I hissed, “It is kind of a kick in the teeth asking your brother to walk you down the aisle.”
She blanched. “I know that. Don’t think I didn’t stew over it. But I want my life with Cole to be honest and real, and having my dad walk me down the aisle when he’s never really believed in my relationship with Cole, and he’s definitely never really believed in me, seemed hypocritical. It didn’t feel right.”
“So you asked Logan,” I said. “Well, I think that was brave.”
“Thanks, Grace.” She smiled sadly. “Some people at school think I’m a shit when I tell them.”
“They don’t know what you went through and how your parents weren’t there for you when you needed them the most. They can’t judge. No one can. It’s a difficult situation you’re in, and ultimately you have to make the decision that sits right with you.”
She nodded, expression grave as she looked past my shoulder again. “I don’t want them to hurt her. They have this wonderful way of acting like good parents only to disappear as soon as you disappoint them even slightly.”
Cole drew up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her back against him. She was so short next to him, he looked like a warrior come to protect her. “You okay, shortcake?”
She nodded and clutched his hand. “I’m just doing my usual freak-out.” Her eyes widened slightly. “They’re coming over here.”
“Should we abandon Grace to them or hang tough?” Cole whispered dramatically.
He succeeded in making her giggle. “I couldn’t live with myself if I abandoned Grace to them.”
“And Grace would never talk to you ever again,” I muttered under my breath, all my muscles stiffening as I watched Logan and Maia approach with the rest of the MacLeods in tow.
Thankfully, Maia was smiling, and her grandparents seemed genuinely happy to be with her.
Logan got to us first. He made a point of kissing Shannon’s cheek and nodding at Cole before sliding his arm across my shoulders and drawing me into him.
I studied Maia on closer inspection, and although she didn’t look upset, she did look slightly overwhelmed. I put my hand out to her subtly, and she immediately grabbed it and burrowed into my side. Logan’s parents and sister watched this interaction with interest and something that seemed a lot like suspicion. I braced myself.
“This is my girlfriend, Grace,” Logan said.
Very quickly I schooled my features.
It was a surprise to hear myself called that. Yet… I found it was a good surprise. I liked the sound of it. This last week Logan had worked very hard to exorcise my demons and insecurities.
I doubted there was a woman alive who felt more wanted than I did right then.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I held my hand out to his mum first, a petite woman with red hair and violet eyes. She was young-looking and still very pretty, and could probably pass for Shannon’s sister. Logan’s other sister, Amanda, had inherited her dark hair and eyes from her father, although his hair was peppered with gray.
He shook my hand after Logan’s mum did. “And what do you do, Grace?” he asked immediately, the question containing more than a hint of interrogation.
Logan tensed against me.
“Grace is a freelance book editor,” Maia piped up. “She’s really good at her job. She has bestselling authors as clients.”
I smiled down at her gratefully. “You make me sound cooler than I am.”
She shot me a look of mock horror. “Are you suggesting books aren’t cool?”
“Ooh, you walked into that one,” Cole teased behind me.
I shot him a look over my shoulder, and he grinned unrepentantly. “Thank you, Mr. Walker, for the narration.”
“You’re very welcome.”
“So how long have you been dating?” Amanda stepped forward. Unlike with her father, there seemed to be just curiosity in the question.
“A while,” Logan replied vaguely. “And before you ask, it is serious. But this party is not. Question time is over. The birthday girl has guests to greet.” Logan led us toward the rest of the tribe, diplomatically making his point. His parents and sister had been invited, they were welcome to get to know Maia, but other than that they had no rights to know anything else about our lives. Not yet.
“You’re kind of wonderful,” I whispered in his ear.
“Just realizing that now?”
I pushed at him playfully, and he laughed, hugging me closer. We watched on in delight as Maia was engulfed by the Carmichaels, Walkers, MacCabes, Sawyers, and so forth. The kids clambered for her attention while she received hugs and kisses from the adults.
“You’re going to crush her,” a tall girl with curly blond hair and blue tip-tilted eyes said, hovering over Maia protectively. Eleven-year-old Beth Carmichael had inherited her father’s height, her mother’s hair and eye shape, and her dad’s pale blue eye color. She was an extremely pretty child, even if she did wear this constant expression of weary disdain that was hilarious on a little girl.
Maia had met Beth when she babysat for Joss and Braden a few weeks ago. According to Maia, the eldest Carmichael child had adopted her as one of her own.
“Okay, we’re done.” Beth fluttered her hands at everyone. “Let her breathe, but most importantly, let her open her presents.” She grinned and stepped back, nodding her head encouragingly at Maia.
I snorted.
Maia smirked. “I think you need to sort out to your priorities, Beth. Breathing always comes before presents.”