“After the fight, he showed up on our doorstep.” As I explain the events that took place, obviously leaving out the kissing that followed, I take in everyone’s expressions. My brothers and even Rhyland look like they’re ready to murder, while Hollie looks shocked and my mom focuses on Gabby, who has since fallen asleep in her arms, but when she lifts her gaze, unshed tears fill her eyes.
This isn’t how I wanted to spend Rhy’s birthday. However, the tension surrounding us is suffocating.
“So, Payton,” my sister-in-law cuts in, and I think I just love her more for trying to ease the tension. “How are things with that guy you’re seeing? I was hoping we would’ve gotten to meet him today.”
Okay, maybe I don’t love Hollie all that much. One awkward subject to the other.
“Dating? You’re dating someone now?” In the blink of an eye, Ollie transforms from a man almost thirty to his teenage self, learning I was going out on my first date.
Rhyland’s body is so tense beside me, and his hand falls to my thigh under the table. I have to hide my smile—it’s possessive as fuck and such a turn-on.
“Oliver,” my mother scolds.
“What? I’m just saying. “First, she keeps the Joel shit from us, and now she’s secretly seeing someone?”
Rhyland’s fingers stroke my thigh in a calm circle, having sensed my emotions building. “You need to calm down. Payton is an adult, so just chill out.”
Hollie grabs her husband’s arm and whispers something into his ear, and the tension in his shoulders seems to relax.
“You know what? You’re right. I just worry about you, that’s all.”
“Thank you, but I can take care of myself.”
The rest of the meal goes on with no more arguments and raised voices, but I’m thankful for the reprieve I have from my family as I get the cake ready in the kitchen.
I smudged a small slide of the icing when I got it out of the fridge, so my focus is on the spot of the cake, fixing it when arms wrap around me from behind.
Rhyland presses his face into the crook of my neck, and I squirm in his hold as his stubble brushes against my skin.
“Rhyland,” I scold, although it comes out more of a whine as his teeth find my skin.
He swipes the side of the cake that I had just fixed with his finger and brings it to his lips. “Mmm, tasty, but not as sweet as you.”
“Behave.”
“It’s my birthday, and I’ll behave if I want to.” His voice lowers to a whisper. “But spoiler alert, I don’t want to.”
Suddenly, Rhy tugs on the hem of my shirt, further from view, and his mouth is on mine. When his tongue brushes mine and his hands pull me closer to his body, the world falls away. I completely forget that my family is just a few feet away and that they are completely unaware that I’m falling in love with this man.
“God, are you sure we can’t just kick everyone out now?” he says against my lips.
“No, we can’t. And don’t even think about using your puppy dog face. We just have to get through this for a little longer before everyone leaves.”
“And then you’re mine.” Before I can take my next breath, his lips seal over mine possessively.
“What the fuck?” Ollie shouts from outside, and I push myself off Rhy.
Oh my God, this is it.Did he see us?
Ollie barrels through the back door, and I squeeze my eyes shut and wait for him to come charging at us, but when that doesn’t happen and I feel Rhy’s body behind me laughing, I slowly open my eyes to find Ollie standing there, red in the face, covered in what I assume was his beer—or, well, someone’s beer. His shirt and his shorts are both soaked.
Once the relief passes that he didn’t catch us, it takes everything not to laugh at the scene in front of me. “Everything okay, bro?”
“Archer knocked over my brand-new beer right into my lap.”
“I said I was sorry,” my oldest brother shouts.
“Whatever.” Ollie flings his middle finger into the air. “I’m going to borrow a change of clothes, Rhy.” Ollie disappears out of the kitchen, and I slink back against Rhy’s chest with each thud of his footsteps.
