The Farm is lit up like it only is when everyone is home. It’s really not about the lights, it’s like there’s a glow, an excitement, when all of us are in the same place at once.

I park my truck next to Barrett’s SUV. Before I can climb out, I get a text.

Ellie: Have fun with your family tonight. I will just cuddle with my new fishing lures.

Me: You can come if you want. I’ll come get you right now. Just say the word.

Ellie: I’m good. Thanks. ;) Me and the lures will watch some trash television.

Me: Text me if you change your mind.

Ellie: I will. But I won’t.

Me: I’d rather be in the outdoors with you.

Ellie: Me too. The lures are smelly. Now go do your family stuff.

Me: Grr … Bye.

Ellie: Bye. <3

As I get out of the truck, I see Troy standing next Barrett’s SUV in a navy blue suit. My buddy from the military, now Barrett’s personal security guy, grins when he sees me.

“Long time no see!” He pulls me in for a quick hug. “How are you, Ford?”

“I’m good, man. How are you? How’s my brother treating you?”

“Things are good,” he says. “We’re all getting adjusted to the new routine of the Governor’s mansion.” His laugh permeates the warm evening air. “Can you believe I’m working in the Governor’s mansion?”

I shrug. “I don’t know why the hell not?”

“I owe you, Ford,” he says, all laughter gone from his voice. “Without you and your family, I don’t know what would’ve happened to me.”

“I told you things work out.”

“Yeah, but not like this. You took my life and turned it on a dime. I just … Every day I wake up and put on a suit and think, ‘What the fuck?’” he laughs. “It’s unreal.”

I head to the steps. “Just be thankful Graham didn’t find you before Barrett or this conversation would be much, much different.”

Troy laughs, his voice trailing behind me as I step inside the Farm. It almost feels like Christmas walking in and hearing everyone’s voices. We used to do this a lot. Now it’s harder to do with everyone striking out on their own, living in different places, having their own commitments.

“Hey, Ford!” My mother wipes her hands on a towel and greets me with a kiss on both cheeks. “How are you, handsome?”

“Good. Man, it’s loud in here,” I laugh, holding an arm out for Huxley. He wraps his arms around my side. “How are you, Hux?”

“I’m good,” he grins up at me. “Did you see Lincoln’s baby?”

Tugging his Arrows hat over his eyes, I laugh. “I did. He’s cute, huh?”

“Yeah.” Huxley takes off across the room, plopping in a giant beanbag my mom bought him and picks up an electronic of some sort.

Surveying the room as I head to the kitchen, I see everyone but Camilla.

“Hey!” Barrett greets me. “Shit, Ford. I think you get bigger every time I see you.”

“That’s what she said,” Lincoln cracks.

“And some things never change,” Alison laughs, joining us. She gives me a quick hug. “How are you?”

“Good. How about you? Getting the feel of Atlanta?”

Her eye shine as she blows out an exaggerated breath. “It’s a lot to take in. And now with him considering …” She looks at Barrett and makes a face. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“No, it’s okay,” he says, pulling her to his side with a smile. “Talks are getting more serious about the Presidential thing.”

“Are you going to do it?”

He looks at Alison. “We’ve been talking about it. It’s definitely not a question you can just answer, you know? Speaking of which, I’d like to talk to you about it later, if you don’t mind?”

“Sure.”

“Hey, son.” Dad’s hand rests on my shoulder. “Good to see you.”

“Hi, Dad.” I turn to see him cradling Ryan in his other arm. He’s cuddled against my father in a bright blue blanket looking as peaceful as can be. It’s a sight I’m not used to—my brusque father, the head of our family’s empire, holding a baby.

“What?” he asks.

“It’s just a little …”

“Weird seeing you with a baby,” Barrett finishes for me. “Lincoln’s baby at that.” He chuckles. “It’s still hard to imagine our baby brother with a baby of his own.”

“My junk works just fine,” Lincoln imparts, joining our little circle. “The two of you better get on it and prove your manhood.”

“I think I’ll leave this conversation,” Alison blushes, peeling herself away from Barrett.

“Why? You don’t want to have my baby?” Barrett teases her. “That’s not what you said—”

“Barrett! Please,” she sighs, her eyes wide, imploring him to hush. Her reaction makes us all laugh.

“Behave,” our father warns his eldest.

Lincoln reaches for Ryan.

“He’s perfectly fine, Linc,” Dad says.

“Yeah, but I want to hold him.”

Dad makes a face, but lets Ryan go. “One of you is going to have more kids just so I can hold one of them.”

They continue to banter back and forth, joking and teasing, but I excuse myself. Waving at Sienna and Danielle in the kitchen, I head to the back porch.

A light breeze twirls the ferns hanging around the porch, the swing creaks on its chain as it moves easily back and forth. Besides the chaos of the house at my back, it’s absolutely serene.

This is why this is my favorite place on the planet. A place where I can tune out the world, ignore the anarchy of whatever is going on in life, and just think.

My heart is heavy as I sit in the swing and try to separate all I’m feeling. Hearing my family talk about having babies, seeing my father hold Ryan, feeling all the love in the house is an amazing feeling. It’s like all the pieces are fitting together just like they should. All of them except mine.

Just a few weeks ago, I was content with being a bachelor. A booty call here and there was enough to keep me satisfied. Maybe I felt the fissure in my life, the crack that was unfulfilled, but I never knew how deep it ran until I saw Ellie again.

When we’re together, I’m hopeful things will work out between us. Even if she tries to push me away, it just feels so organic, so right, that I’m sure it will end the way it should.

But what if it doesn’t? What if she means it when she tells me she wants things to slow down?

It’s funny—all I can see as my life now are moments with her. What becomes of that vision if she chooses not to take part?

