Can't Fight It - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,26

it, but it smells damn good.

“Yes. Chase and I loved drinking these when we were kids. I didn’t even know they made it anymore. Want one?” I ask her, grabbing one for myself.

“Yes, please.”

I reach in and grab another before shutting the door. “After you,” I say, nodding toward the door. Everyone is standing around the island, filling their plates with Mom’s pot roast. The conversation is flowing, and it’s taking a lot of effort to keep my cool when it comes to Hollis.

“What? You didn’t get us drinks?” Chase asks.

“You’re a big boy. Besides, Mom told me to show Hollis, not to wait on you.”

“I tell you. It doesn’t matter how old they get, they still bicker like ten-year olds.” Mom smiles fondly, shaking her head.

“He started it.” Chase points to me and sticks out his tongue, making us all laugh.

“Is this what I have to look forward to?” Gabby asks.

“If you have more than one, yes,” Mom answers.

“Let’s see how we do with this one.” Gabby rubs her small baby bump, wearing a smile.

“So, Hollis, tell us about you. What do you do?” Dad asks her.

“Here we go,” I mutter. “You don’t have to answer.”

“I don’t mind. I’m in graphic design. I do websites and company branding mostly. I work independently since it’s all electronic.”

“You kids and these computers, I tell you. I can’t keep up.”

“Mom, you sound like you’re eighty,” Chase jokes.

“I can do what needs to be done, but that design stuff, I don’t know how you do it.”

“You’re not supposed to, dear. We’ll leave all that high-tech stuff to the offspring. We just need to worry about spoiling those grandbabies of ours,” Dad says.

The night couldn’t be better. Hollis fits right in as if she’s been a member of my family for a lifetime. I admit as I sit here, listening to her and Gabby talk to Mom about Gabby’s baby shower, I wonder what it would be like if she were mine. What if she was more than just a tenant or a friend? I can see us here for Mom’s monthly dinners and at home together with Milo. I can see it all, and I confess, it’s enticing.

“Thank you for tonight,” Hollis says when we are in my truck and heading home. “Your family is great.”

I glance over and catch her watching me. The cab of the truck is dark, but from the glow of the dash, I can see her smile. I can’t seem to keep my own from pulling at my lips just because she’s happy. “I told you that you had nothing to worry about.”

“You were right.”

“Wait, can you write that down for me? I might need it for future reference.”

“Oh, hush.” She pushes on my arm, and we both laugh. “Truly, you have a great family. You’re lucky to have them.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more. When you’re ready to talk about yours, I’m all ears.”

“Thank you, but there’s not really much to tell.” Her reply is soft, and from my glance to the passenger seat, I know her smile has faded. Luckily, we’re at home. So I do the mature thing and pretend like I never brought it up.

“I need to get him in bed. Stick around?” I ask. “I have some beer in the fridge. I can tell you about his mom.”

“Colton, you don’t have to do that. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“I know I don’t have to. I want to. I think you’re right. It will do me some good to talk about it with someone who’s not family.” I also hope that by opening up to her, not only does she get to know me better, but maybe, just maybe, she’ll feel comfortable enough to open up to me. When she’s ready.

I grab Milo, and she takes the diaper bag. I can’t help but think that this is how life would be if I had done things in the right order. Or even had a baby momma who wanted to be a momma. I don’t hold that against Laura. In fact, I’m glad she did what she did. She got Milo to family. I don’t agree with her just leaving him on the doorstep and then driving off. How did she know Chase—or, more specifically, I—would take care of him? That part still bothers me, but the fact that she gave him up? Well, I commend her for that. If she knew without a doubt that motherhood was not for her, I think what she did