Protect Me(60)

I link my fingers through Lia’s fingers as she sits next to me on the chaise lounge. My mind wanders to the vow I, myself, made all those years ago. Never marry. No kids. I was always going to be the cool uncle, spoiling every single niece and nephew I got. When did my own plan blow up in my face like a ticking bomb?

Oh, that’s right. The day Lia knocked me on my ass with a pan to the skull.

I watch as Grant army crawls up to me. He’ll be one in just a couple of months and I can’t wait to give him the battery operated Mustang that I found online. His dad is going to hate it. I can’t wait.

I realize real quick that Grant isn’t climbing up on my lap like he usually does. No, Grant is pulling himself up on Lia. She reaches down and helps him up with a smile on her beautiful face. My nephew did the same thing repeatedly at the wedding reception last night. When did I become second fiddle?

I watch as Grant sits contently on Lia’s lap, watching as Jake and Erin dive into the pile of gifts. Bean is busy helping Jake open each present placed before him while Ryder continually grabs the discarded wrapping paper and sticks it in his mouth. Maddox digs more soggy paper out of his son’s mouth before pulling him back over to the bench he was sitting on with Avery. Travis and Josselyn are sitting under the big oak tree, stealing a moment together while Grant is distracted. Will sits over to the side, arms crossed over his chest, with a smile on his face as he watches Bean tear into another present. Mom and Dad are sitting on the two-person swing, their fingers linked contently together on Mom’s lap, while watching all of their children and grandchildren.

This is my family. We fight, we laugh, we cry. Together.

I lift Lia’s fingers up to my lips and place a gentle kiss on her soft skin. Grant gives me the stink eye and says, “No.”

Seriously?

I give him my best stern, bad uncle look which doesn’t seem to faze him at all. He pulls on Lia’s hand, prying her linked fingers from my own.

Huh. Well, Mr. Grant Michael Stevens used to be my favorite nephew. Apparently, the fact that we share a middle name means nothing to the toddler.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming this morning. Mom and Jane, thank you for the delicious breakfast. And thank you for all of your help with the presents, Bean,” Jake says with a big grin to his niece. “The gifts are great. I’m sure Erin is excited to get back to the house and get them put away.”

“More excited about watching you help wash and dry, big boy,” Erin says with a sassy smile.

“But, there’s a game on this afternoon, darlin’,” Jake says with a helpless look on his face.

Erin just smiles, and watching Jake realize that he’s lost the fight before it’s even started is the best thing I’ve seen in forever. His face falls and he drops down to his chair with a pout.

“And so it begins, son,” Dad says with a big smile from the swing.

“Actually, we have something else,” Jake says as he stands back up, pulling Erin up with him this time. “We were going to save this for when we get back next week from the honeymoon, but I think some of you have already figured it out.”

I tense up a little as I wait for the words to come from my oldest brother’s mouth. Jake, the man who was never settling down, is about to confirm what we suspected last night.

“Erin and I are having a baby,” he says through a big, cheesy grin. His lips seek out his wife’s as the family around me erupts into cheers.

I stand up and get in line, preparing to shake the hand of my closest brother and kiss the cheek of my new sister-in-law. Lia hangs back a little, trying to give the family the space to celebrate. I link my fingers through hers again and gently tug her towards my family.

“Congratulations, brother,” I tell Jake as I shake his hand, pulling him in to give him the standard one-armed shoulder guy hug.

“Thank you,” he says, squeezing my shoulder tightly. “I still can’t fucking believe it,” he adds with a blinding smile.

“Mom, Uncle Jake said a bad word,” Brooklyn tattles from next to Jake.

“Jake,” Avery scolds, leaving the word hanging open.

“Sorry,” Jake says with his trademarked cocky grin and wink.

“Congrats, sweetheart,” I tell Erin as I give her a big hug.

“Thank you,” she whispers as she holds on tight. It’s hard to picture this petite woman as anything other than the happy, loving woman she is. She had a rough childhood growing up as a military child, moving from place to place, but she’s finally found her roots. She’s found her home with my brother. And now I’ll have another niece or nephew.

“Hey, that’s my wife. Get your own,” Jake says behind me as he grabs my shirt. I throw a kiss on her flush cheek before Jake rips his wife completely from my grip.