“Charlie’s in labor! Get your ass to the hospital!” Ethan shouts before the line goes dead.

Adrenaline shoots through me as I stare at the phone, excited for him and also noting that he called me himself, didn’t activate the family’s phone vine. In a situation like this, our version of a phone tree would definitely be the way to go. So I’ve gotta admit – I feel special right now. He wanted to tell me himself. I wonder if Hannah told him I feel left out where the older cousins are concerned.

Calling Paige I wait for her sweet voice to answer. Seems like it takes forever but that’s because I’m dying to get to that hospital.

“Well hello there, Handsome,” she says with an audible smile.

“Hey Beautiful, you still with Carrie?”

“She just left.”

“I’m coming over to pick you up. My keys are already in my hand and I’m heading out the door right now. My cousin’s having the baby!”

I told her about everyone while we were traveling. We had a lot of hours in the day and I know for a fact I overwhelmed her, but she impresses me by remembering his name. “Ethan and his wife? Oh my God!” She pauses, losing the happiness. “Wait, do you think it’s a good idea that I go with you?”

“Why not?” I mutter, locking up. “Oh shit, I didn’t think about my dad.” Raking a hand through my hair I look up at the blue sky and feel like nothing can go wrong today. “Fuck it. This is a big day in our family’s lives and I’m not leaving you out of it.”

“That’s so sweet, but Gabriel…”

“Don’t argue with me. What did I say to memorize?”

“Something about you being right all the time.”

Jumping in my purple Audi I mutter, “Never forget it.”

A chuckle disguised as a cough comes through the phone before she says, in forced seriousness, “Got it memorized…Gabriel Cocker is always right. All the time. With everything. No exceptions.”

As my Audi purrs to life I smirk, “Keep it up. You’re making me hard.”

Breaking into laughter she can’t hide anymore Paige says, “Your ego could power this whole block.”

“What are you talking about, block? The whole fucking city! I’ll see you in minutes.”

As soon as we hang up I call Ben, but drop the call before the first ring. At least I hope it didn’t go through. Fuck, I really want to hear his side of what went down with Dad and Paige so I can mentally prepare myself for this. But Ben still hasn’t called me back so this isn’t the time to ask for advice. Fucking asshole. How long is he going to let this go on?

Growling I dial my brother. “Hey, Elijah, Ethan call you?”

“No, Emma did. You heading to the hospital?”

Surprised Elijah got the phone-vine treatment I say, “On my way there now.”

“I’m in D.C. and will fly out tonight.”

“Dammit,” I mutter, seeing a yellow light and going through as it turns red. A guy honks at me and I flip him off and yell, “Fuck you!”

Elijah laughs, “I’ll get there as soon as I can, jeez.”

Frowning despite his joke I explain my situation, “Dad’s met Paige already and not in a good way. I don’t know what to do. Her brother has a gambling problem that Dad stepped in to fix.”

“How’d that happen?!” Elijah barks. He knows full well how our Dad feels about that shit.

“Ben called him when he was trying to get in Paige’s pants. How do I handle this?”

Elijah is silent as he thinks about it. Then he exhales loudly. “You’re bringing her to the hospital, aren’t you? You’re too fucking stubborn to keep her at home and introduce her at a better time.”

“Have her miss something this important to the family? Fuck that!”

“Gabriel…”

“No, you don’t get it, man. I was like you. Remember how much grief I gave Ethan when he knocked up Charlie? A fucking billionaire wants to settle down when he can get all the pussy in the world? Remember I told him that?!”

“Yes,” my brother groans, impatient and imagining the worst with our father meeting Paige under the circumstances we’re in.

“I couldn’t understand why he would do that, Elijah, but I get it now. You’ll see when you find your girl. Something happens in you. She’s a part of me now and I’m not leaving her out of this important day. Dad will just have to deal with that.”

“No, you’ll have to deal with Dad, but whatever,” he grumbles. “And don’t tell me how it’s going to be for me, okay? You don’t know what you’re talking about. Marriage is good for Ethan, Hannah, Ben, you. I know Emma is dying to settle down if she can only find a guy who doesn’t bore the shit out of her. I’ve no doubt Eric will get married and have like eight little jocks. But me and Sofia, we aren’t like you guys.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” I mutter as I pull up to Carrie’s single-story house.

His voice is dark and annoyed as he says, “I know who I am, Gabriel. It’s you who didn’t know who you were. Ya think you weren’t destined for one woman? I always knew you’d go that route. You’re like Uncle Jason! An artist with your heart on your sleeve! You couldn’t write those sappy fucking songs that make girls cream their panties if you weren’t a hopeless fucking romantic. You mean that shit when you sing it. It’s not an act. I’m like Dad. You can’t go into politics and be soft. If Hannah hadn’t come into his life then he and Mom wouldn’t have made it. And that lightning won’t strike twice. I’m going to be the first President this country has ever voted into office without a wife, you watch.”

Paige appears in the doorway wearing white jeans, ballet flats and a silk, lavender blouse. Staring at her from inside my car I tell my jaded brother, “My girl is walking toward me right now, and if you could feel what I do as I’m looking at her, you wouldn’t fight this so hard. I’ve gotta go.”

“Tell her I said hello.”

“You got it.”

Hanging up I jump out to open the door for her. She steps into my arms and kisses me. “I’m nervous.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

She gently laughs. “You make it sound like your Dad might attack me.”

Kissing her nose I open the door and guide her in. “My brother just gave me some speech about how he’s never going to love anyone.”

“Really?”

I make quick strides to the other side, swooping in and shutting the well-designed door with a quiet click. As we pull away from the curb I explain, “He’s saying I’m the romantic one like our Uncle Jason and he’s like Dad. Which is ridiculous.”

“Didn’t you say Jason is a musician?”

“Music producer. It’s not the same thing.” I glance to Paige as she cocks an eyebrow. “It’s not! They’re behind the music. Listen to this.” I reach for the volume and tell her, “This is a rap album he produced a decade ago. You think this sounds fluffy?”

Paige argues, “I’m sure Elijah didn’t call your music fluffy!”

The passenger window shatters, glass flying.

Our airbags explode.

I grab Paige’s hand as her body bends toward mine.

The Audi flies left.

It slams into another car.

Everything goes dark.