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Her smile is absolutely incandescent “Good to know that those run in every falary on top of everything else is more than I can deal with”

She follows me over to the door as I unlock it for Wes When he steps in, he smiles politely at Leandra, then beats a fast path to the living roorab the ive him some credit Leandra leans out the door, her eyes narrowed, one hand shielding her brow

“Wait,” she gasps “Is that a toilet cake floating on a flao in the middle of the pool?”

“It is,” I confirh I’m not sure why”

It takes a second, but then Leandra breaks into spontaneous, deep laugher that rolls through her, nearly doubling her over The sound is happy and infectious and I findis wild and a little ridiculous and not at all normal, but then, maybe nor seeo in there and face her family

“You know,” Leandra says softly, searching for ht about toht be hope for it yet If that cake is any indication, you’re going to fit into this family perfectly”

Chapter 10

Leandra

Now that we’re walking towards the living roorand to freak out Okay, I never really stopped freaking out, but I was supposed to coame plan and I have a solid lack of a plan I know that however I was going to announce this, it’s not going to go well My brothers could turnclose My cousins aren’t going to take the news any better My ranny will probably start saying inappropriate things and cheering and that will just get everyone all fired up all over again, and I have no idea how Daniel’s grandma and brother will react

So yes

We’re shuffling into a roo quiet as soon as everyone spots us The couches are both full, the love seat is occupied, the cuddle chair is ja chairs in the room that have bodies on the tiether, so everyone

I know I need to deliver

Daniel’s standing right beside th that I know intuitively I can lean on if I need to I ood vibes fro vibes, which is different than vibes I’ve ever got frouys who look like hiuys that are big and eous No, they’re usually assholes to the first and finest degree

Not Daniel No, Daniel is the kind of guy who isn’t afraid to let ed by a cactus spine, which is basically like getting a piercing, and he took that in the ass, and the uh- well- other bits too, and he still sat in the car and had theconversation with , life changing thing

I don’t care that all eyes shift to me when I take a side step closer to Daniel I don’t care that Toren’s eyes narrow and Trent’s eyes shoot straight to rasp it firlares- not directed at me, but at Daniel- and instead look to his dark eyes They’re alive and dancing, and I have to wonder at and envy his ability to be calht now

“I’llShort and sweet is about the only way I can survive this Daniel squeezes my hand for reassurance I feel hor bursting into tears or s uncontrollably when I don’t want to be “I- Daniel- well, you’re probably wondering why you’re all here-”