Happiness bursts from me. He apologized and admitted he was wrong. He didn’t try to roll over my wishes and desires. He listened to me.
He’s everything I’ve ever wanted and needed in a partner. I can’t wait to start our lives together.
Chapter 37
Miles – a surfer who still hasn’t figured out how to rectify the biggest mistake he made in his life
Miles
Iglare at my phone when it rings. I contemplate ignoring it, but I’d only delay the inevitable. My brothers won’t let me ignore them. They’ll drag me by my ear if they have to. I’m not exaggerating. It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Hey, Eli.”
“Where are you?”
At home. Where I want to be.
When I don’t answer, he sighs. “Shall I pick you up?”
“If I have to go, you do, too,” Jaxon shouts.
Jaxon hates family occasions. He doesn’t hate the Raider family. He just finds group outings stressful. He’s a nerd who’s proud to be an introvert. Being married to Blossom has made him more open to social occasions, but he’s still an introvert.
Which means he’s going toRumrunnerand there’s no way I can bow out gracefully. I don’t do anything gracefully, to be honest.
“Fine. Pick me up.”
My house is in Smuggler’s Rest. I can easily walk toRumrunner.Hell, I can – and have – crawled there on occasion.
But I’m happy to hitch a ride since I don’t want to go out tonight. Not when I know Hazel will be at the bar.
If you look up mistake in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of me. I messed up bad when I dumped Hazel back when I thought I was going to be a professional surfer and spend my life touring the world with my surfboard.
After I got injured in Hawaii, I slunk back to Smuggler’s Hideaway with my tail between my legs. And – proving what a gigantic idiot I am – I didn’t beg Hazel for forgiveness. Instead, I drowned myself in booze and women.
A car honks and I drag myself outside. Eli’s SUV is already full but I squeeze between Blossom and Jaxon.
“Why can’t you sit on the other side of me?” Jaxon asks.
“And miss you complaining?”
“I want to sit next to my wife.”
“It’s okay, nerd boy,” Blossom says. “We’ll get there faster if we don’t have to all change seats.”
Blossom isn’t a nerd or an introvert the way Jaxon is, but she is obsessed with time management.
I throw my arm around her. “And this way, we get to become better acquainted.”
Jaxon growls. “Keep your hands off my wife.”
Blossom giggles. “He’s just riling you up to get his mind off how Hazel will be at the bar.”
I glare at her. “You’re my least favorite sister-in-law.”
“Technically, I’m your only sister-in-law since none of the other Raider brothers have gotten married yet. Engaged doesn’t count.”
I grunt. I don’t understand how we got here. Every single one of my brothers is now paired off with a woman. Rhett, Eli, and Zane even have children.
