Inked Obsession (Montgomery Ink Fort Collins #2) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,64

cross-eyed.

“When did my life become a soap opera?” I asked, frowning.

“Probably around the time you were born with six strapping brothers and became the wee baby Wilder,” Paige said, grinning.

I laughed. “You’re the wee baby Montgomery. I bet your life is just as melodramatic.”

“I don’t know. I have a sweet boyfriend, one I love very much. And I’m happy.”

There was something in her tone that told me that maybe that wasn’t truly the case. After all, Paige wanted marriage. It had been over a year, and it still hadn’t happened. But I wasn’t going to mention it. I wasn’t even going to think about it. Because it wasn’t my place. Today, we were going to pretend that everything was fine—even though it wasn’t.

Today, I would have dinner with the Montgomerys and Beckett, and try to figure out what the hell I was doing. Because things were moving quickly, more so than I ever imagined.

Tonight, I needed to sit near Beckett and pretend that I hadn’t had his lips on mine, his hands everywhere.

And not wonder when we would do it again.

Chapter 18

Beckett

“I know you’re looking at the door and waiting for someone to arrive, but I have a feeling it has nothing to do with your sisters.”

I looked over at Lee and snorted. “Please stop trying to read my thoughts.”

“They’re written all over your face, buddy. It’s pretty easy to read those thoughts of yours.”

“Well, let’s just hope Mom and Dad don’t. They already growl at me enough.”

Lee leaned forward. “They were worried about you.”

“They don’t need to be. I’m fine.”

Lee studied my face and frowned. “You know, that’s the first time I think you’re telling the truth when you’re saying you’re fine.”

“I don’t know if it was more about what happened, or the fact that I was keeping it a secret. I need to talk to someone. Because I still think about it when I close my eyes, even though I try not to. But going over it and talking through it seems to have helped.”

“Maybe.”

“Perhaps Eliza is good for you,” he muttered, and I narrowed my eyes at my friend.

“Stop.”

He shook his head. “I’ll stop once you quit looking at the door, waiting for her to come through.”

“She’ll be here.”

He grinned. “Because you two talked about it?”

“Lee,” I grumbled.

“Aw, he usually only uses that tone of voice with me,” Archer said as he came to my side.

I narrowed my eyes at my little brother. “Well, you force me to use it so often.”

“But he’s getting better at it,” Marc said as he wrapped his arm around Archer’s waist. Archer rolled his eyes and leaned into his boyfriend’s side.

“Hey, I’m not that bad.”

I just blinked slowly at Archer as Marc looked down at him.

“Fine. I am a little annoying. But it could be worse.”

“Always,” I said, and Archer scrunched his nose.

“You’re so mean to me. Beat him up, Marc. Tell him to stop being mean to me.”

“Maybe later. I need to make a good impression on your parents.”

Archer sighed. “You already have. They love you.”

Marc shook his head. “Eh, maybe not so much, but they do tolerate me.”

Archer started speaking again as if finishing a conversation the two had already had before. I looked at Lee, and he shrugged. Apparently, he didn’t know what was going on either.

It wasn’t my problem. If Archer needed me, he’d let me know. We all liked Marc. He treated Archer well and seemed to love my little brother. I figured that was all that mattered.

But maybe there was something I didn’t see. I didn’t know the man all that well yet.

But I’d have to get to know him. Now that I’d gotten my head out of my ass and was actually talking to someone about what I was thinking, I could focus on my brother and his issues. Colton was here, too, having arrived even before Paige. That reminded me, I should probably worry about that relationship, as well. Jacob had arrived without Annabelle, and I knew that relationship was going well, but I was still the big brother, and I could be overprotective if I needed to. Just to make sure everybody kept on their toes.

“You’ve got that look,” Benjamin said from my side as he came up to Lee and me.

“What look?”

“The one where you’re thinking about being all growly to our family about their relationships. You keep glaring at the men who dare to be with our baby siblings.”

“Well, if you’d brought a girlfriend or boyfriend here, I might feel