Rendezvous (Renegades 5)

“Mom,” Justin’s bewildered voice cut into the moment. “Is Aunt Brooke moving out?”

“Shh,” Tammy told him. “Let her answer.”

“But she’s crying,” Justin said. “Can’t we just have Keaton move in with us? I’d share my room.”

Everyone busted up laughing, including Brooke. And when she cleared the tears from her eyes and looked at Keaton again, he was sharing one of those guy smiles with Justin. “Because I am just that cool, aren’t I, Justin?”

“Totally,” he said, utterly serious. “Aunt Brooke, I’d even clean the toys out of my closet to make room for his clothes.”

“Dude.” Keaton fisted the hand holding the key and held it out to Justin. “You are so freaking awesome.” Justin beamed as he met Keaton’s fist. Then Keaton gave Justin a secretive look and tilted his head toward Brooke, whispering, “But if Brooke comes to my house, then you have two places to live. How amazing would that be?”

His eyes went wide. “Oh, yeah.”

Brooke turned into a broken faucet. More tears leaked from her eyes. She tented her hands over her mouth and murmured, “God, I love you so much.”

He lifted the key again and gave her that look. The one that always floated in his eyes when he told her he loved her too. “Which is why you should take this. Because people who love each other should be together.”

“Mom says that all the time,” Justin agreed.

She reached out and stroked Keaton’s face. “I need to talk to Tam—”

“No, you don’t,” her sister cut in. “You should do it.”

“You should totally do it,” Justin agreed.

Keaton’s face broke into a beaming smile, and he laughed.

“Take it already,” Ellie said. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Thank you,” Rubi said, her voice brimming with attitude. “I almost split a seam holding that in.”

“Shush,” Brooke told everyone. “Jeez. Keaton’s spinning my head fast enough.”

“Welcome to Los Angeles,” Rubi whispered with an evil little edge. “Jump into the fire, it’s warm down here.”

“Baby,” Wes murmured, “save that good stuff for the bedroom.”

“Hello,” Tammy said, a reminder to Justin’s presence.

“Gah.” Wes rolled his eyes. “Kids.”

And more tears burned Brooke’s eyes. “Keaton,” she said softly, “I think we need to talk before—”

“Okay, okay,” he said with a dramatic you’re-crushing-my-jam flair. “Girl, you’re always demanding my A-game.”

His fingers disappeared into his wallet again and emerged this time with…

A ring?

Brooke gasped, along with every other woman at the table. Her heart jumped, tripped, tumbled, then got up and did it all over again. “What… What…”

Wes, Troy, and Jax pushed to their feet simultaneously as if they were choreographed and leaned in.

“Is that a fucking ring?” This from Troy.

“Mom,” Justin complained. “I can’t hear.”

“That’s the point,” Tammy told him. “Now be quiet so I can.”