Legacy and Lovers (Untouchable Book 11), page 16
“Don’t start,” Klara advised. “Frankie looks fantastic. She’s fit and trim. Our boys probably give her all the cardio she could need.”
Alicia groaned and then swatted Klara, making the laughing woman smile even wider. The warmth and familiarity around them chased away even a little bit of chill. Klara’s hair had grown out and she, like Alicia, wore soft looking turtlenecks in a similar blue, dark jeans and knee-high boots.
While they didn’t have on the family “Turkey Trot” shirts, they were coordinated beautifully. A light tug on my arm pulled my attention to Sara and she nodded to one of the other tables. At least inside the tent some of the wind cut out. Or maybe this wasn’t a tent, there were wooden beams and structures—maybe a transformed gazebo or something?
I didn’t know. “I thought we’d give them a moment,” Sara said as she hooked her arm through mine. “I know you’re all cold and we should head back to the house, but how about we linger in here for a few while those two enjoy their reunion?”
“That sounds like fun. I forget sometimes that they aren’t living together full time yet.”
“No, but they’re close. There’s been a lot of travel,” Sara said. “A lot of decisions to be made. A lot of fences to be mended.” She glanced back once. “I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
“Me too,” I admitted. “I know Jake’s been worried.”
“So has Ian,” Sara confided. “He doesn’t want Jake to be disappointed again. It took a long time for Jake’s anger at his father to calm down.”
She didn’t have to tell me.
“But Joe thinks they’re in a good place and from what I’ve seen, I think they are too. Might even be a summer wedding or Christmas.” She looked thoughtful. “We should probably put some feelers out about that this week.”
“About a potential wedding?” Pretty sure that was none of our business. At least until they invited us or something.
“Oh yes, we don’t want there to be any conflicts.”
Conflicts?
“Speaking of conflicts,” Sara transitioned so smoothly I almost didn’t see the trap before it closed. “How are you and the brother boyfriends doing? Ian’s been circumspect when we ask him about the future.”
Oh boy.
“She asked about the future?” Ian clarified as I toweled my hair off. The showers at the house were great, but they weren’t quite as large as the one at home. So, we couldn’t share more than two at a time.
“Yep,” I told him. I’d needed the shower to fully chase away the chill.
“Great,” Coop said. “That’s at least two of them then.” He walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his hips. “Mom was asking me last night.”
Ian sighed. “I’ll talk to her.” He turned from where he leaned against the door when there was a knock. Cracking it open, he checked before he pulled it wider.
Jake and Archie came in, the conquering heroes, with huge cups of hot cocoa. “Oh, definitely my favorites,” I said as I tossed my towel at Coop.
“Hey!”
But it wasn’t like he protested much. It was just the five of us and Ian had cranked up the heat in the room, so I wasn’t too worried about being naked, especially after the heat from the shower.
“All yours, Baby Girl,” Jake said, holding out the largest mug with the biggest pile of whip cream.
Cradling the mug to myself, I sighed happily.
“And who are we talking to about what?” Archie asked as he turned the lock on the door and passed Ian his hot cocoa.
“My mother,” Ian said dryly. “Apparently, she brought up weddings and cornered Frankie about the future.”
“Well, to be fair,” I corrected. “She was talking about Alicia and Klara and Jake’s dad, and not having any conflicting plans.”
“Oh, I did not hear that,” Jake said from behind me. “I do not want to think about that right now. The girls are all crazy about the idea, but I want to just pretend they are all celibate and dating platonically.”
I wasn’t the only one who turned to give Jake a look and he shrugged without an ounce of apology.
“Name me one person in this room who wants to think about their parents having sex.”
Dead silence greeted that comment.
“Point made,” he said and I saluted him with my hot cocoa.
“Okay,” Coop announced as he headed for the closet. “New plan.”
“Yep,” Archie agreed and Ian sighed.
