“Nope. I can getmyson’s car seat and put it inmywife’s car on my own.” He straightens his shoulders, puffing out his chest, clearly trying to intimidate Sam. Which is doing quite the opposite since I catch him checking out Silas instead. Silasturns and walks out of the house as Aubrey and Ronnie return and hand their garment bags over to Sam as well.I guess we’re taking home the wedding dresses.
Sam chuckles once the door closes behind Silas. “I’m sorry, Cecilia, but your husband is clueless.”
“Oh, he really is.” She giggles as we all head out the door. “Shoot. I forgot Milo was still at your place with Daisy.”
“I’m heading over there. I can just pick him up and drop him off at your place on my way out,” Sam offers.
“Oh, would you?”
“Sure, it’s no problem. I’ll see you in a bit.” He winks at Cecilia as I pass him my keys, and he jumps into my truck.
“Thank you! You’re the best!” Cece shouts after him.
“Minnie! Get in the car!” Silas barks out behind her.
Cecilia holds in a laugh and turns to him, walking over to the car slowly. Silas takes Dante and straps him in while scowling her way. “I thought you said I was the best?”
“Oh, honey, you are.” She pats his cheek when he stands, then enters the car.
I shake my head and take the driver’s seat in Emma’s SUV as she finishes putting Gracie in her car seat and hops in the passenger side. “I wonder how long it’s going to take him to figure it out,” I say, watching Silas pull out of the driveway.
“Ha! He probably never will. Not until he has visual proof, at least. Even if we told him, he probably wouldn’t believe us,” Em laughs.
I laugh along with her. “That’s true.”
Once the car goes quiet and we cruise through the streets to our home, I glance over at her. She’s fiddling with her nails, which tells me she’s nervous or overthinking. “So…” I start, wanting to torture her a little. “Clay and Silas, huh?”
“Ugh!” She bangs her head against the seat. “I knew you were going to bring that up.”
“What? I’m just curious.” And I am. I want to know if she was telling the girls the truth or if she still does it sometimes.
“It was a long time ago, okay? Before I even knew them personally. I haven’t thought about them like that at all since I’ve met them, so you have nothing to worry about,” she confirms for me.Thank fucking God.“But you seem to be focusing on the wrong part of my conversation with the girls instead of the important part.”
“And which part would that be?” I glance her way again when she shifts in her seat to face me.
“The part where I said that I thought about you after we met. Even when you didn’t like me and were a jerk.” She smirks.
“Yeah, I like that part a lot. But you’re wrong.” I smile to myself.
“About what?”
We’re at a stoplight, and I take the time to look at her as I speak. “That I didn’t like you. I always liked you, Em. I think that’s why I was such a jerk to you.” She smiles and softens into her seat. The light turns green, and I turn back to the road. “Don’t get me wrong, you annoyed the hell out of me.”
“Thanks,” she deadpans.
“Let me finish.” I chuckle. “You annoyed me, yes. But now those same things that annoyed me are the things I love the most about you. I think some part of me just knew that if I let myself enjoy them, things would change between us. But I’m glad I finally did, because you changed my life for the best, Bunny.”
She sighs dreamily and takes my hand, interlocking our fingers together. “Sometimes I wish we’d figured it out sooner. But then I realize that if we did, we wouldn’t have Gracie… and I would never want that. So I’m glad it’s only happening now.”
I look at her. “Me too.”
She’s quiet for a moment as she plays with her nails on the hand that isn’t holding mine. “I’m sorry for encouraging Aubreyto wear the dress. I just wanted her to let go a little. She’s so closed off sometimes and on a straight path that I’m worried she’ll never really live and grow to have so many regrets.” She finally looks up from her hand and at me. “I understand why you try so hard to protect her, but she’ll never learn if she doesn’t step out of her comfort zone from time to time. I just want her to be happy and enjoy her life while she still can.”
I let out a breath as I come to a stop sign. “I know. I’m just so used to being her older brother and having to look out for her. Even more now that we don’t live close to our parents. But you’re right, I need to back off a little and let her explore on her own. I just don’t want her getting involved with the wrong kind of people, certainly men.”
“Grey, Aubrey is one of the smartest, most mature, and level-headed people I know. She would never do anything crazy. Plus, she’s a virgin. Trust me, if she were planning on getting involved with random men, she would have already done it.” She gives me a look that says I should know this.
“You’re right. I need to start trusting her judgment. I’ll try harder, okay?” I tell her genuinely.
