I expected them to be waiting if not outside my door, then at the foot of the stairs. But there was nobody there. The front door and freedom were within my grasp.
“Are you not even going to say good-bye?” my dad called from his office that was conveniently located just down the long hallway past the stairs.
I looked at Gunner, and he gave me a reassuring smile. “We’ll have to do this eventually. Might as well do it now.”
We walked the few steps to my dad’s office in silence. I’d never liked it when he summoned me to his lair. It usually meant I was in trouble.
When we turned into the room, I was met with three sets of accusing eyes and one set of warm brown ones that belonged to my dad.
I stopped at the door and tilted my chin up in defiance. I was a grown woman. They couldn’t possibly think they still had a right to tell me what to do and who to see.
“You could have just used the front door,” my dad said, and I looked at Gunner with anI told you soexpression.
“I’m going with Gunner,” I said, my hands balled into fists at my side. If it came down to it, I had no problem punching my brothers. And I was sure I could reason with my dad.
“I’m still your father, and it would have been nice to be told officially that you two were seeing each other. Instead, I had to find out when I saw him hanging off a tree in our backyard.”
Gabriel shifted on his feet, and my eyes shot to him. He wasn’t usually the one to make the first move. That was reserved for Liam. He was their leader. My brothers were thick as thieves and loyal to each other. While I knew they loved me, I always felt left out because they were such a tight unit. But in this life, you had to be.
“It was obvious they were together when we rescued them from the cabin,” Gabriel said. “But if she insists on getting freaky with anyone, I’m glad it’s Gunner and not some loser like that polo-wearing douche she dragged along a few years ago.”
That was the first and last time I ever brought anyone home. Not that there were many prospective candidates. My lack of friends made it hard to meet anyone. But the feelings I had for Gunner went deeper than just a quick romp. He was also important enough for me to stand up to my family.
They’d beaten up every single boyfriend I’d ever had. I wondered if that was still to come.
“You like him,” Liam stated as if that was all there was to it.
I threw up my free hand. “I also liked all the other guys you beat up.”
“You never cared about them. They were just a means to an end. Mainly to piss us off. But Gunner, now he’s different. You can’t hide your feelings for shit, Fey.”
I stared at him, agape. Because he was right.
Figuring Gunner was pretty safe from a beating from my brothers, I turned back to Dad. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. But to be fair, I hadn’t heard from Gunner since he walked out of my apartment. I didn’t know if there was anythingtotell.”
Gunner straightened up next to me and growled, “There wasdefinitelysomething to tell.”
“I know that now,” I huffed.
“Don’t be a stranger. You know you can always come back home. And your mother misses you,” my dad said and then cleared his throat. “Wemiss you.”
“I’ll come back soon, Dad.”
“Can I get a hug?” he asked and stood up.
I set the rabbit food on the floor, then walked around the desk and into my father’s familiar arms. Maybe we would be okay after all.
My brothers didn’t like to be left out, and I received a bone-crushing group hug from all of them.
“See you guys on Sunday,” Liam said, the last one to release me.
“What’s Sunday?”
Liam got as close to an eye roll as he ever would at my question. “Sunday family dinner. Or have you forgotten about something you’ve partaken in since you were born?”
I did roll my eyes at him and nodded. “Keep your pants on. Of course I’ll be there.”
I’d missed them while I was away from my family. An invitation to Sunday dinner was equal to an invitation to the family. Which Liam had just extended to Gunner.
