by Amanda Perry
With a soft smile, I nod my agreement. “She was wrong for what she did. Though, I can’t say I’d have wanted her to keep me. Who knows how I’d have ended up.”
“Very true,” Duncan agrees, patting my leg. “Plus, now we have you with us. Our little ray of Sunshine.”
The guys burst into laughter, and I giggle along with them. “I am pretty bright and shiny, aren’t I?” I joke between giggles.
Duncan’s smile fades slightly and his gaze becomes more intense. “You really are.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Wait, so you just blurted it out like that?” I gasp, desperately trying to hold in my laughter.
Austyn smacks my bottom with the hairbrush in his hand and glares at me through the reflection in the mirror. “I was in shock, okay? I didn’t know if you were dying, and they were accusing me of having sex with you!”
“Yeah.” I wrinkle my nose at the idea. “That’s gross. But I still can’t believe you just blurted out your biggest secret in a hospital waiting room.”
“Shut up, brat.” Austyn returns his attention to my hair. He continues to play with different styles. His brow scrunches in frustration. “This won’t work. I need to figure out the perfect style.”
I shift my weight on my feet and wince at my sore side. “I don’t understand why I have to get dressed up to go home. Can’t I just wear sweats and a ponytail?”
“Not a chance, Starshine,” Austyn scolds, shaking his head furiously. “You will look like the prettiest post op princess there ever was.”
An unladylike snort escapes me as I roll my eyes. “You’re such a dork.”
“But a very cute dork.” He grins cheekily, making kissy faces at me in the mirror.
I wince again as I shift once more. Austyn’s eyes turn serious. “I still don’t like that you’re refusing the good pain meds. Tylenol is only going to give you so much relief.”
“Yeah, well,” I mumble, holding my hand over the bandage on my lower right side, “The pain isn’t so bad now. It’s been a damn week already.”
“Longest week ever,” Austyn whines while setting down the hair brush and picking up a few bobby pins. “Turn to the side.”
I do as he asks, allowing him access to the side of my hair. “You’re not wrong. This week dragged on forever.”
“Yeah, especially with you bitching about being in here,” Austyn goads. “The poor nurses are probably going to have a celebration when you leave.”
“I was not that bad,” I retort, attempting to turn my head.
Austyn grabs both sides of my head and holds me still. “No moving, Starshine. And yes, you were that bad. You refused pain medication, you wouldn’t let them help you shower, you wouldn’t let any of the guys leave the room when the nurses changed the bandages which meant the guys had to face the wall like toddlers in trouble. Though, I found that part hilarious.”
“Speaking of your brothers,” I wonder aloud. “How did they react to your confession?”
He shrugs, though I don’t miss his eyes lighting up. “They didn’t even care. It was kind of awesome, actually. My parents reacted really well. Mom said she already knew, Dad said he didn’t care as long as I’m happy, and Pop said to stop worrying about it and it wasn’t a big deal. I think the guys were more relieved that you and I weren’t a thing.”
“What, why?” I blink, swatting at his hand to stop him from playing with my hair and turn to gape at him.
He rolls his eyes. “Because they all have a thing for you. It’s sickeningly obvious.”
“That’s not true.” I choke, shuffling my feet nervously. A big part of me secretly hopes it’s true, but my logical side screams at me it’s impossible for five incredibly amazing and perfect guys to like a stupid nobody kid like me.
“It damn well is.” Austyn counters with a swat to my butt again, this time with his hand.
Clearing my throat, I attempt to hide my blushing cheeks from Austyn. “I’m fairly certain they’ve already got girls lining up. Besides, they’re older than me. They’d never be interested in a kid.”
“First off,” Austyn growls while grabbing my shoulders and spinning me gently to face him completely. “You are a hot eighteen-year-old woman, not a kid. Secondly, they’re not much older than you, Starshine. Lochlan is the oldest, and he’s only twenty-six.”
“Only?” I snort. Patting his cheek, I give him a dorky smile. “That’s an eight-year difference, buddy. No twenty-six-year-old would be interested in me. You, my dear friend, are delusional.”
