Part 3 (2/2)
She looks like the Charlie I remember but then completely different at the same time. She seems so much older, more mature. There's an air of heaviness that seems to surround her. Something that I've never noticed before.
I open my mouth to question the clear change in her but before I can get a word out she squeals, her eyes darting somewhere behind me. I turn just in time to see her slender, short frame disappear into Decklan's embrace.
”Decklan Taylor, as I live and breathe.” She releases him, stepping back to get a good look at him.
He smiles down at her with the type of love you would expect to see between a brother and a sister. No, they aren't blood, but they might as well be. Decklan is not just my brother, he is hers as well. I know how much she helped him after Conner's death. There's no doubt that the feeling between the two of them is mutual.
”Charlie, I'd like you to meet Kimber.” Charlie's eyes dart to the beautiful blonde at Decklan's side.
”Mom told me you had a girlfriend. I didn't believe her.” She says more to Kimber than to Decklan. ”It's so nice to meet you.” She pulls Kimber into a hug like she's known her for years.
”It's nice to meet you, too,” Kimber gets out, clearly taken aback by my sister's affection.
Kimber has already met my other sister, Mia. Let's just say she's not quite so warm and fuzzy. More like a judgmental b.i.t.c.h if you ask me. It's apparent that Charlie is not at all what Kimber was expecting.
”What's up, man?” I nod in Deck's direction as Charlie turns back toward me.
”What's up?” He reaches out, knocking his fist against mine.
”Oh G.o.d, you guys are still doing that fist b.u.mp nonsense,” Charlie chimes in, her dark eyes bouncing back and forth between the two of us.
”Why mess with a good thing?' I shrug.
”Good to see some things never change.” She giggles. ”Come on, Kimber.” Charlie snags her hand and drags her away from Decklan. ”I'm dying to hear all about how the two of you met.”
Kimber throws Decklan a surprised and somewhat scared expression as she is toted away by my younger sister. He shakes his head on a laugh, throwing her a playful wink.
”Does she seem weird to you?” I ask Deck the moment they disappear around the corner.
”Like she's trying too hard?” Decklan speaks exactly where my mind is at.
”Yep. Something's not right with her.”
”I mean, we've only seen her once in three years, Gav. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Time changes people,” Decklan interjects.
”Yeah, no s.h.i.+t.” I throw him a sideways glance.
He's changed more than anyone over these past few months. I sure as s.h.i.+t never expected him to be the first one to settle down with just one woman and yet, here he is.
”Just give her some time to get re-acclimated,” he adds, ignoring my statement. ”It's gotta be weird being back here after all this time. Did she say why she left New York?”
”Nope. Of course, I only got here about three minutes before you, so we haven't really had the chance to talk.”
”Well you know your sister, if she wants you to know, you'll know. If she doesn't, then you won't.” He shakes his head on a laugh.
”What's with you tonight?” I give him a curious glance.
He seems almost giddy and Decklan doesn't get giddy. h.e.l.l, up until a couple months ago he barely even f.u.c.king smiled.
”Nothing.” His smile fades as he tries to reign himself in.
”f.u.c.k you, dude, you're a horrible liar.”
”Who's a liar?” Paxton appears out of nowhere, stepping up next to Decklan to join in on the conversation.
”When the f.u.c.k did you get here?” I turn toward him.
”Just now,” he answers without looking in my direction. ”Now what are we talking about?”
”Decklan over here smiling like a giddy school girl?” I gesture to Deck who rolls his eyes and laughs.
Standing in the living room of the house I grew up in, I think this is the first time we have all been under this same roof together since before Dad pa.s.sed. It seems weird, how much things have changed. And yet oddly enough it almost feels like nothing has changed all at the same time.
Decklan manages to change the conversation from him to Paxton without even skipping a beat. Before I know it we are doubled over laughing as Paxton retells the story of when my mom caught him whacking it in the bathroom one night.
”I couldn't f.u.c.king help it. I hadn't gotten off in like three days,” he interjects through his laughter.
”So you thought it was a good idea to sneak into a bathroom at your best friend's house and beat it?” Decklan holds his stomach as another bout of laughter rolls through him.
”No doubt. f.u.c.k, dude, did you ever think to lock the door?” I tack on.
”f.u.c.k you, guys.” Paxton shoves my shoulder.
”Please tell me you're not talking about what I think you are.” My mom appears in the doorway, even smaller and more pet.i.te than Charlie, wiping her hands on the light blue ap.r.o.n draped around her neck.
”Hi, Rosie.” Paxton's laughter dies off instantly as he gives my mom an apologetic smile.
”Boys.” She shakes her head, her auburn hair tied back so tightly it doesn't move as she does. ”Well come on you three. Dinner's gonna be cold by the time you lot get in there.” She gestures for us to head into the dining room.
Paxton drops a kiss on her forehead as he pa.s.ses and then Decklan pulls her in for a hug before he too disappears down the hall.
”How are you, my boy?” Mom stops me before I can pa.s.s, pinning her blue eyes directly on my matching ones.
”I'm good, Mom.” I give her a warm smile before kissing her cheek. ”Besides the fact that I'm starving.” I drop my arm over her shoulder and walk with her into the dining room.
Various conversations and laughter dance around us as we enter, and I take a moment to soak it all in. Having Charlie and Paxton both back home seems strange but incredible at the same time. It feels good having everyone back together again. It's been far too long since our family has really felt whole.
Chapter Five.
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