“Can I ask what’s holding you back?” he asks.
Oh, only that I’m in love with you and your brother and I’m not sure if you feel the same?
“It’s just a lot with it being the start of the semester and taking a trip.”
He doesn’t seem to believe that answer, and I guess I don’t either.
“Please? Gavin already got us a condo, so we won’t have to stay the whole time with my family. It’s our favorite place. We want to share it with you.”
I pet his hair, putting my tablet down.
They’ve shared so much with me, been vulnerable and there for me when I need them, if this is really what they want…
“Fine, I’ll go.”
Ben grins, nearly leaping out of the bed.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“I gotta tell Gavin. Pack up your bags. We leave tomorrow at 5,” he says.
This is definitely not a good idea, but I can’t deny that I loved putting a smile on his face. So, instead of answering more emails, I’m tossing on a T-shirt and packing a bag for a long weekend with my friends who are also brothers who I happen to fuck, and their family.
What could go wrong?
“Are you sure?I mean I could get a ride share home. It’s not a big deal,” I say as we’re walking to the private section of the airport.
Gavin has a death grip on my luggage as he shakes his head.
“Nope, you’re at the airport. There’s no going back now,” Gavin says in his bossy tone.
“Everyone already likes you. It’ll be fine, Kate,” Ben says, trying to be reassuring, but all I feel is complete dread.
I’m nervous about the questions their parents are going to ask. Are they going to wonder which brother I have a crush on? Are they going to buy the whole “Kate is just our close friend” bullshit?
Granted, their brothers and sisters-in-law probably have an idea, and I liked them all a lot, but this seems like a big step when this can’t go any further than it already has.
Suddenly Gavin stops mid step and grabs my chin, his gaze locked in on mine.
“What are you worried about?” he asks.
“Are they really going to buy that I’m just your friend?” I say, and maybe, just maybe, I say the word friend like a slur.
“No. Because you’re not just our friend. Now we need to move our asses so they don’t take off without us.”
I blink at him, and he grabs my wrist, nearly dragging me through people as we finally get to the private gate.
Ben speaks with the attendant and we’re taken down to a golf cart that will bring us to the plane.
“Gavin, what does that mean?” I finally speak up, some of my brain cells coming back online. As wind whips through my hair, I see the smaller plane that we’re driving towards. My nerves were already fried, and now I feel like I might throw up.
Could he really? Could they both feel what I feel?
“We’ll talk about it later,” he says, which has me wanting to have an absolute meltdown.
But there’s not a single moment for that as we enter the plane and I come face to face with the entire Carlson clan.
“Kate, you've met the delinquents. These are my parents, Maggie and Jeff, and my aunt and uncle, Holly and Tim,” Gavinsays, like he didn’t just drop a massive fucking bombshell on me a few moments ago.