“Bet you a hundred dollars you and my brothers will live happily ever after,” Austyn challenges with narrowed eyes.
I fall into a fit of laughter and nod. “You’re on, Buttercup.”
His expression grows serious, and he studies me for a moment. “Are you not interested in them like that? Or are you only interested in one? I know it’s normal for people to only like one person. Sometimes I forget about the norm.”
My cheeks flame and I glance away from him. “Erm.”
“Well?” He cajoles, gently shaking me. “Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. I won’t stop until you answer. Tell me. Tell me.”
“Yes!” I shout, hoping to shut him up. “I like them. I’ve never cared about a guy before, and now, I’ve got five of them who refuse to leave my mind. It’s annoying, but I can’t help it. Something is seriously wrong with me.”
Austyn steps away from me and does some sort of happy wiggling motion akin to the Snoopy dance. “I knew it! I’m always right.”
“Except when you’re wrong,” I mutter, pushing him playfully. “Now shut up. If you tell anyone, I will shave your head and start handing your number out to girls.”
“Wow,” he gasps, holding his hands to his chest. “You can be a vicious little monster.”
“You know it.” I grin. “Can you please take me home now? I’m all pretty as requested by you. I just want to watch television and eat popcorn for a week.”
“Your wish, milady.” Austyn bows formally.
Rolling my eyes, I grab my brush and head over to stuff it in my suitcase. “You’re so strange.”
“You love me,” Austyn chirps, grabbing my things and pushing a wheelchair over to me. “Now, sit down so I can get into a race with the old ladies down the hall. I bet we win by a mile. Plus, Mom texted me three times already telling me to hurry up, and I blamed you for being slow.”
“You shithead,” I gripe, plopping down gingerly in the wheelchair.
After being yelled at by hospital staff for his attempt at starting a wheelchair Nascar race, Austyn slowly wheels me to the car. Maggie and Jack parked in the patient pick-up area. Maggie smiles brightly when she spots us. “There’s our girl.”
Her statement sounds simple, but my throat clogs with emotions. Her words make my heart swell. It almost seems like I actually belong in her family.
My shock and awe must be clear as day because as Maggie helps me up from the chair, she pulls me into a hug. “You will always be our girl, honey. You belong in our family. I knew it the moment I met you.”
Tears run unchecked down my cheeks as I hug her tightly. “I’m not sure what to say to that.” I sniffle. “I’ve never had a family before.”
“Just say you’ll stay with us,” Jack calls from the other side of the car as Maggie and I break our embrace and slide into our seats. “Even after you graduate high school. We want you to stay with us for as long as you’d like. Through college or whatever it is you plan to do after graduation.”
“But you haven’t known me that long. Plus, you aren’t legally my guardians after graduation.” I frown deeply, sure they’re not going to want to keep me around. “What if you change your mind?”
“We won’t,” Maggie, Jack, and Austyn say all at the same time.
The conversation ends there as there seems to be nothing more to say. Riding home, Austyn becomes increasingly restless the closer we get. Turning to him, I raise a brow. “Do you have to pee or something?”
> He barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “No, smart ass.”
“Language,” Maggie calls from the passenger seat, though there’s no real authority behind it. She’s used to Austyn and the others cursing frequently, including me. Of course, the only one under age would be Austyn now. She can’t really tell her adult sons not to curse.
“Then why can’t you sit still?” I ask him, watching as his knee bounces, and his eyes dart around the car.
He simply shakes his head, not verbally answering me. I huff out my frustration and cross my arms, turning my attention to the front seat. “Maggie, why is he acting like a Chihuahua on speed?”
Jack chokes on laughter, and Maggie snickers then shrugs. “No idea. He’s an odd one.”
“Thanks, Ma,” Austyn grumbles, glaring at the back of his mom’s seat.
“You’re my favorite oddball, honey,” she jokes, smiling widely.
Austyn snorts and rolls his eyes. “Well, duh.”
