“I want this. I’ve always loved this house. I want to make it our home. I won’t let her take another damn thing from me. We’ve already renovated. It doesn’t even look like the same place. The security is top-notch, and we have plenty of room for a small ceremony and reception.”
“What did I miss?” I whisper to Grant.
“I’ll fill you in later,” he says, kissing my temple. I fight the urge to sigh. He’s always doing sweet things like that, and I fall harder every time.
“What can we do?” Sawyer asks.
“I need a dress, and we’ll need food and a cake.”
“I can take care of the cake,” I speak up, surprising myself.
“Really?” Layla asks.
“Sure. I can put together a tasting if you want.” Grant gives my leg a gentle squeeze, showing me his support.
“No. I trust you. We both eat anything. Just… thank you, Aurora.”
“Sure. I’ll take care of it. Just let me know how many people.”
“Small,” she says immediately.
“All of you. Stanley and Lena, your sister, and Ronnie and Linda.” She points to Conrad and Marshall. “If these two want to bring a date.” She chuckles.
“Nah,” the two youngest brothers say at the same time.
“When is this shindig taking place?” Marshall asks.
“This little guy is due to be here in four weeks.” Layla looks over at Owen. “We were thinking two weeks.” She turns her gaze to me. “Is that okay? Can you do two weeks?”
“Yes.” I nod.
“What about you? Can you find a dress in that time?”
“I just want something simple. I’m sure I can find something. I was hoping Lena could do the food.”
“She’s going to be all over that,” Royce says.
“I’ll help,” Sawyer adds.
“I can help too.”
Layla’s eyes well with tears. “I’ve never had a family, not a functional one. I love you all so much, and I’m thrilled to be able to call all of you my family.” She wipes at her eyes. I find myself doing the same, and a quick glance at Sawyer shows she’s in her feelings too.
“Damn it, sis,” Conrad says, clearing his throat. That breaks the tension, causing us all to laugh.
“I’m sorry. It’s the pregnancy hormones, but I meant every word. I don’t know what I did to have each of you come into my life, but I will be forever grateful.”
“Fucking love you,” Owen says, not caring who hears before his lips crash with hers. The doorbell interrupts them, but Royce stands.
“I’ll get it,” he tells his brother, making his way to the front door, Marshall on his heels to help carry the food.
The rest of the night is filled with laughter and a whole lot of love. Plans are made, and even Lena and Stanley show up after Owen called them to fill them in. It has me missing my parents more than ever, but it also solidifies that the Riggins family is the real deal. I can only hope that Aspen and I both find this kind of love and acceptance in our futures. I glance across the room at Grant. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I can’t help but let a little sprout of hope fill my heart that this too is my future.
Chapter 15
Grant
Looking across my brother’s living room, I watch as Aurora covers another yawn. “We’re out of here,” I say, finishing off my bottle of water and tossing it in the trash.
“You don’t have to run off,” Owen says.
“Aurora has been up since three. She’s dead on her feet,” I tell him.
“You good to drive?” Royce asks.
“Yeah, just had water.” I look at my two younger brothers. “You two need a ride?” I ask.
“Nah, Mom and Dad said they would drop us off,” Conrad says, tipping back his beer.
My eyes scan to Marshall, and he nods, letting me know that’s the plan. “All right, see you tomorrow,” I say, walking toward my girl.
“Hey, babe. You about ready?” I ask Aurora. I’m leaning over the back of the couch. She tilts her head back to look at me and nods.
“Aw, don’t leave,” Layla begs.
“Sorry, my girl’s been up since three. I need to get her home,” I tell her.
“Call me next week, and I’ll bring you by a couple of samples,” Aurora tells her.
“You don’t have to do that. I trust you.”
“I want to,” Aurora assures her.
We spend the next five minutes saying goodbye, as the woman in my life hugs it out with each of my sisters-in-law and then my parents. By the time I get her to the SUV, it’s nice and warm. “Thank you for that,” I say once we’re on the road.
“For what?”
“The cake. That was nice of you.”
“Of course. I’m happy to do it.”
“I’ll pay you. Just let me know what it costs, and I’ll cover it.”
“What? No, I want to do this for them.”
“Rory, you’re a new business. You can’t afford to just give your cakes away.”
“I can when it’s my boyfriend’s brother’s wedding,” she fires back.
“Is this our first fight?” I ask, not able to hold my grin.
“No.” She crosses her arms over her chest in a pout. I pull up to the Stop sign at the end of Owen’s road and glance over. That’s when she realizes she’s stood up to me. Her body goes stiff, and she bites down on her bottom lip. “I-I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” I pull my eyes from her and back to the road. “I’m proud of you. You told me how you felt.” I reach over and place my hand on her knee. “I want you to always tell me how you feel. Even if you think that it’s going to upset me, that’s how this works, Rory. It’s a relationship. It’s going to take work and give and take from both of us.”
“How did you get so smart?” she asks, finally releasing the grip her teeth had on her bottom lip.
“What can I say? When you’ve got it, you’ve got it,” I say, tapping her knee and making her laugh. “I thought we could go to my place. I know you’re tired. I just… I’m not ready to take you home yet.”
“So… you want me to stay with you?”
“Yes.” I don’t hesitate with my answer. We’ve been dating for a couple of months, and I’m fine taking it slow, but having her in my bed, in my arms, that sounds really damn good right now. “I’ll be on my best behavior,” I tell her.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I repeat. I keep my eyes on the road and fight like hell to keep the smile off my face. Gloating that I got my way is not a good idea. At least not until I get her in my place, in my bed where she belongs.
“Go ahead,” she says a few minutes later.
“What?” I ask, glancing over at her.
“Let it out.” She laughs.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My grin says otherwise.
“Come on, let’s hear it.”