you more.”
“No, you cried yourself to sleep wishing I liked you.”
“Well, yeah, but whatever.”
“I like you some now.”
Sylvie throws her arms around a flinching Nev. The sisters hug for way too long. Even Raimi laughs at Nev’s horror.
“Your family has sass,” Fred tells her when she’s finally free.
“That’s one word for it, sure.”
“Are you the young lady who sent us the fruit basket?” Pricilla asks Sylvie.
Nev’s grouchy sister smiles brightly. “Yes, I am. I wanted to thank you all for teaching Nev manners. Somehow, she didn’t pick them up during her life here despite my parents being flawless.”
“Oh, I don’t think Nev needed any help,” Pricilla says, flustered by Sylvie’s friendly insult.
“Ignore her,” Nev tells my mom. “Starting trouble is her main hobby.”
Pricilla catches on. “Oh, it’s for fun.”
“They’re a sassy bunch,” Fred says, smiling big.
Sylvie glances at Denver—or Cavalry—and they back out of the room as if frightened.
Raimi waits until the two leave before taking Nev’s hand. “Pawpaw and I are the only people here with brown hair.”
“My aunt Lark and her family will be here soon. Unfortunately, Aaron let his blond hair grow out, so we’re forced to worship his curls. However, Lark is a beautiful brunette like you,” Nev says while stroking my girl’s cheek. “Being different makes you special.”
“Nev knows what she’s talking about,” Fred says, and Pricilla nods. “She’s a crackerjack.”
Grinning under his praise, Nev asks, “Who wants to help Raven get the pigs ready?”
Raimi and Caesar lift their hands. Fred mimics them, making Pricilla laugh.
As they mo
ve through the crowd, Brick appears next to me. In his arms, Jett smiles.
“Nervous?” I ask.
“Not really,” Brick says, smiling before hearing a pissed scream in the other room. “But Io is about to pull out her hair from all the noise.”
I notice Avery enter with her daughter, who looks ready to go full squirrely on the mass of people around them. Cavalry—or Denver—whispers something in Jett’s ear. The boy grins shyly.
“If you do it, I’ll give you a cookie,” his uncle tells Jett.
“Don’t teach him that,” Savannah grumbles with Pollux in her arms.
“You have a baby inside you,” her brother says, immediately making the pregnant twin grin.
“Io!” Jett calls out to his sister on the other side of the room. When the girl’s frantic blue eyes find him, he smiles and says, “Dude.”
As soon as Io giggles, Cavalry—or Denver—looks at Sylvie and nods. “See? She’s you.”
“No, I’m me.”
“There are two of you.”
“No.”
“You’re me, little dude,” Cavalry—yeah, I’m leaning heavily toward it being him—tells Jett. He looks at Pollux. “You’re a tiny Denver.”
“Brah,” Denver—got them straight now—says and nods.
Brick watches their exchange and looks about as freaked out as Io did earlier.
“What’s the deal with the pigs?” I ask to distract him.
“They’re like the three wise men or something.”
Sylvie throws her head back and laughs. “He believed me!”
Brick and Jett share a funny look while Sylvie high-fives her brothers.
Soon, we find ourselves out in the massive backyard facing a line of enormous trees. Nev returns with the kids.
“Look,” Raimi says, showing me the pictures. “Their hats might fall off.”
“Oh, they’ll definitely shake them off,” Nev says and smiles big. “But the top hats class up the affair.”
“I sure feel dressed up,” Fred says, appearing with a top hat. When we laugh, he shrugs. “They had extras.”
With everyone outside, the mood gets less hectic. I join Brick in front of the lines of chairs. Calmer now, he holds Jett and Io, who share Cavalry’s cookie bribe.
Avery stands nearby with Savannah, watching her man and kids. The expression on her face is one of pure love.
“You did good,” I tell Brick, who smiles at Avery.
The three pigs sit in a line, decked out in their hats and bow ties. Nearby, Raven and Vaughn relax in the front row with their youngest kids and Pollux. In the second row are Lark and Aaron, along with their kids and grandkids. Maverick and Violet whisper to each other in the third row. Down the aisle, River and Max each hold a kid, bouncing in sync. Nev sits in the back row with my kids and parents. Bjorn stands near the front, ready to film the ceremony. His woman clings to Avery. The two of them alternate between crying and laughing.
A gruff-looking older man arrives on his Harley, just riding straight up to the front. I catch Nev rolling her eyes before she whispers something to Caesar. He looks at the man and mimics her expression.
Soon, Beckett Todds will be the newest member of the Pema chapter. He’ll also run the Pema Wayward Souls Church for the club. Today, he’s marrying my best friend and Nev’s sister.
Starting the ceremony, he lets Avery do most of the talking. Brick mumbles how amazing she is and how he’s the luckiest man on the planet. She smiles at his nervous tone. Her grin makes him stand straighter. They feed off each other in a positive way like all good couples do.
Before they share their vows, Avery and Brick hand over their respective kids. Io goes to Savannah. I get Jett, who whispers how his mommy has a twin. I grin at his secret info. The boy and I watch his parents make everything between them official.
The quiet mood shifts quickly into a party mode once “Slow Ride” begins playing over the sound system. Sylvie immediately jumps up to dance with Cavalry and Denver. The pigs free themselves of their top hats and run away from the bouncing blonde.
Once Jett is back with Brick, I join my family. Fred’s already tapping his toes. He won’t need much more music to get Pricilla spinning. Nev convinces Caesar to dance with her.
