“You brought her,” the woman says, clearly thrilled to see me.
My cheeks heat as I take in this … situation.
These people are his family.
My attention shifts away from the curious faces to the man who brought me here.
Holt looks at me and forces a swallow. His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat. The look on his face is half-smile, half-wince as he tries to read the look on mine.
I lift a brow and try not to look as shocked as I feel.
“I should’ve warned you, huh?” he asks.
“Maybe a word or two would’ve been kind.”
He wrinkles his nose. “Sorry?”
That does it. I can’t be irritated with him when he looks at me with a mixture of adorableness and heat. It dissolves my anxiety and confusion and leaves me laughing.
He turns to his family. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Blaire Gibson. Blaire, this is Oliver, Larissa—our cousin—Boone, and Wade. At the end is our mother and father, Siggy and Rodney.”
“Darling, it is such a pleasure to meet you,” Siggy coos. “I’m sorry I’m so far away. I’d love to welcome you with a big hug!”
“Oh, a wave will do,” I say, giving her my best smile and thanking the heavens I don’t have to hug her.
Hugs are awkward and not all that enjoyable if you’re meeting a stranger for the first time. They’re reserved for people you know and like. And while I’m sure she’s lovely, a hug seems a little overkill.
Holt chuckles beside me.
“We’re glad you could make it, Blaire,” Rodney says.
“I’m happy to be here.”
“We’re happy you’re here too.” Larissa sticks a hand across Oliver. “You can call me Riss.”
I give her hand a gentle shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
My shoulders relax as I take in Larissa’s genuine friendliness. I wasn’t expecting it, but maybe I should have.
She’s about Sienna’s age and is as cute as a button. She has the same disarming way about her as Sienna too.
I instantly like her, which is weird for me.
“I’d shake your hand, Blaire, but—” Boone begins, but Holt cuts him off.
“But I’d kick your ass.”
“Oh, the hell you would.”
The entire family laughs except for their parents. They’re engrossed in a conversation with a couple sitting behind them.
I try to ignore the way my heart hiccups as Holt takes my hand again. I’m not even sure he realizes that he’s done it, but I’m sure as heck not going to pull it away.
“I think Holt would take you, Boone,” Wade says. He takes off his black-rimmed glasses and looks at his younger brother. “You don’t have a whole lot going for you besides a lot of mouth.”
“What?” Boone’s jaw drops. “You’re supposed to be on my side here, fucker.”
“Everyone’s money is on Holt,” Oliver says. “Shut up, Boone.”
Boone looks at me with the biggest puppy dog eyes I’ve ever seen. It’s ridiculously adorable.
“You know what?” I say with a laugh. “It doesn’t matter because we can’t reach each other to shake hands anyway.”
“They’re always like this,” Larissa says. “They’re a lot to deal with.”
“I have three brothers and two boy cousins that are a lot to deal with too,” I say. “This doesn’t bother me.”
“You should see it when Coy is around. It gets ridiculous,” she says.
“He must be like my cousin Peck. The instigator.”
“Totally.” She laughs. “He threatened to have me come on stage tonight and dance. I told him I will flat-out refuse and ruin his show.”
Ruin his show?
I don’t know exactly what my face does, but Larissa balks.
“Oops,” she groans.
“I …” I look at Holt, who is pointedly not looking at me. “Do you want to explain why your brother would ask your cousin to come on stage?”
Holt bites his bottom lip. The lines around his eyes crinkle, making him look more like his father.
My heartbeat quickens.
He doesn’t say a word. Just works hard not to smile.
“Fine.” I peer around him again. “Larissa, why would your cousin Coy ask you to come on stage tonight?”
She looks at Holt. Then at me. Then at Holt again.
“Hey, kids,” Siggy calls from the other end of the aisle. “I forgot to tell you. Coy has to leave town earlier than expected tomorrow. Can you all come at ten for brunch instead? I know you all have lives and things, but it would mean a lot to have you all at home for a quick meal.”
Oh my God.
They all turn to their mother except Holt. I think he’s too afraid to look away from me.
“So, Kelvin McCoy is my brother,” Holt tells me.
“What?”
I put it all together before this, but to hear it out of his mouth is insane. My brain chooses this exact moment to replay all the things I’ve said about the band and the music and …
Shit.
“You jerk,” I say, my brain still processing all this.
I’m not mad about this, just shocked. It’s kind of funny that I didn’t know because everyone probably does.