“Really?” Mak asked her. “You’re not shitting me.”
“I’m not shitting you,” Izzy replied.
“Women,” City muttered, rolling his eyes as he peered down and finally released me.
“Austin,” Lily squealed, rushing toward me like hell on wheels. “God, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
I smiled and instantly opened my arms, waiting for the girl I had the craziest crush on when I was younger. We never would’ve worked and never had a chance to get going, but the feelings had been there. In a way, I still loved her, but I wasn’t in love with her. She would always be my family, as was every person near me now.
“You’re looking good, Mom,” I said, feeling her round belly press into mine. “I see you’ve been busy again.”
Jett, her husband, threw an arm around her shoulder and pulled her gingerly away from me. “She’s the perfect mom, and I can’t keep my hands off her.”
I wanted to gag. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the guy, but I’d always thought of Lily as mine. For that fact alone, no matter how great he was or how much she loved him, I still wasn’t all about Team Jett.
“Mak, this is Lily and Jett. Guys, this is Mak.”
“Hi,” Mak said, sliding her hand back into mine, maybe feeling something in the air…mostly from Jett.
“Come. I want you to meet my husband,” Izzy said, coming back up and looping her arm through Mak’s. “And the rest of the family, of course. Plus, I’m sure you could use a glass of wine right about now.”
“I could use something after that drive.”
“Austin’s been known to get a couple speeding tickets.” Izzy laughed, pulling Mak away from me.
“I’m surprised he still has a license.”
“My husband and his other uncles have connections, or else he wouldn’t.”
“I have my own connections now!” I yelled out, glancing over my shoulder as Mak wandered away with Izzy.
Even though I had been looking forward to a quiet evening with my brother and Gigi, I wasn’t disappointed to be greeted by the entire family. They were my lifeline when I felt hopeless. They were my support when I felt defeated. They were everything a punk-ass kid needed to turn his life around and make something of himself from nothing.
Chapter Eleven
Makenna
“James and Thomas, this is Mak, Austin’s friend.” Izzy had her hand on my arm, showing me off to the two men. “James is my husband, and Thomas, my brother,” she explained.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Thomas said, while James gave me a chin dip.
“Isn’t she a pretty little thing for a soldier?” Izzy said, smiling brightly, eyes roaming over my face.
“Sailor,” I corrected.
“Sit. Sit,” James said, motioning toward the empty chairs at the dining room table.
Izzy pulled out a chair and practically pushed me down. “Well, okay,” I muttered, feeling so out of place.
“So, Mak, tell us about yourself. What made you want to join the military?” Thomas asked, grabbing the bottle of wine off the table and offering me a glass.
I nodded, smiling and thankful when I took the first sip. “My dad was military, and my mom worked for the government too. It felt right to follow in their footsteps.”
“What did your mom do?” James asked, gazing at me over the top of his wineglass in his hand as he held Izzy’s hand with the other.
“She was CIA.”
“Impressive,” James muttered.
