“Thanks, Dad,” Chad said, tucking his wallet in his suit jacket. “We’re gonna look like a holiday Christmas card today.”
That attitude had Dylan laughing again. “Yeah, I think that’s what your mom wanted.”
“I need everyone to stop whining and get in the car,” Teri yelled out from somewhere in the living room. She had to have been heard throughout the entire house from that vantage point. “You have three minutes!”
Dylan could hear her high heels clicking on the hardwood floors as she headed in their direction. She came around the corner as frustrated as Cate had been a few minutes ago. “We’ve raised terrible children,” she announced and stuck her head back out into the open living room. “Two and a half minutes, and I’m not playing. There will be consequences, and there better be smiles on your faces!”
She turned back, eyeing Chad closely. “Do you have anything to say to me about your suit?”
“No, ma’am!” Oh. Dylan winced. He’d pulled out the ma’am.
“Good, then you’re now my new official favorite child.” She looked over at Dylan, her eyes blazing mad. She stopped him before he had a chance to tell her how pretty she looked today. “I’m going to my car. Chad, get in my car. We’ll drive separately from you. Don’t be nice to them when they come down. They’ve been wretched and ungrateful children.” She was through the kitchen and out the back, the door to the garage slamming in her wake. Chad followed, raising his brows until something caught his attention and Chad turned.
“Oh my god, you look like twins!” Chad barked out on a laugh with wide eyes.
“Chad, get in the car and shut your mouth,” Dylan warned, waiting to see the girls come around the corner. He couldn’t help his smile when they did. They weren’t exactly matching dresses, but most definitely not a color or style they would have picked for themselves.
“You look beautiful,” Dylan started.
“No, don’t even say it, Dad! And Mom’s being terrible,” Cate said, storming toward the back door.
“I bet she’s on her period,” Chloe mumbled, following behind.
“It’s a big day for our family. Please put smiles on your faces and be nice,” Dylan advised. The horn sounded off as Chloe gave him a big fake smile and Cate opened the back door.
“We’re coming, Mom. Stop being so mad,” Cate called out toward Teri.
“Can I ride with you?” Chad asked.
“Yeah, come on. I’ll make the excuse to your mom.” Dylan grabbed his suit jacket off the back of a chair, patting his son on the shoulder. Today was a monumental turning point in all their lives. Secret Networks was announcing its merger with Wilder, Inc. The whole day would be filled with parties, press announcements, meet-and-greet sessions. Just a very special day for the Reeves family.
He grabbed a duffel bag by the back door and slung the strap over his shoulder.
“Should I take a change of clothes?” Chad asked, stopping himself from walking out the door as he eyed Dylan’s bag.
“No, I have to stay downtown tonight. Wilder has meetings into the night.” Dylan never looked over at Chad after he told the lie. He went out the back door, hoping he sounded convincing. Teri was far better at lying to them.
Tristan was in town for the big companywide announcement. Dylan stayed with him last night and came home way before anyone woke this morning. He planned to do the same tonight. Two weeks had passed since the last time Tristan had been in town and nothing earth-shattering had happened, except that he missed Tristan. Over the last fourteen days, they’d stayed discreet, yet talked every single day, about a million times a day and even had some late-night, locked-in-the-bathroom Secret video sex chats. He really loved those nights.
The stark realization hit him—he’d become Teri. He had a romance outside of their family and the world hadn’t broken apart into a million pieces. All things considered, even with a car full of angry women staring him down, it was an incredible day.
“He’s riding with me,” Dylan called out. Teri was behind the wheel of her SUV, the frown clearly in place as she began to back out of the garage. Both girls were in her backseat, looking sullen-faced and regretful. They must have gotten an earful in the last minute and a half they’d been in the car.
He smiled and waved at the girls. If he could gauge a look, he’d say they were begging him to come save them from the monster that had taken over their mother’s body. Chad didn’t carry any of that stress as he stood there looking at him over the hood of his car.
“You’ve been happy for a few weeks now. We should have sold Secret sooner.” Chad’s observation threw him off until he realized he was smiling right then. He’d been smiling a lot lately. Dylan didn’t say a word, but hit the key fob to unlock the doors. Chad got inside as Dylan lifted the trunk and put his bag in the back. He guessed he should have done a lot of things sooner, but if he had, he wouldn’t be here right now.
Honestly, he wouldn’t change a thing. Tristan was well worth the wait.
Tristan paced the foyer of the executive offices of his newly purchased Secret Networks, nervous as hell. He adjusted his tie, bit at his bottom lip, all while walking a path in the carpet. He kept stealing glances at the clock on the back wall. With the hope of keeping this moment as private as possible, he relieved the executive assistant from the task of answering the phones today and had her down with everyone else, eating a breakfast hosted by Wilder, Inc. It was a huge day of celebration and Dylan had clearly spun this buyout well. Company morale remained high. Not the normal fear he usually walked into after acquiring a business. Everyone was excited about the future, including him, just not at this exact moment. Right now, he was nervous as hell, waiting for Dylan and his family to arrive.