“I feel fine.” Isabelle shrugs. “I really don’t want any secrets with Beth and Caleb. I’m relieved they weren’t mad at me after finding out we’re together.”
“If anything, I think they’d be mad at me. They definitely like you more.”
Isabelle presses her chest against mine, wrapping her arms around my back as she looks up at me. “Good. I don’t want to have to fight anyone for liking you the best.”
“Liking?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Loving,” she murmurs, and I reach down to brush my lips against hers.
I’d love to take it further, getting lost in her body is peace and unrestricted pleasure, but the front door is pulled open, followed by a squeal from my grandmother.
“Stop hiding your girlfriend from me, Gage.”
I blow out a breath and drop my forehead against Izzy’s. “Here we go,” I say softly.
She brings a hand up between us, extending her pinky out to me. “We got this.”
I hook mine around hers, then bring her hand up to kiss her knuckles. “We got this.”
Grams snatches Isabelle away from me as soon as we cross the threshold, leading her through the front foyer and into the kitchen at the back of the house, where the rest of my family waits.
Beth and Lex are seated at the breakfast nook. My sister instantly lights up when she notices Isabelle has arrived and pulls her down to the table with them. My sister loves her family, there’s no doubt about it, but I think Caleb and I finding girlfriends brings her just as much joy as it does us.
I don’t know what it’s like to be the only girl in a family full of guys, especially a family that is so revered by the general public for our wealth and influence in the business world. Thank goodness for Mum, Grams, and Aunt Hettie for showing Beth how to be loyal, graceful, and intelligent in this world. Beth never backs down, and she does it with a confidence that should be respected. I should tell my sister more often how much I admire her. Everyone in my family, really.
“Isabelle, can I get you something to drink, dear?” Grandpa says from the kitchen.
“Water would be lovely, thank you, Mr Heart.”
Grandpa tuts. “It’s Cyrus or Grandpa, nothing else.”
Isabelle’s cheeks flush as she gives him a nod.
“Beth, Lex, how are you going for drinks?”
“All good, thanks.” Beth raises her cider at him.
“Me too.” Lex smiles as she sips from a glass of whiskey.
Caleb is sitting on Lex’s other side, Mason is perched on a stool at the counter, while Mum and Grams line up dishes along the benchtop. “Aren’t you gonna ask if I want a drink?”
“Ladies always come first, Gage,” Grandpa says.
“Ugh.” Dad scrunches his nose as he walks inside from the back patio. “What did I just walk into?”
Mason snorts. “Payback.”
Dad places the tray of food he must have cooked on the barbecue on the bench along with the rest of the food. “What are you talking about, payback?”
“Remember that time we went to Aspen, and you guys didn’t realise your bathroom wall was shared with the lounge room?” Mason explains with big eyes and pursed lips as he recounts a time I’m sure no kid wants to remember about their parents.
Caleb and Beth groan.
“Why would you bring that up again?” Beth whines, throwing her head back on her seat rest.
“Dinner’s ready,” Mum says, her voice cracking as she wipes the back of her hand against her forehead.
“You have four children, it’s not like anyone is under the impression you’re not active.” Grandpa smiles, clapping Dad on the back.
