Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,105

shook his head. “Not a thing.”

“Good. We would’ve been here half an hour ago, but we thought Maddie might have been in labor.”

Maddie grimaced. “Turned out it was just gas. Gray’s face was a picture when I let out the hugest burp.”

“It was pretty bad.” Gray was biting down a smile.

“Are you okay now?” Becca asked, looking worried.

“I’m fine. I’ve got weeks to go.” Maddie’s hand slid over her bump, a smile pulling at her lips. “You should have seen Gray panic though. It’s like he’s the one who’ll be doing all the pushing.”

“That wasn’t panic. I just like being ready.” Gray tipped his head to the side, looking at her through narrowed eyes. God, he was good looking. He and Tanner and all their brothers.

The Heartbreak Brothers. Van bit down a smile at the description.

“Anyway, enough of our problems,” Gray said, turning his gaze to Tanner. “If only somebody around here would take the limelight off me.”

Becca sniggered. It took Van a moment to realize that every one of them was staring at Tanner. She frowned, wondering what was going on.

“Get off my ass.” Tanner shook his head, and Gray chuckled.

“I’ve heard that one before.”

“I’ve always known you Hartsons were crazy.” Van rolled her eyes. “But now you’re reaching another level. What on earth are you all talking about?”

“Don’t include me in the Hartsons,” Maddie said. “I’m still a Clark.”

“You’re carrying a Hartson, baby,” Gray pointed out, looking pleased with himself as he caressed Maddie’s bump. “That makes you one of us.”

Tanner shook his head at them all, then took Van’s hand between his. “Come with me,” he murmured.

“Gladly.” She grinned at his family. “You’re all crazy.”

“That’s why you love us,” Becca told her, grinning.

Stupid thing, but it was true. Since Van had moved in with Tanner a few months ago – officially, that was, since she’d spent most nights with him since they reconciled – it had felt like she was finally part of something. They loved her the way she loved them, and they included her, Zoe, and even Kim in their daily lives. Dinners on Sundays after church, cookouts at Maddie and Gray’s at least every other weekend, and of course they all came to the drive-in whenever there was a new movie showing.

Tanner guided her to the center of the grassy field, and climbed up on an empty chair. “Hey, everybody!” he shouted out. The low murmur of conversation stopped, as heads turned to look at him. Van looked up at him, her brows furrowed together.

What the hell was he doing?

As soon as everyone’s attention was on him, Tanner grinned, and he took her breath away. She’d never get enough of him. Of that thick, crazy hair, or those eyes that seemed to see into her very soul.

Or his lips. God, his lips. She swallowed hard remembering exactly what they did to her last night.

His eyes caught hers. “I want to tell you a little story,” he said, his voice projecting over the field. “About a small girl who smelled of strawberries and looked like the sun. And the little boy who ran into her and almost flattened her to the ground.” He winked at Van. “Not knowing that in reality, he was the one who’d been bowled over.”

She shook her head. This was so very Tanner. The crowd gathered around them, craned forward to listen.

“And when that kid looked up at the angel he’d almost knocked over, he knew his life was never going to be the same. It was going to be better. Always. Because she was in it.”

“Aww,” somebody whispered. “Isn’t he the sweetest?”

“That girl and boy grew up,” he continued. “And they made some stupid mistakes.” He raised an eyebrow at Van. “Especially the boy, who turned out to be an idiot. Because instead of putting a ring on the girl’s finger, and thanking god for every day she spent with him, he decided to head off to New York and play with computers for ten years.”

“A real idiot,” Gray shouted out. Tanner rolled his eyes at his brother.

“But then they met again. And the boy realized what a damn huge mistake he’d made. Because this girl was everything he’d wanted. She was beautiful, clever, funny, and for some crazy reason, she decided to give him a second chance.” He grinned at Van, and she blew him a kiss back. “And this time that boy – me – isn’t going to mess it up. He’s going to beg her to be