Page 71 of Hate To Want You
Another voice interrupts our moment, this one too cute to ignore.
“Unca Maxy, I’m hungwy.”
I feel Max’s silent laughter as he turns us both around. “Okay, Vi. We’re coming.”
As soon as we get in the door, we see Sawyer standing in the living room, drinking a bottle of beer, wearing a satisfied smirk.
“Low blow sending a kid to do your dirty work,” Max remarks, shoving his brother lightly with his shoulder.
“Hi, honey,” Claire Donnelly comes bustling out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Max gives her a kiss and a hug before turning her loose on me.
The next thing I know, I’m being folded into a hug that is way stronger than I expected from such a small woman. But I guess raising five kids will do that.
“Lovely to see you again, Heidi. I’m so happy you came for dinner.” She backs up slightly, her hands resting on my shoulders. “Is it safe to assume you’ll be at more family dinners in the future?”
Max wraps his arm around my shoulders. “She’ll be at all of them if I have anything to say about it. But can you not scare her away with the interrogation about our future just yet? Our family is a lot to take in, even without you dreaming about grandchildren.”
Claire just gives us an impressive eye roll. “I didn’t mention grandchildren,youdid. And you make it sound like we’re a firing squad.”
“I mean, sometimes it feels that way,” Hunter comments as he and Kat come into the kitchen at that very moment. Kat beelines to me, and I’m pulled into yet another hug. This family doesn’t shy away from affection.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Ignore Hunter, he’s still scarred from when my brothers gave him shit about us dating. Be glad you avoidedthatfun. Although, wait, hang on.” Kat backs up and raises her voice, pitching it into the living room. “Hey, Sawyer. How come Max and Heidi didn’t have to put up with your crap when they got together?”
“Because you’re my little sister, and Max is my older brother.”
It’s comical how both Kat and Claire narrow their eyes in identical ways. But it’s Claire who speaks first.
“Sawyer Donnelly, get your behind in here right now and apologize for being a brat.”
He comes in, a sheepish smirk on his face. “Sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t apologize to me.” She points a finger at Kat and then at me. “These two ladies are who you’re in trouble with.”
“Not me.” I hold my hands up in defense. “I’m fine.”
Kat stands with her hands on her hips. “Run.”
Sawyer takes off out the back door, and Kat races after him. Hunter, Max, Claire, and I just watch them race around the yard. Eventually, Kat catches up to Sawyer. That woman is fast. She takes him down, and then all we hear are shouts of laughter.
“Is she tickling him?” I ask, confused about how a petite woman like Kat managed to topple her much larger brother.
“Yup. He’s extremely ticklish,” Max says affectionately. “Hunter, my man, you better get out there and give some backup. When Sawyer gets up, he’s gonna be out for revenge.”
Hunter heads outside just as more people file into the kitchen.
“What’s going on?” Leo asks.
“Sawyer was an idiot.”
“Kat has him pinned.”
“Yep.”
“Good for her.”
I watch the back and forth between siblings, cousins, and partners. And I can’t help but wonder why on earth I was nervous about tonight. This family is filled with nothing but love and affection for everyone.
Just the way I am for Max.
