Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“It’s nice,” she said, nodding at the wall. “Seeing how close you all grew up, how you and Gabe made time for Danny and Jake even after you were living away.”
“Wouldn’t change it for the world.” Sailor pressed a kiss to the top of her hair with easy familiarity. “I want my kids to grow up the same with their cousins.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. The kids are like a tiny pack.”
“One day, Brown Eyes,” Sailor said, “your kids can join the pack.” Another shoulder hug before he left to help with the barbeque.
Catie was still blinking over the idea of having kids when Jake, who’d just arrived, bumped into her. “Oops, sorry,” he said with a grimace. “Shit, I think I managed to find the one piece of Lego on the floor.”
Looking down, she saw him picking the offender off the bottom of his bare foot. “Ouch.”
“Tell me about it.” Wincing, he put the tiny colored brick safely on the mantel. “You checking out the Wall of Shame, huh?”
When Catie lifted an eyebrow, he began to point out images. “That’s the one where two seconds after the photo was taken, I pushed Danny into a mud pit we’d created the day before. And that’s where he put a rotten tomato on my chair—my shorts were gross while this photo was being taken.”
Catie’s shoulders shook. “Then why do the two of you have your arms around each other and are cackling like maniacs?”
“It was an excellent prank—I thought it was hilarious.” Jake grinned, all dark eyes and dark hair that reminded her of Danny. “Oh, this is a good one. I wasn’t born then, but apparently this is where Sailor decided to paint Gabe’s hair while Gabe was sleeping.”
Catie leaned in closer, finally saw the colors in Gabe’s hair. “Hah. I never spotted that.” The images had faded over the years—what hadn’t were the scowls on both boys faces or their mulishly folded arms. “They’re not happy.”
“Sailor got grounded for the prank while Gabe got grounded for retaliating by putting worms in Sailor’s bed.”
Catie lifted a hand to her mouth to stop her giggles. She’d never thought of the two older brothers as mischievous boys, was charmed by this glimpse into their history. “I think I need to hear more stories.”
But Jake’s gaze had softened, his eyes on a particular photo. Catie knew that one. It was from the day he’d been named acting captain and, for the first time, realized he was considered a leader by not just team management but by his fellow teammates. It showed Danny hugging him so hard that he’d lifted Jake off his feet, Danny’s face aglow with joy.
“That was a good day,” she murmured.
“Yeah.” His voice was rough. “Every time I look at that photo, I feel so fucking lucky to have brothers who have my back. I might’ve played out my heart to earn the jersey, but I would’ve never even been on the field if they hadn’t gone to bat for me when I couldn’t do it for myself.”
A sudden, sharp look aimed at Catie. “Danny, he’s one of the best men I know.”
Catie’s skin burned, but she was saved from having to answer by the torpedo who was Connor. The toddler crashed into Jake’s legs with a giggle and tugged him off to join a game. Catie, meanwhile, found herself looking at that image of open joy from one sibling to another. No jealousy. No spitefulness. Nothing held back.
She was still thinking about the sheer love in that photo half an hour later when everyone was outside, hanging out while the meat grilled. “That cake looks amazing,” she said to Alison.
The older woman leaned into her. “Danny made it himself.” She pressed a finger to her lips. “He honestly thinks I don’t know, that I believe he just picked it up from the shop because it was exactly what he wanted for his birthday.” She shook her head. “I’m his mother. I know everything.”
Catie shifted on her feet, a fierce sense of protectiveness rising to the fore. “He’s shy about his baking.”
“I know.” Alison’s smile was pure maternal love. “I haven’t mentioned it to anyone else, but I knew you must know. You two have always been as thick as thieves.”
Alison spoke again before Catie could quiz her on that startling statement. “It gives me so much joy to see him so happy with this art—and it is art.” She passed Catie a bunch of cutlery to set out on the outdoor table.
“He’s one of the happiest people I know,” Catie said, then decided to chance it. “Which is why I don’t get why you’re worried you let him down?”
Alison was quiet for a while before she said, “When Calypso died, we had a devastated Jake and a tiny baby Esme. Jake and Danny, they’ve always been tight. Friends as well as brothers, and Danny stepped up there—he was the driving force to get his brother playing again. Because he knew how important rugby was to Jake, and more than that, he was Jake’s friend when Jake needed it most.”