Inked Persuasion (Montgomery Ink Fort Collins #1) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,83

It wasn’t my place.

“I think you should probably go get a drink and just forget it.”

“Fine,” Beckett said and made his way towards where Brenna was, probably to either apologize or ask what he did wrong.

“Your family is loud,” Eliza said, Lee at her side. My other best friend and Beckett’s best friend had joined us as well and were mostly staying out of the way. I didn’t blame them. We got loud when we were together, and it only got worse when Clay and the kids came. I loved the kids, though, and considering I knew for a fact that my father had egged them on for the game of tag, I didn’t mind the noise.

“Hey, I’m glad you’re okay,” Lee said before kissing the top of my head.

I could feel a glare on me, and I knew Jacob was watching, but I ignored it. There was no reason for him to be jealous. Lee was a longtime friend, and I knew he’d never had eyes for me.

“Anyway, I need to head home soon,” Eliza said quickly.

I looked up at her, frowning.

“Oh? We haven’t even eaten.”

“Marshall has a scheduled call soon, thankfully. I want to make sure I’m home for that.”

Lee frowned. “Do you need a ride?”

She shook her head and smiled. “No, I’m fine. I drove here. And I made sure I was a little farther down the block so no one blocked me in. But I’m glad you’re safe. Never do that again. You scared the life out of me.” Eliza kissed me on the cheek, and I hugged her tight, and then Lee wrapped his arms around us both and lifted us up.

“What was that for?” I called out.

“I just felt like it,” Lee said, gave us a wicked grin, and then went over to where the others were.

I shook my head, alone for a moment before Jacob came over and brushed my hair from my face before kissing me softly.

“I was about to beat up Beckett’s little friend,” he growled against my lips.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and sighed. “It’s just Lee. You don’t have to be jealous of him.”

“I can be jealous of anybody I want,” he said softly. “I love you,” he whispered.

My heart squeezed, and I let out a happy sigh.

“I love you, too.”

“There are a lot of people in this home that love you. A lot that are your family.”

“Like your parents, and you.” I paused. “Jonah’s here, too, you know. Don’t you feel it?”

I did my best to mention him often, to never forget, and I knew Jacob was doing the same. And when his eyes filled with the barest hint of sadness before he smiled, I knew I’d said the right thing.

“It’s precisely what I was thinking. He’s here, probably telling jokes, and wondering why it took us so long.”

“I had to become me before I could find you.”

“That’s a very good answer,” he whispered and kissed me again.

“Get a room!” Archer called.

“Or not,” Dad corrected. “Let’s sit down and act like civilized people and stop making out in corners. Both of my young ladies,” Dad scolded, and Paige laughed until I pulled away, sliding my fingers along Jacob’s.

“Well, you’re about to be inundated by the full Montgomery experience. Are you ready for this?”

He winced. “I don’t know if I’m ready for the Montgomerys, but I’ve always been ready for you. It just took me a little while to realize it.”

I turned under my fiancé’s arm and made my way to my family, connections and all. I knew that we might not be fully steady, we might have a little more broken bits than others, but we were finding our way.

One promise at a time.

Broken

Eliza

I set my phone and purse down on the table as I walked in and rolled my shoulders back. It was a fun party, seeing Annabelle so happy meant the world to me, but it was still hard to see others so ecstatic about their futures when mine wasn’t home yet.

What an odd thing to say, considering it felt like I had spent more of my adult life alone than with my husband. But Marshall would be home soon. Within the next sixteen days.

I could not wait to see him.

It had been a long tour this time. Longer than all the others. And I hoped it would finally be the last. Between Marshall being on tour, and all four of my brothers being strewn across the world, I was tired of being alone.