MANTRUM Read online

  “How do I look?” Ruby poses with a hand on her hip, showing off the new dress she picked out as one of her presents from me.

  “You look beautiful as always.” I smile.

  She rolls her eyes. “Dad, you always say that.”

  “I mean it every time too.”

  “Well, if it helps, we just met and I love that dress. It looks fantastic on you.”

  Ruby beams. “Thanks. That definitely helps.”

  “Are you trying to make a good impression on someone special?” Danika questions. Shit. I never even thought about that possibility. Is there a boy coming to her party that she likes?

  “My cousin’s best friend, Shaw, might come, and he’s totally hot.” What the fuck?

  “And too old for you,” I bark.

  “Calm down, Dad. I said he’s hot, not that I stand a chance with him.”

  “How old is he?” Danika asks.

  “Hey, don’t go encouraging her.”

  Danika smiles, placing her hand on my arm. “It’s a simple question, Rex. Calm down.” She winks at Ruby.

  “He’s a junior at Boston University. And he’s the goalie on the hockey team.”

  “Hmm, a hockey player.” Danika wiggles her eyebrows.

  I tickle Danika’s side with my fingertips and she jumps. “Hey, I said not to encourage her.”

  “Oh, poor Rex.” She cups my cheek with her hand briefly, then turns to Ruby. Instantly, I miss her touch. “Your dad might not survive the next few years of you having multiple crushes and maybe even boyfriends.”

  Ruby laughs. “It should be interesting.”

  “I hope by interesting you mean it’s not going to happen.” I narrow my eyes at Danika in a joking manner. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”

  “Sorry, not sorry.” She shakes her head. “We girls have to stick together. Right, Ruby?”

  “For sure. Dad, I don’t know where you met Danika, but I like her already.”

  “She gave me a parking ticket. How’s that for an introduction?”

  Ruby giggles. “I bet you loved that.”

  “He did,” Danika drolly interjects.

  I set platters of appetizers along the granite island and clean up the mess I’ve made while preparing everything. Danika sets the bowl of fruit salad out, adding a large spoon I’d forgotten.

  “Here.” I hand off a stack of plates, napkins, and plastic utensils for Ruby to put next to the food. We finish setting up with five minutes to spare, but the doorbell immediately rings.

  “I’ll get it,” Ruby squeals, like it’s her fifth birthday instead of her fifteenth, and runs toward the door.

  I chuckle. “Someone’s excited.”

  “She’s a great kid. You should be proud.”

  “Thank you. I am. Ridiculously so. Even after fifteen years, I can’t believe she’s mine.”

  Ruby walks back into the room with her arm hooked through her mom’s. “Danika this is my mom, Catherine.”

  Danika’s smile is stiff and she waves awkwardly. “Hi.”

  “Hi. It’s so nice to meet you. Rex has told me a lot about you.”

  My eyes flick to Danika and I smile, shrugging my broad shoulders.

  “I hope it was all good,” she replies. “And it’s great to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you also.” The rumbling sound of my brother’s motorcycle pulling into the driveway reaches us.

  “Dad, Uncle Adam is here,” Ruby calls out, as she runs to let him in.

  My gaze swings to Danika. “Are you ready to meet my crazy family?”

  “I don’t know. Am I?”

  “I’m not sure if there's any way to prepare for them.” I laugh.

  “Don’t worry,” Catherine says comfortingly. “They’re awesome.”

  11

  Danika

  My stomach tosses nervously. Now that the moment is here, I’m anxious. I want to make a good impression on these people, and I’m not sure why. Rex and I are just… what exactly are we? Friends? Yeah, I guess at this point it’s safe to label us as such.

  I care about him and want the best for him. Every time I see him, it’s a struggle not to let myself think about how gorgeous he is. Or wonder what kissing him would feel like. Instead, I focus on being supportive of the positive changes he’s trying to make in his life. But there’s a part of me that’s extremely curious about Rex. Every detail I learn about him intrigues me. It’s like peeling back the outer layers of an onion and getting to the tasty part. Once I was able to move on from the way we met, I’ve seen firsthand many attractive qualities in him.

