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He shook his head, his eyes going soft, then turned back to the conversation he was having with his brothers.
Heading into the kitchen at Germaine’s call, I took a seat at the table where I was directed and wound up sitting between Quaid and Quinn.
I had to squeeze my arms to my body to keep from knocking the Carter on either side of me.
“Don’t you just hate it?” Ande said upon noticing my predicament—i.e., not being able to widen my arms a scant inch from my body without getting in either brother’s way.
“You’re used to this?” I teased.
“I’m used to them being assholes and not thinking about anyone but themselves, yes,” she confirmed. “Plus, you got extra shafted because Quaid’s right-handed and Quinn is left-handed.”
I looked at the two brothers, then said, “Is this the punishment spot for taking all of the snack cakes?”
The table laughed, and then we started eating.
The men at my side did their best to keep their arms down, but the table wasn’t meant for twelve, which was what it was currently seating.
Ten had to be the max.
“We used to have a bigger table,” Garnett said softly. “Nine kids. Two adults. That meant we needed seating for eleven. But then when Addison passed away, I couldn’t stand looking at the spot that should be hers. So, I got the smaller table. And then everyone started showing up with extra people.”
I smiled at her. “It’s okay. I’ll deal with the punishment spot if it means I got all those snack cakes.”
I winked at her, causing her to smile.
The table took on a somber moment as everyone thought about a sister they no longer had.
I reached under the table and placed my hand on Quaid’s thigh.
He caught my hand up in his and ate with his left hand for a few long minutes before conversation picked back up.
At the end of the night, after the meal was finished, and we were heading out, I stopped at the edge of the car and smiled when I saw the oatmeal cream pie on the passenger door handle.
I tucked it into my arm with the rest of what I’d gathered, and waited while Quaid got the door for me like he always did.
It was only as we were driving home that he said, “Thank you.”
I looked over at him with my eyes heavy and said, “What for?”
“For taking care of my family.”
That night, I slept in Quaid’s arms all night long.
Though, I couldn’t be sure if it was because he was forced to keep me there or I’d sleepwalk, or because he needed me there.
Either way worked for me.
Be the bigger person? First of all, asshole, I’m 5’5”.
—Text from Ellodie to Quaid
ELLODIE
The shrill blaring of a phone jolted me out of sleep so fast that I knew, without a doubt, I wouldn’t be going back to sleep. Not with my heart pounding a million miles a minute, and my ears ringing from the intensity of his ringtone.
“Shit,” Quaid said as he all but rolled over me to answer his phone. “Hello?”
I groaned when his weight settled on top of me, my eyes peeling open despite their desire to stay closed.