“You okay?” Graham steps onto the porch and leans against the rail. He looks out over the lawn.

“Yeah.”

“Good.” He turns to face me. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Well, I want to talk to you both about something.” Barrett comes around the corner and stands next to Graham.

“Go ahead,” Graham sighs. “Come marching in here and take over. This isn’t the fucking Governor’s mansion, you know. I’m in control here.”

“You wish,” Barrett laughs. “I was mentioning earlier to you, Ford, about maybe running for the Presidency.”

Graham takes a step back. “So this is a real consideration?”

Barrett shrugs. “Maybe. I’m not sure if I want to go that far or not, to be honest.”

“What’s Alison say?” I ask.

“She says she’ll support whatever I want to do,” he smiles. “But I don’t know. It’s asking so much of everyone … including you guys.”

“How does it affect us?” I ask.

“Well, you’ll be subjected to scrutiny everywhere you turn, for one. For two, I’d want you to be a part of whatever we do. Especially after Nolan’s betrayal, I trust no one.”

Graham scowls. “I get that. But you know Washington is the land of the least trustworthy people in the universe, right?”

“I do,” Barrett laughs. “I’m just asking you guys to think about it and let me know what you think.”

“Okay.” I look at Graham. “Your turn.”

“I got a call this afternoon that I needed to go down to the impound and pick up my car.”

“What?” Barrett asks, his brows raised to the sky. “What happened?”

“I obviously confirm my car is where it’s supposed to be and Mallory’s is too. So I make a call downtown and it’s Camilla’s car.”

Barrett and I exchange a look.

“Our little sister has been running around Davis Avenue. Or her car has, anyway.”

“What the fuck is she doing down there?” I ask. “There’s nothing but trouble on Davis.”

“Is she home?” Barrett asks. “She’s not here tonight.”

“She’s not here because she doesn’t want to see me,” Graham says. “She told Mom she was sick, but it’s all to avoid me.”

I scoot over in the swing to make room for Barrett. “Did she offer any reasonable explanation as to why she, or her car, was out there?”

“She essentially told me she’s a grown woman and I should mind my own business,” Graham smirks. “I pointed out that grown women don’t typically need to ask their brother for an allowance.”

“Bet that went over well,” Lincoln laughs, joining us outside. “Swink, Swink, Swink. She’s a good girl gone bad. I kind of like it.”

“I always thought it would be Sienna,” I note.

“You thought what would be me?” Sienna climbs the stairs from the side of the house, the ends of her hair now dyed a bright purple. “And don’t even say you thought I’d be the first to have a kid because that shit isn’t even funny.” We all laugh as she punches Lincoln in the arm.

“I was saying I thought you’d be the bad egg of the family.” I give her a smile. “But look at you, all Miss Goodie Two Shoes.”

“Want your ass kicked, Ford?”

“You think you can do it?”

“No, but I know someone that can,” she singsongs. “And her name rhymes with belly.”

Barrett’s jaw drops. “Ellie? What have I missed?” He looks at Lincoln. “You’ve managed to not tell me this? You tell me all kinds of stupid stuff and you miss this?”

“Well, I’m a little preoccupied these days,” he scoffs. “I have a baby, you know.”

“Let’s focus on the subject at hand,” I plead, looking at Graham. “Give us the plan because we all know you have one.”

“The address the car was found is a bar …”

Sienna sighs loudly to get our attention. “You guys, just leave her alone.”

“That’s hard to do,” Lincoln winces. “Considering y’all have decided to be little secret keepers.”

“Yeah. Just tell us what’s going on and we’ll drop it,” Graham offers.

“I can’t,” she pouts. “I’m sworn to twin secrecy.”

My brothers and I all look at each other, slow grins slipping across our faces.

“I hate that look,” Sienna says, her eyes going wide. “She’s fine, you guys. I know you’re worried but it’s fine. I promise.”

Barrett and I stand, Graham turning towards the house and Lincoln nodding. We all head to the back door.

“Where are you guys going?” Sienna calls after us.

We ignore her. Filing into the house, the girls and Dad look at us like we’re crazy.

“What’s going on?” Dad asks.

“We have something to do,” Barrett says. “Don’t worry. Troy will drive us.” He gives Alison a quick kiss and waves to Huxley. “I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”

“That’s fine,” she grins, Ryan nestled up against her.

“That’s a good look on you,” Barrett winks before moving towards the front door.

Lincoln clears his throat. “I better stay with Dani.”

“No,” Dani laughs. “You better go with your brothers.”

“But—”

“Ford,” she pleads. “Make him go.”

“Let’s go, lover boy,” I say, getting him in a headlock. “Say goodbye, Linc.”

He fights with me until we’re both on the ground. Arms and legs are flying as we maneuver to get the best position.

“Boys, don’t you break anything,” Mom warns. “I thought we were past this and got the good crystal back out!”

“I quit!” Lincoln shouts as I twist his arm behind him. “I quit. Fuck, Ford!” he laughs.

I roll over onto my back, out of breath. We lay next to each other laughing.

“You’re responsible for those two,” Dad tells Graham. “Get them back in one piece.”

G extends a hand to Linc and I and pulls us up.

“I thought we were going to do yoga tonight?” Mallory pouts, wrapping her arms around Graham.

“When I get home,” Graham promises.

“But …”

“Hey, Mal?” I call, following Lincoln to the door. “This is what you get for your Ellie bullshit.”

“Ford!” she whines.

“I agree with Mallory,” Sienna chimes, a little panic in her tone. “Daddy! Make them stay here.”

“They’re grown men,” Dad notes. “What do you want me to do?”

I look at Mallory and wink, which only irritates her more. “Come on, G! Night out with the boys!”