“Alright break it up you two, unless you are prepared to have a few other members join your sex fest.” I choke on a laugh, breaking our kiss to bob my eyebrows at Garrett mischievously. His dimples pop out on a wide grin, although we know it’s all in jest. He and Axel haven’t been with anyone except each other for the past four months and Dax is strictly selfish in that department. Huxley strides through the swarm of beautiful girls vying for his attention to pull the four of us into a bone-crushingly tight bear hug, whist I’m still hoisted in the centre. I may have lost both of my parents this year, but I gained a family I could only have dreamt of.
A chant begins across the court, the cheer squad shaking their black and yellow pom poms high in to air to lead the basketball team, and hordes of fans through the open doors. I wriggle free, my feet touching the floor so I can run to join them at the front, but Dax’s hand grasping mine pulls me back.
“Don’t you dare change out of this before I get my winning lap dance,” he whispers into my ear and I giggle with a schoolgirl. Well, I guess that’s because I am one. Today marks the last day of my first full semester studying musical theatre at Waversea, and already I’ve grown so much more than I could have through home schooling. Dax insisted I didn’t move into their frat house on campus but instead share a dorm with students in my class. It was barely a week before the girl across the hall invited me to cheerleading try-outs and I made the team that afternoon. Just another way Dax has proven himself to be my ideal man, his thoughtfulness for me to have a real college experience without him breathing down my neck.
My name being called through the crowd has me looking around but it’s Huxley who spots her first, turning me by the shoulders and pointing to the top of the indoor bleachers. She made it! I push my way through the guys with the brute strength of a quarterback, and jog towards my twin who is sprinting down the steps.
“Careful!” I shout to her, holding my hands out to protect her swelling belly if she were to fall. She swats my hands away and pulls me in for a hug. It’s been way too long since I’ve had my Meg-fix. Pulling back, she regards the brown hair I’ve let grow out and cut into a shoulder-length bob with a smirk.
“Stop trying to bubble wrap me, I could still take you on,” she laughs.
“Now that I’d like to see,” Garrett walks up behind us with the others, each pulling her in for a hug and kissing her cheek before my eyes fall to her mid-section again. I still can’t believe I’m going to be an auntie! Everyone else has exited the stadium now, quiet falling as we all share glances and avoid the obvious until I can’t take it anymore.
“How is he?” Meg’s pale eyes flick away for a moment, a sad smile forming on her lips.
“Wyatt’s doing well. There was a lot for him to sort through in taking over Nixon’s companies, and he’s completing his degree online. My mom says he’s making great progress in their counselling sessions, but what he really needs are his brothers back.” Her eyes flick to Garrett’s the same time all of ours do, knowing its mainly him that’s holding us back. Even Axel has admitted he’s prepared to work on rebuilding their friendship, but Garrett is as stubborn as a strong, independent woman who refuses to wash the dishes two days in a row. I often wonder who wears the pants in their relationship.
“Look, I know it won’t happen overnight but maybe it’s worth a shot trying?” I pitch in on Meg’s behalf. I haven’t come close to forgiving Wyatt myself yet, but he’s steadily proving himself by making my twin happier than she’s ever been, so I can make some effort too. “Don’t you think baby Harbour would want to know his Uncle Gary?” I snigger.
“Remind me not to ask you for help picking baby names,” Meg rolls her eyes. “Why don’t you all join us for Christmas? Susie is desperate to have some guests to fawn over, and I have a mansion I need help decorating. Or would you rather I was climbing ladders and lifting heavy boxes of baubles around myself?” Meg puts on a perfect display, battering her eyelashes with a full-on pout and rubbing her rounded belly at Garrett. He grinds his jaw and crosses his arms, but I don’t miss the glint of amusement in his eyes before he looks away.
“As long as I’m never ever called Uncle fucking Gary, I’ll come. But no promises on the forgiving and forgetting front.” Meg and I squeal together, excitement over a proper family Christmas setting in. Axel slides his arm around Garrett’s shoulders and starts to lead him away while asking why he hates that nickname so much.
“I’m not some fat, bald hillbilly! I’m gorgeous Garrett,” he whines. Axel chuckles and pulls him in for a kiss, the sight of them making me smile and seek out my own companion. Dax’s arms wind around me on instinct, his mouth finding my neck. Meg leans into my other side, her fingers linking with mine and mouths ‘all set for tonight?’. I nod slowly, a smirk pulling at my lips. Tonight, is more than just the guys mega end of term party.
I haven’t been able to bring myself to say those three little words to Dax yet, even though he’s earned them ten thousand times over. And the best/worst part is how understanding he is, accepting