  Catherine wanders to the oven to peek inside. And she busies herself helping out as if she’s comfortable in his kitchen. A stab of jealousy grips my stomach. Are they still intimately involved? Plenty of people sleep with their exes for the convenience of it alone.

  “Danika, this is my Uncle Adam.” Ruby leads Rex’s brother into the kitchen area.

  Wiping my damp palms on my pants, I meet his amused eyes. He resembles Rex, but his hair is darker and he’s got thick stubble instead of a beard. He flashes me a roguish grin and I shake his outstretched hand. “Hi. It’s great to meet you.”

  “Likewise. How did Rex sucker you into helping him?”

  “What makes you think she didn’t volunteer?” Rex jumps in.

  “He pretty much begged me to come,” I joke, but it’s not far from the truth.

  “I knew it,” Adam gloats, popping a slice of cheese and pepperoni in his mouth. He calls out a quick greeting to Catherine.

  Rex moves closer and nudges my arm. “Come on. I wasn’t that pathetic.”

  “No comment,” I tease. “Adam, what’s it like being Rex’s business partner? Tell me all the dirt.”

  “We don’t have enough time.” He grins, continuing to sample the appetizers.

  The ringing doorbell interrupts our conversation. “Adam, be a good brother and get the door,” Rex suggests.

  Adam scowls. “Can’t you see I’m eating here?” Then he points back and forth between me and himself. “We can continue this conversation another time.”

  “The hell you will,” Rex cuts in, clearly annoyed. Adam smirks at me before heading toward the front of the house while Ruby happily bounces along with him. Her excitement about her party is adorable to watch.

  I place my hand on Rex’s shoulder. “You’re not getting worked up are you?”

  He turns to face me. “Not yet.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Okay. Maybe a little.”

  My hand slides down the back of his arm and I give his solid tricep a gentle caress. “Rex, you’re not going to allow your temper to get the best of you, no matter what.”

  “I’m not?”

  “Rex.” I sigh with exasperation.

  “I know, but Adam was being a dick.”

  “He’s being a brother. I bet you dole out the teasing better than you take it.”

  “That’s possible.”

  “Good. I’m glad you’re admitting it. No matter what he says, I want you to laugh it off. Even if you have to fake the laugh.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “If he sees it’s not bothering you, then it’s not fun for him anymore. And you’ll be learning how to control your temper at the same time. Two birds, one stone.”

  His lips press into a grim line. “Okay. I can do that.”

  “Rex. How about a little enthusiasm? At least try to sound convincing.”

  He grunts. “I’ll be enthused when this party is over.”

  “Are you a party pooper?”

  “Maybe I am.”

  “I’m not buying it, Winters.”

  He smirks, leaning toward me, and my knees turn to jelly. “You already know me so well. I’m the life of the party, Danika. Just not parties with my family there.”

  “Who do we have here?” An attractive older woman looks me over with a kind smile. I can only surmise this is Rex’s mother. And it’s obvious this is his father foll
owing behind her. Rex resembles him so much.

  Just as introductions are finished, more people filter in. I meet his youngest brother, Larsen, and his oldest brother, Jack.

  “You’ve certainly improved the look of the Winters’ family party.” Larsen flashes me an engaging grin. I see he’s got the Winters’ charming personality.

  “I don’t know about that,” I answer noncommittally.

  “I know enough for both of us,” he flirts. He’s adorable; a younger version of Rex but with green eyes. What is it with all these brothers being so good looking? It doesn’t seem fair that so many superior genes went to one family.

  “Larsen,” Rex says his name in a scolding tone before ticking his head from side to side. Is that his way of warning his brother away from me? Is he jealous? I bite my lips to stop a smile from forming. For some reason that makes me happy, but I’m not going to allow myself to consider why.

  “Danika,” Ruby calls my name. “I want you to meet my best friend, Baxter. He lives down the street from us.”

  “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” I smile.

