“You have nothing to apologize for. Your kind words mean more to me than you could ever know,” I confess to her. She jumps up from beside me, moves to the edge of my chair, and hugs me tightly. Something I didn’t realize I needed.
“And you’re saying I shouldn’t be worried about this guy? ’Cause my wife sure does love hugging him.” Evan’s dad chuckles as he sips his beer.
“Oh, hush now. Can’t you see I’m in Momma mode?” she tells her husband. “Don’t listen to him, he gets his own special cuddles tonight.”
“Hell yeah,” Evan’s dad says, raising his beer bottle.
“Mom! Dad!” The Wyld kids all screech in horror.
“What? Y’all think you were immaculate conceptions?” She smirks. They still look horrified over the thought, but it’s sweet that after all these years, the two of them still love each other. Can’t imagine my parents ever being like that, and they would never speak like that, either. They would think it was crass. “Derrick, I’m sorry you went through all that. No one ever deserves to be treated that way. And I know you’re probably too old for parents, but I want you to know that I’ll be your Texas momma, if you’ll have me.” I swallow hard because that is so nice of her. “You’re part of the family now, as Sienna is. Evan did tell us the two of you are a package deal, and I get it now. If you ever need me, we will be here for you.”
“Thank you,” I say through glassy eyes.
Evan’s mom hugs me tightly. “My heart is big, I have lots of room for you in it.” Now I’m a blubbering mess as I hug her back.
“Don’t worry, Jake, that doesn’t make us brothers so it won’t be weird.” I wink at Evan’s brother.
11
DERRICK
“Happy Thanksgiving,” I yell out to a sleepy-looking Evan who is standing on the second level in nothing but a pair of shorts, his abs and tattoos on display. I shouldn’t be looking, but if he is going to stand there like a 3D thirst trap, then I’m going to stare.
“Morning, babe,” Sienna calls out to him. He walks over and pulls her into his arms.
“You’re up early.”
“Someone had to let the caterers in this morning,” she says, giving him a look. His face drops as he looks at the caterers running around the kitchen.
“Sorry, I guess I slept past my alarm.” The boys went to a Sons of Brooklyn concert last night, I declined going and chose to stay with Sienna and the girls. I haven’t seen or spoken to Chance since Sienna’s birthday the other month. I’ve been stalking his socials, but he sucks at them, and usually I have to hunt any information down about him via the other guys. Of course, there are images of him leaving with some new starlet on the gossip pages, and each image is like a knife to my chest, but it makes me realize I did the right thing in distancing myself. Tobe fair, I haven’t hooked up with anyone since him, which is sad. It’s not that there haven’t been opportunities, but because I’m a sad sack and my dick is pining for his playmate.
“Momma Wyld, Happy Thanksgiving,” I say, greeting Evan’s mom, who is an angel of a woman. She’s your stereotypical Texan woman, blonde, blue-eyed, perfect makeup, immaculately dressed, and talks in a thick Texas accent, which makes this Aussie laugh.
“Oh, sugar, don’t you look handsome.” She hugs me tightly. I soak in all the hugs and kisses Momma Wyld wants to lay on me.
“Please, look at you,” I say, giving her a wink.
“Y’all, should I be worried?” Evan’s dad asks as he walks into the room, laughing as he spies his wife hugging me.
“Papa Bear, please, you know that woman only has eyes for you,” I tell him. One day, I want a love like Evan’s parents have, even after all these years he still thinks she is the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Only when you have your shirt on, she does,” he jokes.
“Morning, everyone,” Charlotte says, joining us in the living room.
“Baby girl, you get more beautiful each time I see you,” Papa Bear says to his little cub. So adorable. Sienna and Vanessa’s families were the first happy families I ever met, and it took me a while to not feel uneasy being around them.
“Damn straight, she is. Charlotte has many admirers lurking around,” I tease.
Papa Bear and Evan glare at me which makes me smirk.
“Oh, hush, you two. She’s a grown woman and hasn’t been a baby girl in years,” Evan’s mom chastises them for being overprotective of her. If only they knew what she was getting up to with a certain bad-boy rock star.
“Well, I have a safe full of guns, sweetheart. If any boy breaks your heart, just send them my way,” Papa Bear adds sternly.
Evan’s mom changes the topic. “Sienna, look at you, I swear your belly has popped overnight. Look at this beautiful belly.”
“Nothing fits me anymore.” Sienna groans. “Luckily, it’s getting cooler, so I can live in leggings and sweaters.”
