Page 266 of By His Vow
He’s not a bad man, the opposite actually. But I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the fact that Mom betrayed Dad with him. That he and his daughters have lived the family life we should have had.
“Afternoon,” I greet, looking him in the eyes before glancing at my brothers.
“Here,” Neil says, offering up a beer before continuing his conversation with Kieran. He’s a massive Chicago Chiefs fan, and Kieran never hears the end of it.
“Hey,” Kian says, his eyes darting to the door as I drop into the chair beside him. “Tatum not with you?”
“She’s with Mom.”
“That was brave,” he teases.
“It’s fine,” I lie before taking a pull on my beer. “There isn’t anything she can say that will make any of this worse.”
He stares at me as if to ask, “Really?” but he doesn’t say a word.
As far as Mom knows, Tatum and I had a whirlwind romance followed by a shotgun wedding. Knowing her, she’s probably expecting some big pregnancy announcement in the coming weeks to help explain it. Thankfully, she’s going to be disappointed. Life is complicated enough right now.
“So, Kingston,” Neil asks, having finished his conversation with Kieran. “How’s it feel being a married man?”
“Yeah,” I say. “It’s great. Right, you know?” I add, aware that he’ll agree.
“How did Miles take it? I bet he didn’t see that coming.”
“He wasn’t the only one,” Kieran scoffs like an asshole.
“He…uh…made his feelings known.”
“KC had the bruises to prove it, too,” Kian adds.
Neil chuckles. “I remember the first guy my little sister dated,” he says getting a far-off look in his eyes as he thinks back. “He was a jerk.”
“Didn’t she marry her high school sweetheart?” Kian asks. Fucker literally remembers everything.
“Yep. Still think he’s a jerk,” Neil jokes. “So, I guess it’s your turn next then,” he says, looking pointedly at Kian.
“I don’t have time for that. Too much going on at work.”
“Isn’t stopping Kingston,” Kieran points out.
“And I’m happy for him. But that doesn’t mean we all want the same. What about you, little brother? Any of your jersey chasers wife material?”
Kieran scoffs. “You know damn well they’re not. I’m not marrying someone who’s scored more touchdowns than I have.”
I sit back and listen as the three of them banter back and forth. I love seeing my brothers happy, but it’s not enough to banish the unease of being here.
It’s not long until soft female voices fill the air, and only seconds later, the four of them all appear carrying plates full of food. But while Kian and Kieran comment on the food, my attention is stolen by the woman carrying the potatoes.
Her eyes are alight with happiness and there’s a full, beaming smile on her lips, which only grows when she finds me.
“You okay?” she mouths.
My heart seizes in my chest at the sight of her here, and the truth comes tumbling out before I can catch it. “I am now.”
67
TATUM
Spending the day with Kingston and his family was…a lot.