  “You... too,” he replies, his voice cracking on the first word. His cheeks flush in embarrassment and he pushes his thick-framed glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. The poor kid is awkward like only a teenager can be. I was pretty awkward myself, so I feel for him. I don’t think you can ever truly escape those insecurities, even as a confident adult. If I think back to something embarrassing that happened to me as a teenager, I can be right in that moment again, feeling the same self-doubt. The good thing is, I can snap out of it and I’m not trapped back in that time. I barely suppress a shudder at the thought.

  Some people think of high school as the best time of their life, but I’m not one of them. If presented with the opportunity to go revisit, I wouldn’t return for all the money in the world. Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but it would take a lot to make me endure the torture of reliving those cringeworthy days.

  I look to Ruby. “So, you guys have been friends since you’ve lived here?”

  She smiles, nodding eagerly. “Yep. Bax and I met the first week, but we were so young we barely remember.”

  “Speak for yourself,” he cuts in. “I remember vividly.” He smiles at her and my chest squeezes from the adoration in his gaze. He’s completely infatuated with her and she probably has no idea. Oh boy. I hope this works out for them.

  Rex claps his hands together, gaining our attention. “Everyone grab a plate and help yourselves. Dinner is ready.”

  “What’s for dinner anyway? I’m starving.” Adam pats his stomach.

  Rex gestures to the stovetop where everything is set out. “Lasagna, meatballs, and garlic bread.”

  “Did you make it yourself?” I question.

  “No. I bought everything prepared. I just had to heat it in the oven. I can make all those things, but since the party is early, I wouldn’t have had enough time.”

  “I’m impressed. A man who can cook makes for an attractive dating prospect for most women.”

  “I’m glad you think so.”

  “I didn’t say I was one of those women.”

  “You’re not?”

  “Maybe, but your penchant for mantrums cancels that out,” I droll.

  “Believe me, you’ll forget about them once you taste my cooking.”

  “It’s that good?”

  “I’m that good,” he corrects confidently.

  I pat his chest. “That remains to be seen.” I can’t hold back my taunting reply.

  He catches my hand, holding it to the muscular surface. “Those are fighting words, Danika. Are you prepared to go to war with me?” He’s aware I’m not just speaking about his cooking skills. And I have a feeling I wouldn’t escape unscathed if he really pursued me.

  So far, I’ve been lucky he hasn’t pressed me. If he did, I’m not sure how long I could hold out for—he can be extremely charming. I’ve been without a man’s attention for so long, it feels nice to have him showing interest in me. Even though his lack of temper control is off-putting, he has enough positive traits to outweigh my reservations.

  “Go to war with you, Rex? Aren’t we supposed to be on the same side?”

  “Maddie,” Ruby squeals, throwing herself at a pretty brunette. She moves on to hug two attractive college-aged guys. “Danika, these are my cousins, Marshall and Maddie.” She points between the brother and sister, and the family resemblance is obvious. “And this is Shaw.” Ruby grabs his arm and my eyes move to Baxter in time to catch his scowl. He might not be able to compete with Shaw in the looks department now, but I have a feeling in a few more years he’s going to surprise everyone. All he needs is some time.

  Stepping forward, I say hello to the three newcomers before Rex directs them toward the hot food spread out on the stove.

  Once everyone has filled their plates, I take my turn, with Rex following me. We settle in at the large, rectangular dining room table.

  “Where did you find this beautiful table?” I slide my hand over the smooth golden-hued wood.

  “I made it.”

  “Really?”

  “I did. Are you impressed?”

  “I am, actually. Great craftsmanship.”

  “I taught him everything he knows,” Mr. Winters chimes in.

  “It’s true,” Rex readily agrees.

  “Well, you must be very proud.”

  “I am. I’m proud of all my boys.”

  “Aw, Dad. It’s okay, you can admit I’m your favorite,” Rex says.

  “I don’t have a favorite,” he protests with a wave of his hand.

  Adam coughs and it sounds suspiciously like “bullshit”. Rex and his siblings all laugh.

