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Miles looks from me to Sam. “Because of Willa’s party?”
He nods. “I was at Grandpa’s last week, and Dad turned up while I was there. He told us how you called him out for how he talked to Georgia.”
Miles squeezes my hand tighter. “I did.”
Ooh, I do love me some defiant Miles. Super rare item, but worth a small fortune.
My brother grins again. “Well done. Dad actually thought we’d take his side in it. I think it shocked him when Grandpa said you were completely in the right.”
I wish I could have heard that, to be honest. Grandpa’s the best.
“Hopefully he’ll start to see it, too,” Miles says.
I don’t need Dad to see it anymore. Having Grandpa, Sam, and Miles in my corner is more than enough.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath. Dad’s not in the business of accepting when he’s wrong.” Sam finishes loading his plate. “But hey, Willa loves that stuffed axolotl you gave her, and Finn never shuts up about how great you are at board games. So you’ve got all of the important Donnellys covered.”
He winks at me and leaves us to join Harper.
June’s little nephews start running around, yelling at everyone that it’s dark enough to start the movie. Miles and I grab some food and select our blankets. The camp chairs in the very back would probably be more comfortable, but they don’t offer the same snuggle opportunities that being together on a blanket does.
We sit side by side, and I pull a quilt over our legs while we wait for Ty to start up the movie projector.
Miles is quiet. Not unusual for him, but it leaves my stomach unsettled anyway. I did bring him here, knowing full well he’d be accosted by a couple of fans and harassed by my well-meaning brother at a minimum. Then there’s the “welcome to the family” of it all.
“Was this a lot?” I whisper. “Did my family and friends make you question the wisdom of joining me at events like this?”
My attempt at a casual laugh comes out too high-pitched.Tell me you’re not joking without telling me you’re not joking.
Miles turns to face me. This close, we’re practically within kissing distance. Which I hope is still on the table.
He blinks, like he needs a second to process my question. “I was watching the little kids.”
He nods toward the barn, where June’s nephews are doing some coordinated move that must be the latest elementary school dance craze. Right in front of them, hogging the spotlight, their little sister shimmies her butt.
She’s actually got some decent moves for a three-year-old.
“Oh. They’re the opening act.”
“They belong to…” he prompts.
“June’s brother.” I point off to the side where Wade and Annie are already cuddled up on a blanket.
“Her other brother is over there.” I gesture toward Jed, who’s fussing over his wife and making sure she’s comfortable in her camp chair. The way he looks at her, you’d never guess the guy was once a sworn commitment-phobe. “You know Callie from romance book group.”
“Right. He’s the one from Evans Orchards. Best peaches in town. Mom used to buy from their family for her bakery.”
“Oops—forehead kiss. Time to look away before he moves on to other kiss locations.” I’ve been around them enough to know it’s inevitable.
Miles moves his arm around my back, resting his hand on my hip. “I never had this kind of big family closeness. I’ve got two older cousins, but they’ve been in Houston since college, and don’t visit a lot.”
“I never had it either. I’m lucky all of these siblings and cousins adopted me into their group.”
Miles kisses my temple. “They’re lucky to have you be a part of it.”
I think my heart does a full cartwheel.
The movie finally starts, and Miles points out the very brief moment Jack Skellington appears as a scarecrow.
