Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,177

fine because his dick will already be a hood ornament if he does.”

She laughs, and I wrap my arms around my cousin’s body.

“So, are you going to keep stuff from me from now on?” she asks. “Because I’m going crazy with this wedding. Everyone is all over me in there. I have to thank you for taking the pressure off Beck and I for a while.”

“No one can take the shine off the golden couple,” I say like the sullen child I’m acting like.

She breaks away from me and tilts her head. “When you and Dean get married again, you’ll be a golden couple, too.”

What is it with everyone shifting gears so fast?

“Marriage is way down the line,” I say. “If ever.”

“I don’t know, you and Dean always do things fast.”

“Sky—”

She holds her hands up, walking backward toward the door. “I’m not judging. I’m just saying.”

I nod. She’s right. We move fast in everything we’ve ever done. Whether it was five years ago or present. Taking my time around Dean always seems like a waste.

Skylar and I return inside through the back door of the restaurant, my eyes immediately finding Dean at a table with Vin, Mikey, and Beckett. He’s telling a story that has all of them laughing.

“Looks like he’s already in with the guys again,” Skylar says.

“My husband was practically giddy when you walked in.” Zoe comes up next to us with a sleepy Caiden in her arms.

I run my hand over his dark hair. “So peaceful and sweet.”

“When he’s sleeping.” Zoe stares down at her son with love bursting from her eyes.

My gaze scatters across the room, and then double take to my mom’s who’s currently glaring at Dean and my dad who has refused to look at me all evening. It’s his usual M.O. Let my mom handle all the dirty work.

I elbow Skylar. “That’ll never be fixed.”

Sky and Zoe follow my line of vision. Sky’s arm sliding through mine. “She’ll come around eventually. Between my mom and everyone else, she’ll get there.”

My mom won’t make a scene here and maybe that’s why I slid Dean into this family gathering. That way he’s here and she won’t attack him. What would people say if she took me by the arm and escorted me out of the room, or worse was seen yelling at Dean outside the restroom? I’m not sure if her disdain comes from being protective or spiteful.

“Come on, let’s go join them.” Zoe walks toward the table, just as her daughter Molly meets us on the dance floor. She’s doing the floss.

“Way to go girl.” I hold my hand up in the air. She smacks it and then her arms start moving as fast as Jade’s did at my house.

Aunt Liz and a few of my other aunts are watching her and laughing. She’s bragging about her only granddaughter and how smart she is.

Two arms wrap around me, and a chin rests on my shoulder. “What are you thinking about?” Dean asks.

My hands cover his. “Nothing really.”

“I’m assuming since Sky just punched my shoulder but smiled at the same time that we’re good?”

I giggle. “Yeah, another Team Dean inductee, well…”

“Your mom will come around, Chels. Just give her time,” he whispers, kissing my cheek. “Come and have fun with your cousins.”

He leads me back to the table and I slide into the seat next to him.

Mikey’s smile is bigger than when he’s about to get laid. Maybe he knew something I never did.

My mom’s eyes flicker to us every now and then, but she never says a word and neither does my dad.

“Mother fucker!” I walk down the hall, thankful that there’s no clients or potential donors in the office. “I fucking hate Mondays.”

“First off, language. Second of all, I have a soft spot for Mondays.” Victoria types away on her computer.

I roll my eyes. “Still in that love bubble I see.”

She points a newly manicured nail my way. “You are too, unless something just went horribly wrong this weekend.” She stops typing, spinning her chair my way. “Did it?”

“Well, I can’t find the fucking string to my IUD, so now I gotta make a doctor’s appointment. I don’t even know if it came out or it’s floating around somewhere in my body right now.” I cringe.

Victoria’s face pales.

I point to her, circling my finger around her face. “You take those thoughts and spin them back your way. I’m not pregnant.”

“Oh good.” She lets out a breath and brings her hand to her chest.