  “Adam, really?” His mom eyeballs him distastefully.

  “What?” His expression is complete innocence.

  “You guys must’ve had your hands full with four sons,” I offer, changing the subject.

  “You have no idea,” his mom says. “Rex gave me most of my gray hair.”

  “Really?” Ruby sounds surprised and Mrs. Winters nods. “That’s interesting, because Dad always tells me what an angel he was at my age.”

  “I was. Don’t listen to your grandmother. She’s confusing me with Jack,” Rex offers as an explanation.

  “Sure, Dad. Whatever. Someday, I’ll know all the juicy details of your youth.”

  “Christ, I hope not,” he mutters to me, and I smile.

  The rest of the party passes quickly by. His family is a lot of fun, and they’ve all made me feel welcome. I can’t help but compare the dynamic to that of my own family. If the situation were reversed and Rex was at a party with them, they wouldn’t be so welcoming. Hell, I’m not even comfortable being around them, why would Rex be?

  “Dad, can I open presents now?” Ruby looks as eager as a puppy. All that’s missing is a wagging tail.

  “Sure, if you open mine first.” Ruby looks to her mom to make sure it’s ok and Catherine smiles reassuringly. “You can open my gifts later when you come home with me,” she offers.

  “What do you mean open yours first, Dad? Do you mean the driver’s side door of the car you bought me?”

  Rex laughs, a deep belly laugh that steals my breath for a second. “That’s a good one. Unfortunately, there’s no car waiting for you. But I have a feeling this might make you happy just the same.” He hands over a large white envelope with a pink bow stuck to the top. Ruby peers up at him questioningly.

  “Open it,” he urges, a gentle smile shaping his masculine lips.

  She tears the top of the envelope open, removing a sheet of paper. Her eyes scan the surface before she lets out an excited squeal. “Dad, you’re the best.” She throws herself against him and his arms close around her back. He rests his head on top of hers, closing his eyes. I flash back to our conversation where he told me he’s going to savor every moment with her. I can see that he already is.

  “What did you get?” Adam can’t contain his cu
riosity any longer.

  Rex releases her and she holds up the sheet of paper. “Dad signed me up for a summer class at the Museum of Fine Arts. It’s almost impossible to get into.”

  “I’m glad you’re excited about it.” Rex beams.

  “Dad, excited doesn’t begin to cover how epic this is. Thank you so much. You’re the best dad in the whole world.”

  “You’re welcome. And are you just realizing that about me?” he jests.

  Ruby gets distracted with Maddie holding out a gift to her, and I turn to Rex. “How did you manage to get her into the class?”

  “I had to sleep with the director of the program.”

  “Huh?” My mouth opens and remains in a stunned expression.

  He chuckles. “I’m just messing with you. I went to school with the director of the program. He’s a guy.”

  “You’re a jerk. I believed you for a second there.”

  “Were you jealous?”

  “As if,” I scoff.

  “Come on. You can admit it to me.” His eyes glint with mischief.

  “Get over yourself.”

  “Dad, look what Gram and Grandpa gave me.” Ruby runs over to show Rex the gold heart-shaped pendant hanging from a chain.

  Placing a hand over my racing heart, I exhale a relieved sigh. Our flirtatious banter was a little too much fun. I’m supposed to be here in a supportive capacity, yet somehow I’ve slipped into a more relaxed role. Not good, Danika. Not good.

  12

  Rex

  “Thanks for coming. Drive safe.” I give a final wave and close the door, turning to face Danika. “Christ. I never thought they’d leave.”

  “Rex. That’s your family.” I feel a momentary wave of shame. I shouldn’t be happy that my own daughter left as well, but I am. And spending some time alone with Danika is the motivation behind it.

  “I know that. Remembering who they are is the only thing that makes being around them for so long bearable.” I really do love them, but having them all together at once can be a bit overstimulating for my brain.

  “You’re awful.” She slaps my stomach with the back of her hand. “I think your family is awesome. They made me feel right at home.”