“Yeah, I don’t like doing it, either,” she tells the embarrassed tween.
Raimi looks up at me with her big blue eyes, and I know what she wants. I take her hands and start moving.
We’re two songs in when everyone changes partners. Caesar and Pricilla shuffle together. Fred swings a giggling Raimi. I mosey up to my gal and smile.
“Didn’t want to step on Brick’s big moment,” I murmur in Nev’s ear as I hold her tight. “But I wouldn’t mind top hat-wearing pigs at our wedding.”
Nev gives me a defeated sigh. “I knew you were going to ask.”
“Don’t you want to get married?”
“Sure, but I don’t want to have to say mushy romantic stuff up there with everyone looking. My family will laugh.”
“They were all well-behaved for Avery.”
“Because she’ll cry if they mess up her shit.”
Laughing, I sway with her to the beat and suggest, “We could let people know how sensitive Raimi is.”
“Are you suggesting we use your little angel to guilt my family into shutting the fuck up at our wedding?”
“Whatever works,” I say, and she smiles.
“I’d like to do it in the autumn,” Nev whispers. “I love the way the farm looks when the leaves change colors.”
“It’s a date,” I promise.
Nev holds my gaze, believing every word. I never doubt a damn thing with my gal. There’ll never be any dealbreakers between us.
OH, BY THE WAY, FROM THE CRACKERJACK
Before driving home to Pema, I drop by my parents’ house for an early lunch. Raimi and Caesar say goodbye to the pigs. Sam, Maverick, River, and Kiefer talk shop on the front porch. My parents share hair care tips with Fred and Pricilla. And no doubt, somewhere in the house, the twins stare into each other’s eyes and take turns saying, “No, you’re beautiful.”
As for me, I decide to force more bonding with the Bliss Triad before I can flee to my sanctuary.
The dude-bros stand in the kitchen, eating Bugles. When they stare at the wall, I wonder how stoned they are on a scale of one to ten.
“What’s the plan with Nadine?” I ask Cavalry.
“Oh, that’s so over,” Sylvie answers for him. “She’s pregnant. Ready to shit out the kid soon, too. Big shameful secret pregnancy, apparently.”
“And it’s not his,” Denver says and then snorts when he realizes how dumb his statement sounds.
“I’m sorry, bud. So, she has another guy?” I ask Cavalry, who doesn’t look particularly upset.
“No, just a baby on the way,” he says, popping Bugles into his mouth. “This summer, she’ll visit her family in Ellsberg, and I’ll make my move.”
“Wait, how is that going to work?”
“Way I figure, Nadine thinks I’m too immature. That’s why she won’t give me a shot despite all I’ve got going on asset-wise.”
“You’re swimming in impressive qualities, brah,” Denver says helpfully.
“Thanks, dude,” Cavalry replies, and they share a head nod. “So, when Nadine comes to visit Ellsberg, I’ll show off my child-rearing skills.”
“That you don’t actually have,” Sylvie interrupts.
“Dude,” Denver warns.
“No, you’re right. Sorry, Cavy.”
“No worries, brah,” he says, messing with her hair. “I’ve got a plan to win over Nadine, and my love remains pure.”
Based on her pouty frown, Sylvie clearly doesn’t approve.
“Not to agree with dingus,” I say, enjoying my sister’s insecurities, “but do you have any child-rearing skills?”
“I’ll practice on River’s newest kid. Savannah’s too. Learn all about diapers, baby burps, and how to get them clean.”
“I want so many babies,” Sylvie announces while hugging Cavalry. “You’ll show me how to raise them, won’t you, dude?”
“You know it, brah.”
“I feel like you’re all just a bunch of weirdoes,” Avery mutters, entering the kitchen. “But I also support your happiness, so good luck with burping Savannah’s baby once Venus claws her way to freedom.”
“I’m feeling a lot of love here,” Cavalry murmurs.
“Wait, but if Nadine lives in Houston with her baby,” Avery says, stirring up shit, “what will you do there?”
“He can work for Ramsey Security,” Dad says, walking through the kitchen with Io in his arms. “He’s got slick skills.”
“Apricot,” Io tells her mom and shows off what Grampa gave her.
Avery instantly smiles at her baby girl. “You’re living the dream.”
While mom and daughter share one of those touching moments I’m normally grossed out by, I focus on Sylvie.
“Houston is only a few hours from here,” I tell her. “You can visit Mom and Dad constantly. You know, until they eventually beg you to stop.”
“I’m not moving to tall-hat land. Fuck that shit.”
“Brah,” Cavalry says.
“No, dude,” Sylvie replies immediately. “I don’t want to live in Texas. It smells like cow farts.”
“You currently live in Farmtown, Kentucky,” I point out.
“No one I know owns a cow.”
“Houston is one of the largest cities in the country,” Avery says, taking my side. “I doubt many cows are roaming around.”
“No dice. I’m out.”
Denver and Cavalry share a stoner-bro look. I sense great meaning behind their hazy-eyed gazes. But I’m not Dian Fossey here, and they aren’t my topic of study. I’ll let them work things out in their own way.
But I stop myself from walking away just yet. While Avery bugs Sylvie, I step in front of Cavalry. He offers me his usual easygoing grin.
“I don’t like kids,” I tell him.
“I noticed that.”
“But I learned for Sam. And he wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship right after getting released. But for me, he couldn’t wait.”