Chapter 21
Macon
“This is seriously the best smoker,” Prior began again, and I groaned, shaking my head at my brother’s antics. Every time we came to Liam’s cabin, Prior went on and on about the smoker. Well, if I were honest with myself, all of us did. Liam had a great setup up here, and I was a little jealous. However, Liam was generous with the keys, and any of his family and most of the Montgomery cousins for that matter, were always welcome. And since Liam was married to Arden, I got to come up and visit, too.
Today was Arden’s birthday, and we were celebrating in style. Many of Liam’s family members were here. I couldn’t keep all of their names straight, even though I had tried, and there was a flowchart.
There were just too many of them.
However, the entire Brady family was here, even my parents. I had a feeling they might be moving back any day now, considering how our family kept growing. They already had a new grandson in Joshua.
The boys were out in the back now, my father playing catch with Joshua as he giggled and ran around the bases. The bases were old pillows that we had found and Liam wasn’t too ecstatic about us using, but it worked.
Dakota was talking with Hazel and Paris in hushed tones, and I had a feeling it had to do with a certain pact sister who was not here.
Myra hadn’t been pulled into the pact yet, but any day now, she would be forced on her blind date.
She was the last of them, and for that, I was kind of nostalgic.
Their blind date pact had brought the women into our lives, most especially, Dakota into mine.
“You have that cheesy grin on your face again,” Cross whispered.
I did my best to wipe it off, but I couldn’t.
“I can’t help it. I’m happy.”
“Now that is the best thing you have ever said.” Prior leaned against the railing.
“Seriously, man, that makes me happy, too,” Liam added, turning the steaks on the grill.
“I still hate that she’s standing on her crutches and not sitting down like she should be,” I called over my shoulder.
“It’s been two minutes. I’m allowed to stand,” Dakota singsonged and then went back to whispering with the other women.
I snorted, and the men just rolled their eyes.
“Women,” they all said at the same time and then ducked as random chips started flying.
“We heard that,” a few women called from the other side of the porch.
“Was that my woman, or no?” Liam asked.
“No, I think that was either your sibling or cousin. I have no idea how many there are of you,” I said, shaking my head.
“It’s okay. Sometimes we even wear nametags at family reunions. It’s the only reason I can ever figure out who my brother is,” Liam added deadpan.
I snorted and took a sip of my beer. “And I thought it was bad with the five of us.”
“What are you saying, bud?” Arden said, pinching my side. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of my baby sister’s head.
“That you are the best. Everyone else sucks.”
“You know we’re standing right here,” Prior huffed.
“I like this side of you,” Arden chimed in. “My big brother, all nice and happy. Dakota and Joshua are sure making you all smiley.”
“It’s rather disturbing,” Prior replied, shaking his head.
“Hey, don’t harp on Macon’s happiness.” Paris came up on my other side to wrap her arms around Prior. Arden moved to do the same with Liam, and then Hazel was there, hugging Cross. I moved back and gently picked up Dakota so she was sitting on the stool in front of me.
She let me do that, and Prior took the crutches. I was grateful that there were other people around. Usually, she bit my head off.
Dakota did not like being on crutches or asking for help. That much I had known even before they handed her the damn things.
But Pop and Jason were filling her shoes nicely. Dakota was on a fancy little rolling stool in the front now while taking orders, or in the back, dealing with things she could do from a seated position. We did not let her walk around the place on her crutches, and she just had to deal with that.
Later, she’d be in a different position. But for now, everybody was a little overprotective, and for that, I was happy.
“When do you get the final move-in?” Liam asked.
“Next week. We’re putting the house on the market and everything,” Dakota said, and I heard the wistfulness in her tone.
“I told you we could change that,” I added quickly.
She glared up at me. “You have the bigger house, and it fits the five cats that we now have,” she said dryly.
“And the puppy that you’re probably going to get soon.” Cross sipped his beer. I narrowed my eyes at him.
Dakota growled. “Oh, we’ll be getting a puppy. Never.”
“You know I’m a vet. Sometimes, puppies just show up,” I said.
“You are as bad as our kid,” Dakota replied, and I grinned at that.
We were getting good at calling Joshua ours. The second that I had seen Joshua outside of the hospital, he’d called me Dad. I had nearly gone to my knees and wept in front of him, but I did my best to act stoic and fucking ecstatic.
Joshua hadn’t wasted any time making sure we were a family.
I was going to get a ring on Dakota’s finger soon, and we’d finalize adoption because Joshua was mine, and Dakota wanted no part of Adam anywhere near him. I was just fine with that. But for now, Joshua was ours, and I was theirs.
“Anyway, we’re not staying in my house. You know why.”
I ran my hand down her hair and kissed her temple. “I’m sorry.”
“I know,” she whispered.
“You said you were sorry pretty quick.” Prior grinned. “It’s like a whole new side of you.” He let out an oomph as Paris elbowed him in
