Chapter Thirty-One
Brody
Today was the motherfucking day. We played in Austin last night, and most of the label came to watch. Luke was up Talon’s ass, introducing him to Landry’s parents like he was already the prodigal son-in-law. But not even that could dampen my mood. I got to see my girl today, for the first time in almost three months.
“Dude. You look like you’re about to levitate out of the damn car.” Dane put his hand on my knee, attempting to stop my bounce.
Talon was sitting across from me in the oversized town car. “Did you two come up with a plan on how to deal with Luke?”
“No, we’ll just have to handle each situation as it comes.” I pulled out my cell, letting Landry know we were driving through the compound’s massive gates. “But at some point you guys have got to get everyone away from her house. We’re opening the envelope with the paternity test results in it today.”
“Holy shit.” Brax leaned forward in his seat. “What are you going to do? I mean, you know, if…”
If the baby wasn’t mine. The question that had been on my mind from the moment I’d learned there was a chance I wasn’t the baby’s father. I knew where my heart was. I knew what I needed to do. What I needed to say.
The town car came to a stop and we all filed out. We were parked in front of Jacks and Bryan Cole’s house. I recognized it from the pictures Landry had sent. My cell vibrated in my hand.
Landry: Tell my dad you need to use the restroom.
Jacks was coming out of the house, Luke right behind him. They came down the wide concrete walkway, arms wide, welcoming us to the ranch.
Jacks held his hand out, and I shook it. “Hey, can I use your restroom? It was a longer drive than I thought it would be.”
“Of course. It’s the third door on the left.” Jacks pointed back toward the house. “Talon, you can follow him in if you want. Landry is excited to see you.”
I jogged up to the front door, ignoring T altogether. Landry was coming out of the kitchen, a big smile on her face. “Brody.”
“Holy shit, come here.” I crossed the large living room in three strides, chuckling when she skipped to meet me in the middle. She threw her arms around my neck and I buried my face in her hair. “I missed you so fucking much.”
“I can’t believe you’re here. I can’t believe I’m touching you.”
I pulled back, taking her face in my hands, wiping her tears with my thumbs before kissing her. No finesse. I didn’t have it in me. I invaded her mouth, bending her back a little to kiss her deeper. I never wanted to stop. I never wanted to come up for air. Visions of throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her to the nearest bed danced in my head. I wrapped my arm around her lower back. I wanted her closer but something was getting in my way.
“Oh wow.” I stepped back, my hands on her hips. “I was so fucking excited to see you that I forgot about this.” I moved my hands around, placing my palms on her rounded belly.
She laughed. “It’s huge.”
“It’s perfect.” I lifted her black tank top, touching her skin.
She put her hand over mine, moving it down and to the right. “I don’t know if you can feel it, but tummy bug is kicking right here.”
“Holy shit.” I smiled so big I felt like my face was going to crack in half.
Landry looked up at me, her eyes overflowing with tears once again. “You felt that? Really? I didn’t think you’d be able to.”
“We figured we’d do dinner here tonight so Landry could…Landry? Why are you crying?” Jacks had walked into the house in the middle of me feeling the baby kick for the first time. I wanted to tell him to leave, but instead I stepped back.
“I’m so happy everyone is here.” She grinned at her dad, taking the hem of the shirt that she was holding up so I could touch her belly, and drying her eyes with it.
Talon walked around the long sectional couch, coming to stand by Landry. He glanced at me and then tentatively put his arm around her shoulders.
Luke was beaming and Jacks was watching them with an odd look on his face. “Okay, well, we thought we’d hang in the backyard, barbeque, and have some drinks. Tomorrow Lex wants Beau to get some shots of you guys hanging out at the compound, and we thought we could go over your prelim tour numbers after lunch.”
Brax nodded. “That all sounds great to us.”
“Yeah, thanks again for inviting us out.” Dane walked toward the back door, looking out a large bay window. “I haven’t fired up a pit in years.”
“Well, come on out back and we can get the coals started.” Jacks patted Landry’s shoulder on the way out. “You want to come out with us, Buttercup?”
“I, uh…”
“I’m sure Landry and Talon want to spend some time catching up, they haven’t seen each other in almost three months.” Luke winked at T and I almost flew across the room to punch him.
The front door opened and Beau walked in, carrying a dark green tank. “I didn’t want to go all the way into town, so I just grabbed the CO2 from my Kegerator.” He shifted it from one hand to the other. “Oh hey, you guys made it.”
“Perfect timing, we were just about to head out back.” Jacks took the tank from his son. “Everyone else should start arriving soon. Emmie had a dance recital this afternoon and Jett had a baseball tournament.”
Luke looked put out when Talon and Landry followed everyone else outside instead of taking his suggestion and spending some time alone. I didn’t know how much of this I’d be able to handle. I hadn’t seen my girl in three months. All I wanted to do was hold her. And you know, other stuff.
But with her whole family around and Luke watching her and Talon like a hawk, it didn’t look like that was going to happen anytime soon.
***
Landry’s family was huge. I knew this. But seeing them all together in one space was something else. And there was even one missing: Evie, the sorority chick. Landry and I were standing in the shade underneath this fancy misting system, talking to Beau and Halen.
“Landry talks about you all the time.” Halen was sweet with pretty green eyes and a kind smile.
Apparently Halen and Beau were the only people in her family that knew the truth about us. “Well, she talks about you guys all the time too.” I chuckled. “I feel like I know everyone already. It’s nice to put faces with all the names and the stories I’ve heard.”
“You’ve gotta be in hell right now.” Beau took a sip of his beer, wincing. “I know how it feels to be standing next to your girl and not be able to touch her.”
“Yeah. Me too.” One of the twins walked up, taking the beer from Beau’s hand and draining it in one long swallow. “I swear these family dinners are lasting longer and longer.”
“Ah. You must be Crue.” I held my hand out. “I’m Brody.” Landry had told me about his and Avory’s secret relationship. It was kind of odd how many of these kids were fucking each other.
“Nice to meet you, man.” Crue looked over at Landry. “Which one is Talon? My dad won’t shut up about him.”
Halen pointed to T who was talking to Dylan near some kind of water feature. “That’s him, standing with Aunt Dilly.”
Crue turned toward the house when a young pretty chick with long straight hair walked out onto the porch. She was wearing short cut-offs and a tank top. I watched Crue and he watched her. That must be Avory. “I need another fucking drink.”
I handed him mine.
“Thanks, man.” He drained it, then passed my cup back to me and headed in the direction Avory had gone.
Landry wrapped her arm around mine and then leaned her head against me. “You should be sitting down, baby cakes.”
“Landry.” She picked her head up at the sound of Talon’s voice, both of us turning to the other end of the yard where he was standing. “Why don’t you come sit down for a bit?” His eyes darted from us to Luke. I clenched my teeth to keep from protesting when she let go of my arm.
I really didn’t know how much more of this I could take.