Page 56 of Reckless Devotion

“Um, hi,” I respond weakly.

“I’m Chloe, and this is my husband Zeke.” The woman motions to the stoically silent man with a scar running down his upper lip. “And this is our son, Diego.” Chloe beckons softly to the boy currently glued to his father’s side, and he hesitantly comes forward.

“Hi, Diego.” I smile, something about his timid nature reminding me of a much younger Sunny. He flashes me a smile that is distinctly gappy at the sides.

“We’ve got a little one in the car too, but she’s sound asleep—typical, considering she screamed most of the way here!” Chloe snorts, placing her hand on her son’s shoulder.

“This is Pepper.” Chase appears out of nowhere at my side, and only then do I realize I haven’t introduced myself. “And this is her sister Sunny.” Sunny attempts to wave around the struggling cat.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Pepper. We didn’t get introduced before.” Mia Walker appears and again I get folded into a warm hug. These people are way too huggy for my liking. My instinct is to hiss like a cat until they stop touching me, but I manage to resist.

“Good to meet you all,” I reply, thinking that I would have double-guessed my decision to come had I known that everyone in the Forbes richest list would be here.

One of the car’s back doors opens again, and an older woman I instantly recognize steps down onto the gravel, clutching a champaign-colored shawl around her shoulders against a breeze that doesn’t exist.

Esther Walker is undeniably a beautiful woman, but somehow, today she looks awful. Her eyes are sunken, hair slightly ruffled, and she even seems unsteady on her feet.

“Mom,” Chase says in alarm, shooting forward to help her. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, darling, thank you.” She whips her hand away from him quickly, and if I’m not greatly mistaken, a streak of something that looks a whole lot like pain travels across Chase’s warm brown eyes. “Just tired, I need to lie down.”

“Okay, of course. Let me help you—”

“Who thefuckis this rude old asshole in our house?” The unmistakable gravelly tenor of Mason Walker travels loudly across the driveway.

***

“You okay?”

I jump, having been so entranced in the rhythmic swishing of long grass and the crash of the ocean at the end of the private beach that I didn’t hear Chase approach.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I tuck my legs tighter against my chest, the natural wood decking brushing roughly against my bare feet. “Just needed a minute.”

“I love them to pieces, but they can be a lot sometimes.” Chase takes the spot beside me, offering me one of the chilled green bottles in his hand. I take one gratefully and swig a mouthful of ice-cold beer.

It’s beautiful here, and even in the late dusk of a summer evening, still hot as balls. If it weren’t for the brisk ocean breeze, I’d be sticky with perspiration.

“They’re great,” I say truthfully, fixing my eyes on the dark rolling waves that crash and foam on the sandy shoreline. They really are, too. The kind of chaotic family who love fiercely, laugh, enjoy each other's company, and support each other. Even his mom came out of her shell somewhat, taking special care to ask Sunny about her likes and dislikes, asking the chef to prepare her favorite food—which is just an abundance of pizza.

The more time I spend with them, the more apparent the gaping hole in my chest becomes. I rub at it absentmindedly, trying to fathom my reaction.

“What’s going on in that magnificent brain of yours, Peppercorn?” Chase bumps my shoulder lightly with his, his long, tanned legs hanging over the edge of the decking in black denim shorts. I force myself not to look at the definition of his muscles there or the dark sprinkle of masculine hair.

“It’s nothing—silly, really.” I shake my head and take another swig, feeling the zesty bubbles pop on my tongue.

“You don’t have to tell me, but I’m sure it’s not silly, whatever it is.” He takes a swig of his own beer and the night air is punctuated by a burst of warm laughter from inside. I’m not sure if it’s the salt air, or the three bottles of beer that I’ve already consumed, but I feel the truth bubble up uncontrollably.

“It’s hard for me to be around families, sometimes,” I whisper, hopeful that the pitiful admission might get whisked away on the wind. “It’s something I’ve never had, except with Sunny, of course.”

I release my legs and dangle them over the edge of the decking before my thighs begin to stick together, the flowy material of my sage linen dress dusting over my thighs.

“That makes sense,” Chase responds evenly, running his thumb over the curling label edge on his bottle. “I don’t know your situation exactly, but what Icantell you is that a family who doesn't love you right is not a family worth having.”

“You mean I’m better off without?” I lift one eyebrow and risk a glance sideways.

“Maybe, maybe not. Like I said, I don’t know your circumstances and unlike you, I don’t have a habit of prying into other people’s business.” He shows me a flicker of a crooked smirk that breaks the tension, causing me to snort out a short laugh.

“There she is,” he breathes, his eyes lighting up like the fourth of July. My stomach squiggles, but I push it away and blame it on the alcohol.