The silent laughter at Maggie and Austyn’s exchange dies on my lips when I notice we turned off the street leading to the house. “Where are we going?”
“Just a quick detour,” Jack explains. I notice his eyes dart over to Maggie in the rear-view mirror. She nods minutely to him.
As I watch out the window for some hint of our destination, the car grows quiet. My mind goes back to the conversation between me and Austyn about his brothers. I can’t deny my feelings for the five of them even though they’re all completely different. It’s frustrating and confusing. I’m not naive enough to believe all of them would be interested in me, no matter what Austyn says. I’m nothing special, and they’re sure to know it by now.
Even still, the idea of a relationship with all five of them appeals to me in a way I never dreamed possible before meeting the Harper-Smith family. I refuse to believe it could truly happen. Happily ever after isn’t in the cards for me. Survival remains my only goal, and I need to continue to focus on it.
Maggie and Jack say they’ll want me around after I graduate. They’ll change their minds; I’m sure of it. I’m not good enough to be in such an amazing family. I’ll never be a part of a real family. I came to terms with being on my own a long time ago. I can’t allow myself hope now.
“Okay, here we are!” Austyn’s loud exclamation pulls me from my depressing mood, and I glance around for a hint as to where here is.
Austyn, Maggie, and Jack hop out of the car as soon as Jack turns off the engine. Jack opens my door for me. I know I should get out of the car, but I can’t think past my confused state. I can’t seem to move. Blinking rapidly for a moment, I hope it may clear my hallucination, but it doesn’t. We’re parked in front of a building similar to an unmarked hotel.
With lots of flowers and neatly cut grass decorating the lawn, the place appears well taken care of. The building itself is nice and clean, but rather plain from the outside. I can’t tell what the building actually is, but whatever waits for us inside sets Austyn off, bouncing around with excitement. Isn’t this how every horror movie ever made starts out? The unsuspecting girl skips into a nice building only to be suddenly surrounded by zombies or serial killers or monsters.
“Come on, Starshine! Come on, come on, come on!” Austyn cries, jumping from one foot to the other while Maggie grins from ear to ear.
Without a word, I slide out and follow them inside the strange building. I know they won’t hurt me, so there’s no reason for me to hesitate. Since they don’t seem to be ready to give anything away, I don’t bother asking questions. My curious mind filters through every possibility, yet I can’t come up with any legitimate reason for them to take me here.
They lead me down an unlit hallway; music plays softly from a room somewhere ahead of us. Austyn vibrates with what I assume is anticipation, and Maggie can’t stop grinning wildly at me. I’m completely focused on Austyn and Maggie’s odd behavior. I neglect to give my attention to the room we finally walk into at the end of the hallway.
A throat clears in front of me, causing me to jump back into Jack, and my gaze darts around for the intruder or ghost, whichever. My eyes widen, and my hand flitters over my mouth, holding in a cry of shock. With no one place for my gaze to land, my gaze darts from one side of the room to the other. Of all the places I came up with for this to be, of all the things the family planned out for me, this never once crossed my mind.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Declan mumbles as he approaches us then pulls me in for a tight hug. “Are you okay?”
I want to respond to him—I really do—but the only noise I’m able to make seems to be a squeak as I continue to gape around the room. Declan scrunches his brow in concern and glances around as well.
Talen skips up to his brother and me and comes to a stop next to us. “Do you like it?”
It takes several moments for my voice and brain to connect and allow me to speak. Everyone waits patiently while I try to form my thoughts into words. “How… I don’t… When did… But I… I don’t understand,” I finally stutter, gazing around at everyone. And I do mean everyone.
Maggie, Jack, and Austyn now stand off to the side of the large room, two of them bouncing on the balls of their feet. They appear equal parts excited and nervous. Collin and Lochlan stand behind a giddy Greyson. The three of them placed themselves in front of a long table full of all sorts of food and treats. Duncan and Dominic stand on the opposite side of the room beside a matching long table full of beautifully wrapped packages of all shapes and sizes.
My gaze sweeps across the room again, and I find Lochlan and Collin striding up to me with Greyson close by.