“I think we can handle them,” I reminded all of them. “It’s about to be pure bedlam with all the food and the football.”
“Angel, you don’t have to sound so disgusted about the games.”
I grinned. “I’ll be in a food coma and napping. My point is, there are so many here, that I think we can handle the various parental units.”
“Sure,” Archie said. “It’s no big deal if Eddie and Hank are already debating how to split up future holidays.”
I stared.
“Or that my mom is really interested in how we decide where we’re all going to settle down and what, if any conflicts, may arise from future job prospects.”
“Shouldn’t worry us that my parents are looking to summer in New England going forward.”
We all glanced at Jake.
“Team Deny Deny Deny,” he said firmly. “Also, Baby Girl, as much as I hate to say it, please put on clothes. You’re far too tempting and I’d be just as content hiding in here for the next four days, but apparently, we’re going to have to deal with all the questions instead.”
I sighed. “Okay. New plan.”
Archie dropped a kiss on my nose as I passed him and Ian tugged me in for a quick hug and a chocolatey kiss. Coop waited until I was in the closet to yank the door closed. Their curses damn near drowned out my laughter.
Thankfully, he didn’t spill any of my hot cocoa as he pinned me to the wall for a thorough and breathless kiss. Not to mention the orgasm he wrangled out of me on his fingers.
Fuck me.
Panting, I said, “Part of the new plan?”
“Nope,” he grinned unrepentant. “Scoring back the boyfriend points Trina said I lost this morning.”
Confusion filtered through me followed by laughter. “Mission accomplished.”
He nodded, then kissed me before he freed the closet door to our amused audience. “Damn straight.”
Right.
Get dressed.
Make a new plan.
I wasn’t quite sure what the old plan was, but hey, if it involved orgasms of any kind, I was totally in.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
FAMILY, FATHERS, FISHING, FORMALITIES, AND THE FUTURE
IAN
“I just asked about future plans,” Mom chided me as she poured hot water over the tea bag in her cup. It was still early, pitch dark outside and the snow from the day before had dropped a good several inches, but I didn’t think it would linger for too long.
Arms folded, I eyed my mother. We didn’t have a lot of time before others would rouse. I was surprised Dad wasn’t already down here, but then he’d been up late with Jake’s dad. We’d ended up playing billiards pretty late and they were still catching up when I finally called it.
“Don’t you give me that look, Ian Joseph,” she said in a stiff tone. “I love Frankie, I love the boys, and I love you. That means I have a right to worry, to be invested, and most of all, to be curious.”
“Curious would be fine.” I kept my tone calm and even. “But you’re all here and you’re all asking.”
She frowned, tea cup paused, as she considered me. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
Letting out a breath, I relaxed my posture and dropped my arms. Turning to the coffee pot, I got it going. I was still in pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. We had a fancy espresso machine as well, but I’d let Archie pull Frankie the perfect cup. Regular coffee would do it.
“Everyone is asking?” Mom finally said with a real wince in her tone.
“Pretty much,” I told her over my shoulder. “And we get it. All of us, we really do. But it’s not a conversation we’re ready to have with all of you yet.”
The first hiss of the water brought with it the aromatic blend of coffee. I debated pulling out food to get started on breakfast, but Jeremy had his rules about kitchens. With this many people, he’d be cross. Then again, he shouldn’t have to cook for all of us.
To which he would respond with a flinty stare and I’d back the fuck off because there were some areas one didn’t cross Jeremy in. This was one of them. Might as well just save myself the trip to the dog house. I checked my watch, then looked out the windows again. It was too dark to see if it was still snowing.
“But you have had the conversation.”
Of course, she’d zero in on that. Squaring my shoulders, I blew out a breath. Fine. Let’s do this. Pivoting, I faced her again. The faint smile at the corners of her lips didn’t fool me in the slightest.
