Page 66 of When the Walls Come Down
Mostly because it was what I wanted too.
And maybe, for just a few precious fucking hours, we could be us outside of our apartments, our two barstools, and that scary-ass balcony. Because, at that point, it was what I needed.
“I know. I guess I just hope they like me.” She glanced over at me driving. “Do you know how good you look in those sunglasses, all cool-like, driving with one hand?”
I flexed my bicep, and she beamed and then relaxed into the leather seat.
If she was going to take the long, friendly way around a compliment, then I could do the same. “Do you know how good you look in that little dress? You’re really testing the limits of my friendliness with it, Peach.”
She laughed and it was music to my ears.
“I’m not joking. Outfits like that could very well ruin our friendship.”
Shrugging, she teased back, “Then maybe it was totally worth the overnight shipping.”
The rest of the drive was spent in comfortable silence, and then we pulled up at the zoo. Or, rather, my sister’s house.
“Don’t worry about remembering everyone’s names. It’s gonna be a lot.”
“You always underestimate me, Mr. Warren.” She held her arms open for some of the gifts I was pulling out of the truck. “Don’t forget that I come from a gigantic family. I can handle myself in a crowd.”
I’d have liked to handle her in a crowd. Or in the back seat of my truck. In my bed. Fuck, the yard wasn’t looking bad at the moment.
It was going to be a long, long day of self-control. I prayed I could handle my damn myself.
She followed as I took the sidewalk around back, knowing how these shindigs were usually set up. Then, as we rounded the house, Maggie said, “Whoa.”
I knew what she meant. The first time I’d been there, I’d thought the same thing, but after a few years of my sister’s love and attention, their back patio, yard, and garden looked even more like a postcard.
She paused, taking it all in, gorgeous as the breeze blew her curls and the sun lit her pretty face.
“Come on. They’re all back this way,” I said, but it was completely obvious because of the raucous laughter and shouting we could already hear.
“Uncle Shane!” Wake screeched, missing her front teeth. “Uncle Reggie and Aunt Nora are here too. They brought baby Mila! And Grammy and Pop drove from Seattle.”
I’d just talked to that asshole Reggie last week, and he hadn’t mentioned they were making the trip back. Nevertheless, any chance I got to be with my whole family all at once wasn’t something I was going to complain about.
Maggie’s jaw dropped beside me. We both knew Blake would be here, but other than that, I’d assumed it was just going to be Casey’s family. I guessed Maggie was meeting the entire Warren side too.
I passed off a few of the presents to Wake. “Go put these with the others.” Then I focused my attention on Maggie. I didn’t want her to think I’d ambushed her.
Her face twisted, she bared her teeth, and whispered, “Your mother is here?”
“I didn’t know they were coming. I guess it was a surprise since Reg and Nora came back with the baby.” I ran my hand down her arm to ease her sudden freak-out. “It’ll be fine, Peach. I swear.”
“But we’re just friends.”
“Shut up. Someone might hear you admit it.” Conspiratorially, I whispered back, “Besides, my mom and dad started as friends too. It’s a dark family secret. Don’t let that out.”
“Yeah, but they got married,” she argued, still trying to keep her voice down.
I wanted to kiss her sassy face so fucking badly, and I had the perfect opportunity. Her hands were full after all. She couldn’t stop me, and my gut instinct told me she wouldn’t anyway.
“There’s my big, dumb brother,” Blake called and then peered around me. “And Maggie?” My sister gave her a welcoming smile.
I knew Casey had a big mouth and had told her everything, but I had nothing to hide.
Not here.
Not today.
“Blake, this is my friend Maggie. The one who just started at the company you and your husband are conspiring to fire me from.”
My sister flipped me off and then walked over to Maggie, relieving her of the rest of the boxes. “Holy cow, did you guys buy out the toy store?”
“You can blame your new employee for all those.”
Maggie chuckled nervously. “Yeah, I might have gone a little overboard. I have a lot of nieces and nephews back home. Guess I’m sort of homesick and went kinda on a teeny-tiny shopping spree.”
“Well, thank you. We’re happy to have you. By the time you leave all this chaos today, you’ll probably be thankful for your quiet apartment later. And don’t be surprised if after seeing all of these Roe, our youngest, invites you to her birthday party in a few months.” Blake shrugged. “Irish twins. I hope you brought your appetite too. I cooked as much as you shopped.”
