“Like my table.”
I folded her into a hug and kissed the side of her head. “You know what, Mom? I’ll take you shopping for a new table.”
“Deal.” She flicked the dishtowel at me. “Now let me get finished, and no more unplanned guests, you menace.”
I returned to the couch and picked up my conversation with Kairo. One by one, my brothers all arrived, and the house became noisy and messy with bodies, until I almost couldn’t hear myself speak. But I looked around at all of them. This was how we were meant to be. Only one person was missing.
The doorbell rang, and I stood to answer it, but Mom bustled by—on a mission to get there first, it seemed.
She threw the door open and gasped. “Oh my God! Get in here, you!” She grabbed Nico and pulled him through the doorway then wrapped him in a huge hug. “How long has it been?” She pulled back and gave him a gentle shake. “Too long! It’s been too long!” Then she hugged him again, and I could barely contain my laughter at her enthusiasm. “Ugh! It’s just great to see you! You look fantastic.” She turned and narrowed her eyes at Saint. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d invited Nico?”
Saint smirked a little and shrugged. Then he shook his head. “I had no idea, Mom. He’s not my guest.”
Mom didn’t let go of Nico’s upper arm as she turned around and glanced at all of us.
I walked forward, right up to Nico. “Uh, hi. Welcome to the madhouse, I guess,” I said, before pressing a quick, gentle kiss to his lips.
The room echoed with dramatic gasps and every head turned from me to watch Saint.
“Oh my God!” he yelled. “What are you all looking at me for? The rule wasn’t that big of a deal!” He threw his arms in the air in mock frustration. “Stupid brothers.” He glared at Nico. “Irritant friends.”
Nico chuckled, the sound relaxed and casual and distinctly sexy to my ears.
“You made a pretty big deal about that rule, Saint,” Grady interjected. “I mean, we all knew how you felt about the dating thing.”
“Yeah, Saint. Even I know not to break your rule, and I’m straight.”
I laughed at Mason as his wife gave him a playful shove on his shoulder.
“It was more of a…” Saint glanced about. “It was a really rigid guideline, okay?” He half laughed as his cheeks reddened. “What’s that saying about rules being for guidance of the wise and the slavish obedience of the foolish?” He smirked again. “What does that make all of you, huh?”
Mom patted his arm. “Come and help me set out the plates for dinner and stop stirring trouble with your brothers.” Then she looked at Nico again. “It’s great to have you here. It really is.” She smiled and touched my shoulder as she passed. “Good choice,” she whispered.
As we all sat at the table, I gazed around, suddenly realizing how my married brothers must feel every week—like they were complete with both their partners and their family. I hadn’t felt that way before, and it took me by surprise.
No one needed to adjust to Nico being back in our home—it was as if he’d never been away. Only this time, he didn’t sit next to Saint.
He sat next to me.
Nico was the perfect guest. He laughed at all my jokes, held my hand under the table, and was the first to stand to help my Mom clear the plates and load everything into the dishwasher. Perfect son-in-law material. My chest constricted as I thought of it.
As I walked Nico to the door, Mom stepped in front of us and threw her arms around Nico again.
“I’m so happy to see you again and that you two have found your way to each other—despite Saint.” She laughed as she drew away and held Nico at arm’s length. “You’ve always been part of this family, and if you disappear for years again, you’d better believe I’ll hunt you down.” She wagged a chiding finger at him, and he smiled easily before looking at me with tenderness in his gaze.
“I’m not going anywhere, Vanessa,” he said firmly, but he didn’t look away from me as he spoke, and hope bloomed in my chest that he meant those words.
22
Nico
I slid into the seat opposite Braxton and set my soda on the table. The deli was always busy, but luckily, he’d managed to grab a table for two in the corner. I