“We have had several conversations,” I informed her. “Beginning with wanting to date Frankie as far back as seventh grade and then discovering she actually was interested in us in senior year. We’ve had discussions about the practicalities of balancing a relationship between five people and managing personal feelings and jealousy. We’ve had discussions about school, about careers, and about working together to make those things happen.”
I ticked each item off and I swore her eyes narrowed.
“We’ve had some very colorful discussions. So yes, Mom, we talk. When we’re ready to invite you into the discussion, I—” Fuck me, I’d say it. “And the rest of the brother boyfriends will let you know. Until then…”
“What our son is trying to tell you, my love,” Dad said as he made his way into the kitchen, “is to butt out and leave them alone.”
More or less.
“But he is far too polite,” he continued, then gave me a firm look. “And respectful to put it so plainly or use a tone.”
Message sent.
I nodded.
Message received.
“I appreciate that you both care,” I told them, and I meant it. “I know you love Frankie. I know you love me. I know this all comes from a good place, but it’s pressure. We’re in our junior year and the last couple of years have been brutal enough.”
Mom set her teacup aside and I accepted her hug, moving to meet her before she even took a couple of steps. “I worry about you all,” she admitted. “I can’t help it.”
“I know.” And I really did know. I worried about Frankie all the time, it was part of wanting to protect and take care of her. I’d accepted it was just part of who I was. Part of all of us really. “We all do. I promise, when we’re ready to have the conversation—whatever the conversation looks like—we will involve you. We’re going to be all right, Mom. I promise.”
She squeezed me and then gave a little sigh as she leaned back. “You know, I remember when you were shorter than me.”
I chuckled.
She patted my chest. “And needed me to tell you that everything was going to be all right.”
“He still needs you to do that, sweetheart,” Dad said, slipping an arm around her and then pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Just not right now.”
Since she was swiping tears from her eyes, I lifted my gaze to Dad’s and mouthed ‘thank you.’ He nodded.
“So,” Dad said, just picking up the dropped conversation. “What are the plans for today?”
Miss Abigail came trotting out, tail wagging with Jeremy behind her. He was already dressed for the day, his button down shirt pressed and a tie in place. The fact he wasn’t wearing his suit jacket was his only deference to the early hour.
“Good morning, Jeremy,” I said as I dropped to greet Miss Abigail. She sat immediately and preened as I stroked and scritched her. “If you’ll give me five minutes, I’ll run up and throw some clothes on and take her for a light run.”
Jeremy nodded. “I would appreciate that Mr. Bubba. I can get breakfast started. Her snow boots are by the door.”
“On it.” I glanced at Mom and Dad but Mom smiled.
“Go on, we’ll see if Jeremy will let us help or if we get banished.”
Right. Not my circus, so I just grinned. “Be right back.”
Jake was pulling on a sweatshirt when I let myself back in the room. Frankie was buried in the middle of the bed, the only sign of her was the blonde hair spilling over Coop’s arm. I swore he treated her like his favorite teddy bear.
Then again, who was I to talk.
“Run?” I mouthed more than gave voice to the word.
He smothered a yawn then nodded before glancing at the bed. Then crossed over and gave Archie a light jab between the shoulder blades.
Cracking his eyes open, Archie glared at us then groaned before he looked around. Yep, checking on where Frankie was. We all did it. He eyed Coop and I could read his mind.
Jake shot me a look and I eased onto the bed and extracted a mumbling Frankie with care. Archie rolled off the other side and then Jake leaned past me and we both shoved Coop right out of the bed.
His squawk of indignation didn’t even stir Frankie, and I tucked her in more securely. It took me a little longer than five minutes, but we were all out of the room and downstairs.
We still needed the rest of our plan.
COOP
The guys sucked. I could be in bed with Frankie, celebrating the holiday early. Instead, not only was I not in bed with her, I was out running with this band of sadists.
“Stop bitching,” Jake said with a light shove at my shoulder. I didn’t even complain that I hadn’t said anything, I just flipped him off.
