Her hands rub up and down my bare arms, her fingertips just grazing under the edge of the short sleeves pulled taut over my flexed biceps.
“Look at me.” Those beautiful, bright eyes are waiting for me. “They aren’t worth you getting worked up. I’m used to it. It doesn’t mean I like it, but also thank you for defending me.”
“I will always defend you, baby.” Her lips press to mine twice more before running her hands through my hair. The area that had been shaved now sits at an odd length. She’d insisted I could wear a hat if it would make me more comfortable, but I wanted to be a bit more presentable for her family today. I don’t care if they know they had to shave my hair and drill into my skull so I could get back to the amazing woman in my arms.
“Let’s go,” River whispers, pulling open the door, only to stop abruptly. Her three brothers waiting, glares boring into me as if I had stolen from them. “Move,” she demands.
“Not until we all properly meet your new boyfriend,” the shortest on the end sniffs, his eyes a darker version of River’s.
She sighs heavily, but pulls me to her side with an arm around my waist.
“Gray, these are my brothers. You already met Warner,” she points to the dick with his perfectly coifed hair and dress pants. “Jaxon.” The one in the middle flashes a crooked grin. “And Kane, the eldest.”
“Nice to meet you all.” I hold out my hand to Warner first, who begrudgingly shakes it. Then Kane and last Jaxon, the one she’d said was her favorite.
The moment we shake, Jaxon pulls her into a hug, his whispered “Good job,” drawing out her grin.
“Now that that’s over, let’s get back to the party,” River smiles. Her voice is an octave too high. The strain in her voice evident, even if she is trying to hide it.
We follow her brothers down the hall and back into the open kitchen, where they stop at a pair that I recognize as her parents from the single group picture her grandmother has on the mantle. Her mother was pregnant with River, and that’s the only reason it’s allowed to sit there.
“River, sweetheart, so good to see you,” her mother pulls her in. The type of hug you give someone you are trying to avoid at church. The embrace meant to convey she’s actually happy to see her daughter, but it’s clear it’s for show. River doesn’t even bother to hold her back, drifting back to my side the moment her mother releases her. Her father only awkwardly waves, his darker complexion sun-kissed.
“Introduce your boyfriend,” Warner taunts.
“Mom. Dad. This is Grayson Garrison.”
Her mom gives a short wave, but her father only glares, tilting his head to peer at the side of mine. “What happened to your head, son?”
“Dad, that’s—”
“Baby, it’s okay.” I bend to kiss her temple, tucking her closer into my side. “I’m a bull rider, as I’m sure you’ve heard. Had a bad accident a few weeks back, and they had to go in.” I knock against my skull. “Still smart enough to know I’m the luckiest man in the world, though,” I kiss her mouth this time, before grinning back at her family.
Warner’s lip curls in disgust, but Jaxon beams like a proud brother.
“Let’s hope you learned your lesson and stop that crazy sport,” her mother chuffs.
“He’s not. I won’t let him,” River tosses back at her mother.
“You’re supposed to be a doctor. Wouldn’t it be smarter to talk your boyfriend into something safer?” Warner interjects.
“I’m not supposed to be a doctor. I am one,” River bites. “And no. That’s not the type of relationship we have. We know how to support one another.”
Her parents both narrow their eyes at her. The dig was obvious. They haven’t supported her, no matter what image they cast to the world.
“If you’ll excuse us,” River snaps. “It’s time to light Gran’s cake.”
“What cake?” Kane questions.
“The one we took the time to order and pick up so Gran could have a good birthday. The food. That was us, too. We had it catered so no one would have to cook and could just enjoy themselves today. The decorations… guess what? That was Gray. So if you’re all done pretending you give a shit about my grandmother, we can get on with the day.”
The room goes silent, every eye on us, including Gran’s.
“Oh, River,” she breathes.
“Gray, get me the candles. It’s time to light the cake.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she doesn’t say another word, nor does anyone from her family. Reaching into the cabinet I stored them in yesterday, I pull them out, pressing the eight and then the zero at the center of the cake before lighting them.
As if we cue the room, everyone starts singing Happy Birthday. River gets pulled into her grandmother’s side, and I into hers, with Old Man Wilber on her grandmother’s opposite side and his wife at his. A sign of those who have stood beside her grandmother.
