“Hey, what are you doing here?”
I pull her in for a hug, squeezing tightly. “Can’t a brother come and visit his sister without needing a reason?”
She laughs as we pull apart. “I mean, of course, but it’s not exactly something you’ve done before. Come on in.”
We head inside, and I toe off my shoes before following her into the kitchen. Her cat, Gigi, struts over the way only cats do, rubbing against my ankle. I bend down to scratch her head.
“I was about to make some coffee. Want a cup?”
“Sure, thanks.” I stand up and wander over to lean against the counter next to her. “You and Hunter are happy living together, right?”
She tilts her head to look at me. “Of course, we are. Besides, it was silly to keep living right next door to each other when we spent every single night together.”
“I’m still not quite ready to hear about your nighttime activities, sis,” I say, playfully ruffling her hair. Kat ducks away from me and crosses her arms across her chest.
“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”
I hide my smile at her mock annoyance. “What are you talking about?”
Kat’s hand flaps around as she gestures at me. “You. You’re…you’re happy. I see that smirk. Where’s the grumpy silent guy, or the mopey guy who wanted to be left alone?”
“Would you prefer I go back to that?” I arch my brow at her.
“Of course not. I’m thrilled you seem to be doing so much better, it just takes some getting used to, I guess.” Her eyes widen with a sudden understanding. “Oh my God, this is because of Lily, isn’t it?” She clutches her hands together at her heart. “Your love for her is healing your broken heart. It’s so romantic!”
The grin that stretches across my face cannot be contained because there’s not a word she’s saying that’s wrong. “I’m not sure we’re ready for theLword, but yeah, she is the reason I’m done moping.”
Kat’s high-pitched squeal makes me wince, but then she throws her arms around me, almost knocking me off-balance. Just as fast, she pulls back and the levity is gone.
“Jude, be careful with Lily. And with yourself. She’s been hurt so many times, I don’t know if she believes she’ll ever fall in love. But I know she could. She has so much to give someone, but she needs a man who’s going to give it right back to her tenfold. She’ll probably try to run at some point because she’s convinced she’s not good enough to be anyone’s happily ever after. Don’t give up on her, okay?”
My hands wrap around the mug of coffee still sitting on the counter. Kat hasn’t said anything I don’t already know.
“As long as she doesn’t give up on me.” My own insecurity infuses that statement, and I know my intuitive sister hears it.
“You’re also worth loving, Jude. Hockey or no hockey. You believe that, right?”
My shoulders lift and fall.
“Oh, big brother. You two need each other more than you know. Lily’s not the type to care whether you’re a famous player or just a regular guy. All she wants, all she needs, is a man who can make her feel loved, and important, and cherished. And you are that man. I know it.”
Chapter twenty-four
Lily
“If you break my hand by squeezing it too hard, you’re gonna have to fix it,” Jude says drily as we walk up the sidewalk toward the restaurant in Westport where my torture awaits.
I let go immediately. “Sorry.” But he picks up my hand again, lacing our fingers back together.
“Don’t apologize. Just breathe for me. You’re not facing them alone; it’s just lunch and then we leave.”
“Yeah. Just lunch,” I mutter. Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that this family lunch is to celebrate Nana’s birthday, I wouldn’t be here. But when she called me to make sure I was bringing Jude, I had no choice but to agree. Thank God he was willing to suffer alongside me. I know he has a million things on his mind, with the coaching job offer from the new feeder team being the biggest. When he mentioned it to me the other day, I had to hide my very mixed reaction. Excitement for him, and for us, that he could have an amazing opportunity right here on the island, mixed with fear that it wouldn’t be enough for him and he’d wind up resenting the job, resenting Dogwood Cove, and resenting me.
I tried to excuse him from coming to the lunch, but the possessive expression in his eyes when he said there wasn’t a chance in hell he was letting me face my family alone was loud and clear.
“Besides, the restaurant serves alcohol, and someone cleared me for short drives. So feel free to get drunk.” His quick grin does the trick in lightening my mood slightly. But then I see my cousin and Clay arriving at the same time as us, from the opposite direction, and my heart sinks. Of course, they don’t do more than glance my way. There’s no greeting, it’s as if we are invisible.
When we get inside, my parents, aunt and uncle, and Nana are already there, along with some other people I recognize from various events over the years. I know for a fact that none of them are Nana’s friends. They’re here because it benefits my mom and aunt. It benefits the Chapman name, somehow.