Miss Abigail was in her element jogging along with us. She hadn’t liked the snowy rain from the day before, but today’s light snowfall and the crunchy snow under her little boots seemed to entertain her.
We were a mile out before Archie groaned. “Someone go first, I’m not the one to tackle this. Eddie’s not gonna say shit, he’s way too concerned about alienating one or both of us.”
Which, while on the one hand made it easier to avoid the “future” conversations, it wasn’t ideal. “He’ll get there,” I told him. “You both will. Look at how far Hank’s come in the last couple of years.”
“I hate to break this to you,” Bubba said over his shoulder with a half-grin. “Hank’s been one hundred percent invested as her dad since he found out about her. He’s been testing those boundaries every chance he gets.”
He wasn’t wrong.
“I’ll go first.” Jake passed Abigail’s leash over to Archie as he slowed our pace. I, for one, was fine with walking, except jogging was what kept us warm. “Mom, Klara, and Dad are talking marriage.”
“Congrats?” I checked.
He gave me a wry grin. “Yeah, thanks.”
“Excellent,” Bubba said as he clapped him on the shoulder. “I know that’s got to be a bit weird, but I really like the idea of your mom being happy.”
No argument from me. Jake’s smile grew. “Yeah, same. The flip side is they are going to ask us all to be a part of the wedding.”
“Not a big deal, though I need some guidance on what to give them for the gift,” Archie commented. “I don’t even know what you give a first-time bride and groom, much less a reunited family.” Then he paused…
“Not a house,” Bubba and Jake said in one breath and Archie scowled.
Yeah, he was that predictable.
And generous.
“We’ll worry about presents later,” I suggested. “Us participating in the wedding is fine, just it means everyone then turns their eyes in our direction.”
Jake tipped his head back with a groan and Archie shook his head.
“This is one area where the disenfranchised has the advantage,” he pointed out and I flipped him off, as did Jake. “Seriously,” he continued, ignoring us. “You guys are worried about what your parents are going to say and or do or ask.. and I wouldn’t care except…”
“They’re all going to ask Frankie at some point, try to feel it out from her if they can’t get it out of us,” I reminded him. “My mom is going to leave it alone and so is Trina.”
“How’d you pull that off?” Jake asked me.
“That was what Mom and I were up talking about the other night. I let her tell me all her concerns, offer her advice, and then asked her to let me handle the rest. I don’t want her scaring Frankie off or applying pressure where none needs to be. The last thing we need is for her to decide a year in Europe without any of us, or our families, is ideal.”
Bubba snorted. I didn’t disagree. Frankie wasn’t leaving us. That said, Mom and Trina didn’t have the faith in her that we did. So, rather than rock the boat, I asked them to be supportive—quietly.
“Mom and Dad are going to leave it alone now as well,” Bubba said as he stretched his arms up. “I had a talk with her a little while ago and I get it, she’s worried about all of us. Wants to make sure we’re still thinking things through.”
“She does know we’re still in college, right?” Archie’s tone was dry as he paused while Miss Abigail scouted a spot. Another reason for us to slow from the run. “Who brought the poop bags?”
“Got it,” Bubba told him as she walked in circles. “And yes, she does know, but Mom is a planner. She doesn’t want any of us to get hurt. That means caution and application of care.”
I chuckled and rolled my head around. “Your mom is like you and overthinking things, and you don’t want her to word it badly.”
“Pretty much,” he said. Silence draped us as Miss Abigail finished her business and Bubba walked over to deal with that. There were cans ahead where we could make a deposit. “I’ll tell you guys what I told her. We’re talking. We talk all the time. We make decisions together, we figure out how to balance our relationships and support our goals and dreams. We’re not in a rush. We don’t have to be.”
He had a point.
“No, we pretty much have what we want right now.” I made it easily a half-dozen steps before I realized they weren’t following. Pivoting, I had to swallow a laugh at the varying degrees of surprise and shock on their faces.
