Page 137 of Wrong For Me

Rose

We find the family—minus the twins—in the kitchen. No one punches Leo. In fact, my mom pulls him into a tight hug almost as soon as we walk into the house. “I had a good feeling about you, Leo,” I hear her whisper.

My eyes feel suspiciously hot as he hugs her back. “Yeah?”

She pulls away to smile at him, but keeps her hands clasped tight over his arms. “Yeah. Now you take good care of my girl and prove me right.”

“That’s the plan.”

My dad and brothers are eyeing us suspiciously, so I pointedly take his hand. “Anyone have anything to say, now’s the time.”

My dad’s jaw clenches, but he keeps his lips pursed. River opens his mouth, then looks at Mom, and then closes it again. Fox looks between his older brother and Dad then finally throws up his hands.

“If no one else is going to say it, I will. What the hell are you thinking, Rose?”

I can feel Leo bristle at the tone he’s taking with me. He nudges my shoulder slightly behind his in a protective stance and glares right back at my brother.

“Leo did not sell that story, Fox,” I say, squeezing his hand.

“But you said you told him that stuff! The article mentioned him by name!” He glares at Will, who’s sitting at the table messing with his phone, apparently trying to stay out of the Harris branch family drama. “I can’t believe you brought him here. What the hell, man?”

Will holds Fox’s gaze, completely calm. “I was thinking Rose could decide for herself if she wanted to hear him out.”

Fox scoffs and spins to face Dad. “Tell me you aren’t going to let him stay here tonight!”

I hear myself growl in the back of my throat, annoyance rushing through me. “If Leo isn’t welcome here, I’m not staying either.” I look up at him and smile, though it feels a little forced. “We can just go next door. We’ll have the whole place to ourselves. There’s even a hot tub.”

Leo laughs, which seems to piss Fox off even more. He swears, throwing his hands up. “Come on, Dad! You cannot be okay with this! That guy fucked her over and he’s going to do it again!”

Dad studies me for a long moment before his gaze goes to Leo. He seems to study him for even longer before he finally nods. “If Rosie trusts him, that’s good enough for me.”

My chin trembles, eyes immediately growing wet. “Are you going to get weepy?” Leo murmurs in my ear, and I slap his arm.

“Shut up.”

Mom moves to the center of the room. “I think that’s enough drama for one day.” She gives Fox a hard glare, but also pats his shoulder. Such a Daisy Ransome thing to do—comforting her kids even when she’s scolding them. “Rose and I are going to show Leo around,” she continues. “You boys can get started on dinner.”

“I’m coming too!” Violet shouts, barreling into the kitchen and throwing herself at me.

I wrap my arms around my little sister. “Sorry for leaving like that, Vi,” I whisper.

“It’s okay,” she whispers back, squeezing me tight. “I understand.”

God, when did she get so mature? My eyes are definitely wet again.

My little sister peers at Leo, eyebrows raised. “What’s the deal with this guy?”

I laugh. “He’s going to hang out with us tonight.”

She shrugs. “Okay.” Then she grabs his hand, pulling him toward the door, slipping right back into excited kid mode. “Did Rose tell you we have ATVs? They’resomuch fun.”

We bundle up in spare sweatshirts and scarves. Leo’s eyes widen when Violet informs him his hoodie belongs to Reed Ransome, making us all laugh. We show him around the property, taking him next door to see all the excesses in the log and glass house. In the garage full of toys, Violet points out the snowmobiles, telling Leo he’ll have to try them when we come back in the winter.

I can’t help the dreamy smile that spreads over my face at the idea of me and Leo coming back here in the future, spending vacations together in this place I love so much. And he knows exactly what I’m thinking, too, because he smirks and pinches my ass. But he kisses my head, too, and I’m pretty sure he’s just as happy at the promise of a future together.

When we get back to the house, Dad is stirring a pot of sloppy joe meat on the stove while River pours bags of chips into glass bowls and Fox arranges hamburger buns on a platter. Will is helping Ash slice apples at the table.

“This smells good,” Mom says, unwinding the scarf from around her neck. “Thank you, boys.”