siblings.
“Anyway,” Pippa continues, “everything went great until the girl kissed Max, thinking he’s Christopher.”
Ah, that explains why Christopher isn’t smiling, whereas everyone else—Max included—looks on the verge of bursting with laughter. Taking a good look at the Bennetts in front of me, I observe that all the men share their father’s build. They’re tall and have broad, strong shoulders.
“That was the last time we pulled a prank like that.” Max puts a firm hand on Christopher’s shoulder, and the latter finally smiles too. Both of them leave and the focus is back on Sebastian and me. Pippa is drilling Sebastian with her gaze.
“Please tell me Logan is taking good care of you,” Blake tells me, oblivious to the staring match between Pippa and Sebastian.
“Actually, I don’t see much of Logan, but Sebastian’s doing a great job.”
The twins stare at us in disbelief.
“If you’re in need of some real fun, you can always call me,” Daniel offers.
“Or me,” Blake says.
“Or both of us. Really.”
“Ava is a smart woman,” Sebastian says. “She’ll know to avoid you. Both of you.”
With that, Sebastian whisks me away.
“By the way, Summer is looking for you, Sebastian,” Blake says from behind us. “She wants to give you hell for missing her exhibition last week. We were there, but the moment she realized her favorite brother wasn’t going to show up. . .”
“I’ll find her,” Sebastian says over his shoulder.
“You are irresistible when you go all caveman,” I whisper to him.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
He treats me to Mrs. Bennett’s homemade lemonade.
“So are these all cousins?” I point to the nearest group.
“No. They’re adopted Bennetts.”
”What?” I chuckle.
“Friends of ours. From college or high school. They like to stick around, because we’re a cool bunch.”
I wonder if I can apply to become an adopted Bennett. I’d totally do it. After drinking a third glass of Mrs. Bennett’s wonderful lemonade, I need to pee badly.
“Where are the restrooms?” I ask.
Sebastian gives me precise instructions before leaving to find Summer, and I hurry across the garden and inside the house.
The interior of the house is pleasantly cool. With my bladder threatening to explode, I don’t pay much attention to anything until I get to the bathroom. After I exit, I take my time to look around. The house is decorated with dark furniture with a reddish tint, and paintings hang on almost every wall. It looks cozy and warm, exactly the way I always imagined a home should.
I’m inspecting one of the paintings—with kittens and a dress—when Mrs. Bennett appears at my side.
“Are you enjoying the party, dear?” she asks.
“Yes. There are so many of you, though.”
“I miss those days, having the kids home. They visit often, but it’s not the same. We’ve been blessed with great children.”
“You are,” I agree, hoping the jealousy isn’t too thick in my voice.
“Family is the most important thing. Other things come and go, but family stays.”
“I suppose so.” Upon seeing her confused glance, I add, “I don’t have any family left.”
“You poor thing.”
“I’m quite self-sufficient,” I assure her.
She rolls her eyes. “I can understand why Sebastian took a liking to you. My son likes to think he’s self-sufficient too.”
I don’t hide my surprise. “But he’s got all of you.”
“Ah, yes, but my son feels responsible for us. He’s so adamant to look after everyone around him.” She’s right. I remember all the times he’s done little, nice things for me. “He doesn’t look after himself anymore. Even after all these years, after he gave us all of this, he still doesn’t let himself relax and enjoy life. Though I hear this has started to change with your arrival.”
Heat rises in my cheeks. “Well, I wouldn’t say it’s on my behalf.”
“A little bird told me he took you on a
“Anyway,” Pippa continues, “everything went great until the girl kissed Max, thinking he’s Christopher.”
Ah, that explains why Christopher isn’t smiling, whereas everyone else—Max included—looks on the verge of bursting with laughter. Taking a good look at the Bennetts in front of me, I observe that all the men share their father’s build. They’re tall and have broad, strong shoulders.
“That was the last time we pulled a prank like that.” Max puts a firm hand on Christopher’s shoulder, and the latter finally smiles too. Both of them leave and the focus is back on Sebastian and me. Pippa is drilling Sebastian with her gaze.
“Please tell me Logan is taking good care of you,” Blake tells me, oblivious to the staring match between Pippa and Sebastian.
“Actually, I don’t see much of Logan, but Sebastian’s doing a great job.”
The twins stare at us in disbelief.
“If you’re in need of some real fun, you can always call me,” Daniel offers.
“Or me,” Blake says.
“Or both of us. Really.”
“Ava is a smart woman,” Sebastian says. “She’ll know to avoid you. Both of you.”
With that, Sebastian whisks me away.
“By the way, Summer is looking for you, Sebastian,” Blake says from behind us. “She wants to give you hell for missing her exhibition last week. We were there, but the moment she realized her favorite brother wasn’t going to show up. . .”
“I’ll find her,” Sebastian says over his shoulder.
“You are irresistible when you go all caveman,” I whisper to him.
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
He treats me to Mrs. Bennett’s homemade lemonade.
“So are these all cousins?” I point to the nearest group.
“No. They’re adopted Bennetts.”
”What?” I chuckle.
“Friends of ours. From college or high school. They like to stick around, because we’re a cool bunch.”
I wonder if I can apply to become an adopted Bennett. I’d totally do it. After drinking a third glass of Mrs. Bennett’s wonderful lemonade, I need to pee badly.
“Where are the restrooms?” I ask.
Sebastian gives me precise instructions before leaving to find Summer, and I hurry across the garden and inside the house.
The interior of the house is pleasantly cool. With my bladder threatening to explode, I don’t pay much attention to anything until I get to the bathroom. After I exit, I take my time to look around. The house is decorated with dark furniture with a reddish tint, and paintings hang on almost every wall. It looks cozy and warm, exactly the way I always imagined a home should.
I’m inspecting one of the paintings—with kittens and a dress—when Mrs. Bennett appears at my side.
“Are you enjoying the party, dear?” she asks.
“Yes. There are so many of you, though.”
“I miss those days, having the kids home. They visit often, but it’s not the same. We’ve been blessed with great children.”
“You are,” I agree, hoping the jealousy isn’t too thick in my voice.
“Family is the most important thing. Other things come and go, but family stays.”
“I suppose so.” Upon seeing her confused glance, I add, “I don’t have any family left.”
“You poor thing.”
“I’m quite self-sufficient,” I assure her.
She rolls her eyes. “I can understand why Sebastian took a liking to you. My son likes to think he’s self-sufficient too.”
I don’t hide my surprise. “But he’s got all of you.”
“Ah, yes, but my son feels responsible for us. He’s so adamant to look after everyone around him.” She’s right. I remember all the times he’s done little, nice things for me. “He doesn’t look after himself anymore. Even after all these years, after he gave us all of this, he still doesn’t let himself relax and enjoy life. Though I hear this has started to change with your arrival.”
Heat rises in my cheeks. “Well, I wouldn’t say it’s on my behalf.”
“A little bird told me he took you on a
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