“That’s true,” Zoe said, rubbing her flat stomach.
Van guffawed. “Jesus, that was good. You totally had us going. Not exactly the incestuous part, but the pregnancy.”
His mother still hadn’t cracked a smile. Then he realized. “Oh, I know what this is. You now have to acknowledge I’m the new master. Say it, Mom. Come on. I, Linda Donnigan, do announce a new winner…”
“Yeah, Mom,” Hope said.
Theo added, “Say it.”
Linda grumbled, then begrudgingly stated, “Gavin Donnigan, I hand over my crown. I now proclaim you king and Zoe queen of this year’s prank wars. Now that’s it, you three…four.” She included Zoe. “No more screwing with each other. And Zoe, come here. I won’t bite.”
Gavin gave his lying, two-timing, brother-sexing girl a full-on mouth kiss, one with a little heat, before letting her go.
Flushed, she glared at him before joining Linda. “I—”
His mother had the nerve to pat Zoe’s stomach before she nodded. “Sorry. Had to make sure.”
At which point everyone burst into laughter once more, Zoe too. Once they calmed down, Zoe introduced herself properly and answered his mother’s hundred-and-one questions about her life—how they’d met, her hobbies, and maybe even her shoe size. Gavin wasn’t sure; he’d zoned out by then.
But all in all, the night had been a huge success.
After downing large amounts of pepper steak, the family centered around the kitchen island for dessert and coffee. The dessert was a sumptuous crème brûlée. Gavin’s father had painstakingly poured it into individual ramekins and encrusted the sugared tops with his mini-torch. One of Gavin’s favorite desserts since he’d been a kid. He’d even helped his father make the dessert a time or two. Well, more like he handed over the ramekins, but that counted.
“Thanks for dessert, Dad.”
“But of course. Anything for my son, his girlfriend, and our pretend grandbaby. Was it a boy or a girl?”
“A girl. We called her Zoe Jr.”
“Oh please. What’s this ‘we’? Are you suddenly French?” Zoe asked, standing next to Linda by the sink as she dug into her serving. “Van, this is amazing. Oh my gosh, goodness, topped with crunchy sugar.” She swallowed and moaned, then pointed her spoon at Gavin. “But in regards to tonight’s performance, I was blackmailed into helping. Totally against my will.”
“Well, I’d say you more than held your own.” High praise from Linda. “Nicely done, honey.”
“Thanks.” Zoe looked proud.
And right then and there, Gavin wanted to yank her away from everyone, haul her over his shoulder, and take her home. Then not leave the bedroom for weeks. She fit him, his family, hell, his lifestyle, perfectly. She didn’t ask for more than he wanted to give. And she made him want to do anything just to see her smile.
The past few days he’d meditated—his father was right about the healing power of meditation, but Gavin refused to admit it to the old man—talked to Lee some more, and in general took time for himself. Some long hikes along the ocean, on wilderness trails, away from people.
He had to stop flying off the handle and freaking out about surviving. He knew that. It was too late to jump on a bomb and sacrifice his life for the greater good, to join his friends in service to their country. Suicide had never been an answer he’d consider anyway, not since arriving back home.
No. Gavin had survived. Now he had to deal with it.
The past few months, he’d been doing much better. Healing, until Nicole forced him to confront losing his friends. He couldn’t run from it forever. Especially not after tonight. Seeing Zoe with that pretend baby gave him all sorts of crazy ideas. Glimpses into a future he still didn’t know if he deserved, but one he’d like to work toward.
They finally said their good-byes after Gavin had pledged, on payment of his life if he reneged, to bring Zoe to their next family dinner. His parents and Hope had hugged her. Theo gave her a shy smile and offered a free coffee next time she came into his shop.
“Your family is awesome,” she said with a laugh. The cool night had warmed enough that she only needed a light jacket. June in Seattle promised a return to sunny days and, with any luck, heartier plants to garden.
“Yeah, well, they’re something.” Gavin held her hand as they walked.
After a moment, Zoe snorted. “Had you going for a minute, eh?”
He groaned. “Go ahead. Get it all out.”
“Oh my God. You thought I was in love with Mark Swanson? Seriously?” She laughed at him.
“You just brought that up out of nowhere. It was as stroke of genius, really, because you threw me. Made it more believable.”
