“Walker!” I squeal just as Jackson intercepts his sister moments before she was about to crash into my open arms for a hug.
“Dubs, be careful!” Jackson scolds her. “Taevin just had surgery a few weeks ago, and she’s not even cleared to lift more than fifteen pounds.”
Walker’s eyes widen, and she brings her hand to her mouth to cover her gasp. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, Tae! I didn’t even think of that.”
I can’t stop the lighthearted laugh that escapes. “It’s honestly okay, Walker. No harm done. I missed you so much!” Pushing Jax to the side, I bring Walker in for as tight of a hug as I can muster.
“It’s been so long. Too long! And how in the hell didn’t I know that my brother was married to my favorite freaking artist?” Walker questions, pulling back to take me in as she shakes her head at me and then Jackson.
“Well considering I didn’t even know we were still married, you’ll have to take that one up with your big brother.”
“Wait, Uncle Jaxy is married to Taevy Gray?” the little boy on Bennett’s shoulders asks, and I’m obsessed with the way he just said my name. Is it possible to change my name to Taevy now?
“Her name is Taevin Gray, Bug,” Scarlett corrects the boy.
“And what’s your name, handsome?” I ask him.
“Gunner!” he tells me.
Jackson points to a teenage girl who joins us, standing beside Scarlett. “Tae, this is my niece Gemma—she’s like, your biggest fan—and that little man is my nephew, Gunner.”
“Pleasure to meet you—” I start but bite my lip to hold back a laugh because Gemma is looking at me wide-eyed like she might faint at any moment.
Gemma turns in slow motion to her sister. “Scar! Why didn’t you tell me my literal hero would be at our house?”
Scarlett and Bennett both chuckle and shake their heads at Gemma.
“Wait, you look so familiar. Did you by chance have backstage passes to see me this spring when I performed in Minnesota?” I ask her.
“I did!Ohmygodsheremembersme!” Gemma squeals, turning to Walker and hugging her around her waist. “Did you hear that? Taevin freaking Gray remembers me.”
Walker rolls her eyes as she pats Gemma’s head. “Sure did! You’re pretty freaking memorable, Gems. Who could forget a personality like you?”
Jackson nuzzles his head into the crook of my neck, and I giggle when his scruff tickles my sensitive skin. “I’d say you worried for nothing. Not suretheTaevin Gray could mess up meeting my family and friends. Everyone here has stars in their eyes for my girl, and rightfully so.”
Butterflies take flight in my stomach hearing the possessive way he calls me his girl.
Unable to resist teasing him, I taunt, “So your plan is to just skip right over the hard conversations and go straight to claiming me in front of everyone you know?”
I immediately regret my word choice when he stiffens behind me.
His deep inhale brushes against my back before he leans in and whispers against the shell of my ear, “We can have all the hard conversations whenever you want, Tae. Regardless, I’m not going anywhere.”
I let his words sink in and ease any remaining anxiety I had about being here today. Knowing we can have the hard conversations later, I squeeze his hands that are wrapped around my waist. “I’m holding you to that, Bear.”
“You do that, baby,” Jax murmurs against my skin before kissing my temple.
Just then I spot McKenna and Griffin walking toward us with a little boy on Griff’s hip. A smile lifts my lips as I take in how happy they look. When they get closer, a girl I vaguely recognize comes running up and holds McKenna’s hand.
“Tae, I know you remember Griff and Kenna, but this is their daughter Cadence.” He points to the beautiful blonde girl who looks much older than nine due to her height. “And this chubby little man is their son Rowen.” I watch with a sinking heart as Jackson grabs Rowen from Griff’s arms and lifts him in the air above his head before settling him on his hip as if he’s done the move hundreds of times. “Cades is nine now and Rowen just turned one, didn’t you buddy?” Jax tickles the little boy’s chunky belly, and it’s all so adorable but mostly overwhelming because how is Cadence already nine?
Nine years old. She’s so tall, her smile is so bright, and from how she’s greeting and interacting with both the adults and kids right now, I’d say she’s probably a great kid.
Nine years.
How has it already been nine years?
God, I don’t think I can do this right now.
