A chorus of cheers and welcomes resounded, the loudest of which came from Sebastián, who waved a metal spatula as a way of greeting.
“Lily, come here,” Neal called. “I want you to meet my wife, Patricia, and my grandbabies.” He stood and batted a hand at the little ones climbing on Kieran. “Trey, Alisha, get down! Let Kieran host.”
The kids grumbled but dropped to the ground, waving before going to sit beside the dark-haired boy at the picnic table.
Kieran caught her eye, his gaze shooting from hers, down her body, and back up faster than she could blink. His smile disappeared, and with a nod as greeting, he joined Sebastián at the grill.
Lily’s own smile faltered. Did he not want her there? Oh God, he really only invited her as an afterthought or because of Sebastián. She rubbed her palms against her sides—wishing for the tenth time she’d worn something with pockets—something to hide away her nerves and doubts.
“Here, sit with us.” Neal took Lily’s hand and guided her between his wife and Rachel. “The meat will be done soon, then we can eat.”
ChapterFour
Dinner was a melting pot of cuisines. Burgers and hot dogs for the traditionalists and little picky eaters like Saoirse, Sebastián’s lamb and chicken pinchitos and a tinfoil pan of his dad’s mouthwatering paella, Maeve’s colcannon with tart cabbage folded into buttery potatoes, Patricia’s baked yet still somehow gooey macaroni and cheese, and Rachel’s mango pudding for dessert—Kieran could’ve eaten the whole container.
At some point after dessert, they’d settled around the fire ring in Adirondack and camping chairs, and Saoirse had clambered onto his lap shortly after. Now she snuggled against his chest, her mango-sweet breath puffing against his neck in a steady, whistling tempo. Across the fire, Maeve and Sebastián were engaged in a heated debate about what he had no idea, but he liked seeing the warmth in Maeve’s cheeks and the brightness in her eyes—even if it was Sebastián coaxing out both.
Well, he wasn’t going to get Maeve’s attention anytime soon, and by the looks of an already empty cider bottle on the grass beside her and an almost full one in her hand, she’dalready settled in for a night of catching up. The little girl in his arms needed quiet and a softer bed.
Kieran let the screen door whisper shut and took Saoirse to his room, passing Danny’s closed door along the way. From the sounds of it, the kid was blasting his way through some horde and speaking in a low murmur with his friends on mic. Luckily his room was on the other side of the house.
The light blinked to life on his nightstand, and Kieran tucked Saoirse into his bed. She looked so small against the king-size mattress. Like a tiny sleeping beauty with the thin, delicate curls of her red hair fanning out on the navy pillowcase. The curls she’d inherited from her father, but her coloring was all Maeve. It was all they had left of their mother, Charlotte Sullivan.
Walking on tiptoe, he escaped without waking her and settled in the kitchen. Food needed to be divvied into take-home boxes, and there were grilling utensils to wash. There was peace in completing mindless tasks. Messes could always be cleaned. He fell into a steady rhythm. Take-home boxes? Packed. Utensils? Spotless and put away. Counters and sink? Wiped down with lemon-scented disinfectant.
“Figured I’d find you in here.”
Kieran lifted his head. Sebastián minded the screen door as he snuck inside. The sky was still bright with early-summer sunlight, even though it was approaching eight. What was Sebastián doing in here when he had a whole audience for his ridiculous storytelling? “I’m surprised you’re not still pestering my sister.”
“Your sisterkeeps trying to tell me being a Hit It model isn’t a real job.”
Kieran tucked a laugh behind a huff. “Because it’s not.” Sure, it could be, but Sebastián didn’t have the following nor the time to make a full career out of it. Plus, there wasn’tmuch job security. “Until the monetary value of your videos and your personal page can pay your bills for a year, it’s not a real job.”
Sebastián knew he was right, but all the same he puffed up like a blowfish. “I may not have the popularity ofThat Gym Guy, but my followers skyrocketed overnight.”
Kieran smirked. “Did you open a Just for Fans?”
A dish towel caught him in the face.
“Why? You looking to subscribe?” Sebastián laughed. He shook his head and leaned against the island. “No, Lily’s been tagging my profile in her PR videos for the gym. You should make one and claim your title.”
Kieran hung the towel on the oven handle and grabbed a bottle of Jameson from above the refrigerator. He poured them neat into two red cups—less cleanup later. “What title?”
His friend’s eyes could’ve rolled across the island if they’d popped out any further. “What do youmean, Sullivan? Your title. You’re fucking internet famous, cabrón.” He whipped out his phone, muttering in Spanish under his breath, and shoved it under Kieran’s nose. The self-defense video he and Lily had filmed was on the right side of the screen, set to a sensual song with a heavy beat. The video itself had been clipped and slowed down to feature when he’d spun her and caught her in his arms, his hand on her throat. Even remembering the moment was enough to give him a chub. Clearing his throat, Kieran shifted his weight and checked the other side of the video. A woman on the left side looked like she might be having heatstroke. He squinted at the account name and caption.
@AuthorKelleRae: May have found the inspiration for my next book. #ThatGymGuy could break my neck, and I’d say “Please, sir, can I have some more?” @SouthSideMMA where can I get one? #zaddystatus #bookit #authorit #kinkit #reaction
That Gym Guy. Was that supposed to be him? And furthermore, “What the hell is a zaddy?”
Sebastián choked on a sip of his whiskey and sputtered. He pounded his chest.
Serves the fucker right.
“The better question,” Sebastián wheezed, “is when did you start fucking Lily Parker?”
Fucking Lily? If Kieran were a normal guy with a normal life, he wouldn’t have hesitated to see if she was interested. But his best friend knew better. “Since never. I don’t mix work and pleasure. I’m not risking my job for some woman who won’t last in hers.”
“Sullivan, are you blind? The gym’s on its way to being viral. Lily’sdoingher job, and she’s doing itwell. If she can keep this going, we might have to look for a bigger location.” He flipped to the gym’s profile to find the follower count.
