Juicy Rebound (IceCats 1)

“Wow, this is impressive.”

“It is,” I say as I take Chandler’s hand and get out of the car. I turn back to get the bags of presents for my family, and my stomach aches with nerves. Since we got off the highway and ended up on my aunt and uncle’s street, I have been dreading it. I haven’t spoken to either one of them since I left to be with Drew. Everyone said things they didn’t mean, and it’s awful because I was very close to them. They were like a second set of parents. We grew up as a whole, a unit.

I shouldn’t be nervous to see them. I should be excited, but I don’t know what they’ll say. Do they hate me? Are they disappointed? I don’t know, and I honestly don’t want to find out, but Chandler missed that memo. He’s pulling me toward the house, looking like a kid who’s about to get the last Christmas cookie.

“You’re excited,” I say.

He grins back at me, his nose red from the cold. “It’s Christmas. Plus, food. I’m hungry.” His grin is intoxicating. Almost calms my nerves. “Are you not excited? You’re not still thinking about Fuckface, are you?”

I laugh. “No, just a bit nervous… I haven’t seen them in a while.”

He wraps his arm around me, and I lean into him. “It’s gonna be awesome.”

Or a train wreck.

I don’t want to ruin his excitement, so I just smile as we head up the walkway. Inside, I can hear my cousins running and screaming. This house is never quiet. Ever. The boys are rough, and the girls are loud. Add in Ryan and me, and no one gets a word in. I’ve missed this house, my family, but still, I’m terrified.

When we reach the door, I’m unsure if I’m supposed to knock. I look at Chandler as he takes the presents from me. “Figure you need your hands.”

“For what?”

“To hug people.”

I snort. “Doubt anyone will want to hug me.”

He scoffs before grabbing my body with one arm. “I always want to hug you.” God, he’s perfect. “Do you knock or walk in?”

I usually walk in. Don’t make this weird. This is your family’s home, I tell myself. I bite my lip, and then I push the door open. Just like the outside, the inside is fully decked out in Christmas joy. The twins, Evan and Owen, are tag-teaming their baby brother, Quinn, on the floor in front of the TV. Those two are always beating up their brother. Posey, Shelli’s only sister, is in the corner on her phone. Ryan is sitting with Sofia in his lap next to Posey, and all of them are laughing at whatever is on her phone. Shelli, in all her beautiful glory, stands in the middle of my aunt, uncle, and Mom, with a look of pure exasperation on her face.

“Guys, he dropped the charges from what my lawyer is saying,” she explains, but my uncle isn’t having it. Shea Adler is a large man, bigger than Chandler. He’s put on some weight through the years, and his hair is a lot grayer than it was four years ago. My aunt is petite beside him, curvy as all get-out with long, beautiful auburn hair. Uncle Shea has his arm around Elli as they both scold my cousin.

“You never should have hit him,” my uncle stresses. “You’re lucky this time.”

“Shelli, honey, you are better than that,” Aunt Elli reminds her, but Shelli doesn’t care.

When Shelli’s gaze meets mine, she grins. “Oh, thank God you’re here. Look, Amelia’s here!”

Asshole.

It’s like that awkward moment in a movie when a person who isn’t supposed to be there arrives at the party. Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks at me. I glance from where my mom is grinning at me to my uncle, who has a stern expression on his face. His blazing blue eyes burn into mine, and then he is moving. I widen my eyes because I don’t know what is happening. He stops before me, looking me over as he slowly shakes his head. I brace for impact, waiting for him to start yelling, but then he pulls me forcefully into his arms. The air is promptly knocked out of me as he holds me tight to his strong chest.

“Damn it, Amelia, I’ve missed you,” he whispers into my hair. When he pulls back, his eyes are full of tears. “I’m sorry. Really. But don’t you ever leave like that again. I’ve missed you. We need you.”

I’m bowled over by emotion. My heart seizes in my chest, but before I can say anything, Aunt Elli comes and wraps her arms around us. She kisses my head, her sweet green eyes meeting mine. “I love you, Amelia.”

My lips curve as my own eyes fill with tears. Shelli comes over next, embracing us, and then Posey. My mom laughs around a sob as she wraps her arms around us. Quinn joins in, along with Evan and Owen. Ryan is the last one to encircle us with his arms, a massively suffocating hug only my family would do. When I hear the snap of a shutter, I know someone has taken our photo. If I still had Facebook, it would be my profile picture. Instantly.