“Hey, Parker,” Lochlan murmurs, giving me a nod and a ghost of a smile.
Greyson pushes his way in front of Collin and Lochlan then pulls his hand from behind his back and presents me with a large bouquet of at least two dozen, perfect, rainbow colored roses framed in white baby’s breath. It’s the most beautiful flower arrangement ever. “Happy birfday, Pawker.”
I take the flowers from him when he extends them toward me. “They’re beautiful, Greyson.” My voice barely reaches above a whisper, but I’m rather proud of myself for being able to speak at all.
“I don’t understand how… I mean why… I-I-I.” Trying to force a full sentence to form becomes nearly impossible, and it’s frustrating. I can’t get my words out the way I want.
“They wouldn’t let your birthday just go without celebrating, Parker.” Rebecca’s voice comes from behind me.
I squeak in surprise, spinning around and stepping back, slamming into Lochlan. For a split second, I’m mortified to run right into him, but when his arm comes around my waist and pulls me in closer, protecting and comforting me at the same time, I melt. His touch gives me butterflies. It should surprise me since he’s the grumpiest guy ever, but I don’t even try to make sense of it right now.
“Sorry, dear.” Rebecca chuckles. “I’m a little late for the birthday party, but I had some extra work to get done before I could leave the office.”
“My birthday?” I scrunch my brow together and peer over at Declan and Talen. Everyone else stands behind Lochlan and me, making it impossible for me to gauge their reactions. Declan concentrates on Lochlan’s arm around my waist with an expression I can’t decipher. Talen appears deep in his own thoughts, his eyes unfocused as he stares in my general direction.
“Yeah.” Collin laughs, coming up behind us and into my view. “Your upcoming birthday was mentioned, and all my sons went into panic mode. Maggie, Jack, and I thought doing a nice dinner out would be the plan, but with Austyn around and the possibility of a party, we should have known better. They spent the better part of the last week frantically finalizing all the details of your surprise party. It was actually rather easy with you being occupied.”
“I never knew there could be so many shades of purple,” Dominic grumbles. I turn in his direction, causing Lochlan to drop his hand from my waist.
My eyes land on Dominic as he glares around at all the pu
rple decorations. Purple balloons of different shapes, sizes, and shades decorate the chairs and tables. Streamers and banners, table cloths covering the long tables and puffy paper balls dangling from the ceiling. They made the perfect party for any girl, and tears spring to my eyes, trailing down my cheeks without my permission. I never used to cry. This family constantly has me in tears, in a good way.
“Muñeca, what is it?” Dominic hurries over to me and scoops me up in a big, gentle hug. “Why are you crying?”
“This is too much, I don’t deserve this,” I whisper in his ear and feel him stiffen around me.
He leans back, still keeping me in his arms. “You deserve this and so much more, Muñeca. You’ve never had a celebration on your birthday, right?” He waits for my nod of confirmation before continuing on. “Then from now on we’ll make every one of your birthdays special and amazing, like you.”
The tears continue, more from joy than being overwhelmed now. “Thank you, Dominic.” I wiggle out of his arms, shooting him a concerned glance when he groans. I hope I didn’t hurt him. He doesn’t respond to my silent concern. Instead he turns around and walks away mumbling about getting something to drink.
Shrugging off his odd behavior, I turn to everyone else in the room and clear my throat insuring they can hear me. “I’ve never had a birthday before. Well, a party or anyone acknowledging my birthday, I mean. To be honest, I sort of forgot about it myself. It’s never been anything but another day to me. I don’t know how to say thank you to all of you for this. It’s just… It’s so perfect.”
“We want you happy, Parker.” Maggie’s eyes shine bright. “We want you to have everything you deserve, everything you missed out on growing up.” She wraps her arms around me, holding me like I assume a mother would hold her child. I put my arms around her, refusing to let the moment go too soon.
“All right, stop hogging her!” Austyn shouts, stomping over to me and taking me from Maggie. He hugs me close for a moment before pulling back and smirking. “Okay, Starshine. We have partying to do.”
