Page 56 of Kiss Me Forever

“Because you’re distracting.”

“You just think I’m pretty.”

Bella burst out into laughter, the sound like literal bells, and I just sat there, watching my kid be big.

How the hell is this my life?

“Okay, hand me the directions, Bella, let’s get these shelves up.”

“And they’re really for me?” she asked, the hesitancy in her tone killing me.

“Of course. You keep getting books, and I want to make sure they have a place that isn’t the floor. You have to take care of them.”

“Grandma and Grandpa only let me use the shelves in the library. I couldn’t have anything in my room.”

I held back a scowl and told myself I didn’t need to complain about those two. They would still be in her life, and there was no changing that. And though I hated their attitude, there’s nothing I could do about it in that moment. “Well, we can’t fit every bookshelf that we might want in your room, but we do have my office, and the loft upstairs. They can hold a few bookshelves.”

“So we can buy more books?” she asked, her smile bright.

“That’s it, kid. Use that smile and you can get anything that you want,” Gage said.

I glared at my friend. “Really?”

“Hey, I’m the fun uncle. I’m supposed to be the one who annoys you. And to make sure that my girl gets everything that she wants.”

“You know, Uncle Aiden said that he was my fun uncle.”

“Yes, by blood. I’m the fun uncle you choose.”

“But then there’s Uncle Dash, and Uncle Lexington, and Uncle Crew, and Uncle Connor, and Uncle Colin.” She continued to name more Montgomerys as Gage laughed, and I just shook my head.

Somehow this kid of mine had gained a whole extra family when we hadn’t been looking, and I would forever be grateful for the Foxes and the Montgomerys in my life.

“What about Uncle Patrick?” I asked, ribbing Gage.

“He’s nice too. But all he does is suck face with Riley.” She rolled her eyes, and I stiffened.

“Really?”

“Not really. I mean sometimes.” Bella shrugged, playing with a screw. “Riley’s really nice. I love her. She is so organized, and makes the art classes fun. But her boyfriend always shows up and tries to distract her. She doesn’t get distracted easily though.”

“It seems that my brother is still the peach that he always was.” Gage rolled his eyes, and Bella widened hers.

“He’s your brother. Oh.”

“What, didn’t think an old man like me could have a little brother like that?” Gage asked.

“No, you’re just so pretty.”

I was grateful that I had already swallowed the sip of water I had just taken, because I burst out laughing, tears threatening as Gage scowled at me.

“Thanks for that,” Gage said with a sigh. “I am pretty.”

“Pretty old,” I muttered.

“Hey, just because I have more silver on my temples than you doesn’t make me any older. In fact, you’re older than me.”

“Really? That’s old,” Bella said, and I didn’t know who was more offended in that moment, but when the doorbell rang, we didn’t have much time to care.