“Depends on what's in it.”
He gives me that big brother scowl.“The steaks you said you stopped by for, drinks and some of Mom's macaroni salad.”
"You didn't have to bring anything.I have lots."
Eli looks around, "I can see that.But you know Mom and Dad don't go anywhere without contributing."
"They should know they don't need to with me."
Eli's eyes that match my own lock on me."Should they?"
And with that, he moves over to dad, placing the cooler down on the other side of the grill.
Kenzie throws her arms around my waist, squeezing hard enough to steal my breath.“You gotta play nice if you want them to come around,” she whispers into my chest.
I glance down, hiding a smile.“What’d you say to Dad to get them to come?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she teases, stepping back with that same mischievous glint she used to get when she’d sneak extra pie from the kitchen."But it wasn't me who convinced them."
What?
She must see the confusion on my face because she grins widely and nods towards the trucks, “It was all Tess.”
I follow her line of sight to the truck where Anders and Jensen are chatting up Tessa.
I watch as Jensen gives Anders a playful elbow and then grab a cooler from the back of the Chevy.I can't take my eyes off her.She’s walking alongside Anders, smiling at something he said, and I swear for a second, the whole place shifts focus.Even the noise seems to quiet, just a beat.Then one of the girls near the grill laughs a little too loudly.“Is this family day or what?”she says, eyeing my family like they brought dirt into her boutique.
Reeves’ little girl, Olivia, is on the deck beside her dad now, when her eyes go wide.
“Daddy!”she gasps, tugging on his shorts.“I didn’t know Disney princesses celebrate Canada Day!”
The whole deck chuckles, tension dissolving.Reeves laughs, shaking his head, eyes still on the grill before him.“Guess they do when Captain Carson’s around.”
Colby steps up beside me, his eyes locked on Tessa."Who needs city girls when you've been hiding hot cowgirls from us, Cap?"
The girl who was hanging off of me scoffs and says something about comparing fine wine to cheap whiskey.
Olivia stares at me with those big brown eyes.“Can you tell them she isn't a whiskey cowgirl...she's a princess, I just know it."
I can't help it; a genuine smile breaks free across my face.
"Can you introduce me....palleeassssse?"
I grin at her.“Sure can.”
She bolts towards Kenzie, bare feet slapping against the boards, ignoring the need for an introduction.
“Hi!You’re so pretty!"Her whole body is vibrating.I can feel Reeves beside me now, watching the interaction.He is very protective of his little girl."Ohhh, I don't know who to hug first.Cinderella or Ariel?”
Kenzie drops to a crouch, smiling so wide.“Depends, do you need a pumpkin carriage or a fork?”
Olivia giggles so hard she has to wipe away tears.
“She’s never going to forget this,” Reeves says, grinning.
Something tells me neither will I.Because for a second, everything felt normal again.Everything moves around me while I try to understand what I am feeling right now.
Dad’s talking to Eli now, both of them by the barbecue, sliding in when Reeves stepped away.Mom’s helping one of the wives cut watermelon for the kids, and Kenzie’s chatting with Olivia.And Tessa...
