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There are several traditions that the Lahey's have when it comes to the Fourth of July. If Grandma and Grandpa are with us, we have a moment for Grandpa's mom and dad, who died a long time ago on the Fourth of July. But Grandma and Grandpa weren't up for travelling to California, so we stuck to one of our more informal forms of celebration.

Me, mom, dad, Max, Amalia, Lucas, Milly and Flynn were all on the deck or a step below in the sand. The barbecue was grilling steaks and sausages, there was a chiller of ice and cold beverages and music pounding through the speakers. Dad said that some of his friends would be dropping in to have a drink and Coleman was meant to be here soon after he'd been to see his son.

Flynn, Lucas and Max were out on the sand with a football, tossing it around while dad flipped meat on the grill and mom walked back and forth from the kitchen with plates, glasses, salads, side dishes. I'd offered to help but she told me to remain seated with the girls. Amalia, Milly and I were on the double lounger.

It was the best seat in the house as far as I was concerned. And not because I could see Flynn running around without his shirt on, sweating up a storm, but because the lounge chair was as wide as a double bed, made of soft foam and could recline right out into a literal bed or it could be set so that it was elevated. The three of us fit on it with room to stretch.

"So," Mills said from one side of me, she was in a cute blue bikini whereas I'd opted for cotton shorts and a cropped tank top. "Have you decided where to live after the summer?"

"I think I want to move back in with Flynn and work on our relationship."

"Aww," Amalia pouted from the other side of me.

"I know," I pouted back. "It's hard. I love living with you and Max. And I'll miss Bernie. But hell, do I miss California."

"And Flynn?" Milly teased.

"Of course."

We fell quiet for a moment and I hoped that it wasn't obvious that I'd lied. Missing Flynn wasn't a lie. I missed him all the time and I did miss this home, California, the beach. But there was something about New York and the work that I was doing with Bernie. The possibility of a brand new venture. A purpose. It made me wish that Bernie could come here so that we could keep designing and pushing her brand together. But that wasn't possible. It was getting harder and harder to decide what exactly it was that I wanted but moving back to California and living with Flynn made the most sense. He was my future. So that was what I was choosing.

"How's school going, Milly?" Amalia leaned forward and pushed the bridge of her glasses further up her nose.

"It's going," she shrugged. "Final year starting in September. And I haven't a damn clue what I want to do after I graduate."

"What about the book that you were writing?" I asked.

"Oh I'm still working on it," she pursed her lips and tilted her head. "I need to be realistic though. I'll need to get a job. There's no guarantee that the book thing will pan out. So, I don't know, I was thinking of going into book retail or something of the likes. Something to do that won't be all time consuming, if that makes sense."

"That'd be fun," Amalia said. "I read a lot of self help books so I go into the book stores at least once a month. It feels like it'd be a great working environment."

"You read self help books?" Milly stared at her, mouth agape. "What on God's green earth do you need a self help book for? To be even more perfect?"

Amalia laughed her modest little giggle and said nothing in return.

"Seriously, you're the perfect woman. Looks, personality, even your laugh is a wet dream."

"Amalia doesn't like the word perfect," I informed Mills with a grin.

Milly threw her hands in the air. "See. Modest too. The bitch."

"Ahh," Amalia threw her head back with amusement. "Come on. Look, I would kill for your boobs Milly. Are you even wearing a push up? Look at that cleavage."

Milly grinned and shimmied so that her chest shook. "Yeah I'm proud of these puppies."

I pointed at Amalia's light brown legs, she was shining from the sunscreen she'd put on and her glisten was mesmerising. "I'd kill for that natural tan."

"Don't even get me started," Milly held her hand up in protest, her expression dead straight. "I'm literally over here being a beacon for over head air craft. The sun bounces off me and blinds people. So shut it."

"Babe," Lucas called for Milly and held up a bottle of sun screen. "My watch just went off. Time for a reapplication."

"Wait," I clutched her arm as she went to sit up. "Are you telling me that my brother keeps an alarm on so that he can remind you when it's time to put on more sunscreen?"

"Yep."

"Aw," Amalia and I cooed together.

"Oh shut up."

Amalia and I watched her wander off across the deck and down onto the sand where Lucas gave her a kiss and a squeeze before she turned around so that he could lather her back. I didn't give him enough credit. He was a good dude. Supportive. In love with his girl. It made it all the more sweeter considering she's my best friend and I want nothing but the best for her. Deep down, I think I'd always known that Lucas was capable of being this person, he just drove me mental waiting for it to happen.

"Who would have thought," Amalia wore a soft smile. "Is it weird to admit that I'm glad Lucas messed around on me? He and Mills are gorgeous together."

"Mhmm," I agreed. "I won't say that you ended up with the better brother, because I love them both, but you ended up with the better brother for you. Max would never have kissed another girl behind your back. Will never."

"Eh, it's in the past," she said. "Like I said, I'm glad that he messed around on me."

"He did what?"

Amalia and I twisted and saw mom standing behind us with a pitcher of cold water and a stack of glasses. If looks could kill, we'd be fried.

"Mom—"

"You did what?!" She shouted at Lucas, who was staring at the three of us with his hands on Milly's shoulders, his expression slowly morphing into recognition and then into fear as his throat rolled and he bared his teeth in a grimace.

"You messed around on this girl?! That's why it didn't work? My son, a cheater?!"

"We technically weren't official, Dallas," Amalia's laugh was nervous and she winced when mom raised a finger to quiet her. Dad had become uncharacteristically quiet, attention on the chicken kebabs cooking and I suspected that was because he'd known from the get go. He didn't keep secrets from mom but he made an exception back then, in order to save his son's life. Wasted effort it would seem.

"Mom come on," Lucas threw his hands up. "It was ages ago. She's good. She's with Max. We've all moved on."

Dad snapped the tongs and scoffed. "Mom doesn't move on."

Lucas pointed at him. "Dad knew the whole time."

Mom's head snapped in dad's direction, his complexion had paled and a stare down commenced. Trust Lucas to deflect mom's frustration onto dad. It was quiet, we were all watching, waiting. Mom looked like she wanted to swing at someone but was at a definite loss for words and Mills was burning a hole in Lucas' head.

Suddenly, dad smiled. "You look spectacular, Cheer. Straight up sexiest woman in the world. Can I persuade you to let me ravish the anger right out of you?"

Mom tipped her head back with frustration. "You're not even going to deny it then? Just straight to the making up part?"

Dad gave her a playful shrug. "That's the best part."

"Drayton!"

Dad sighed, dropped the tongs and slipped his hands into his pockets. "No I'm not going to deny it. I kept a secret from you. I shouldn't have. You can be as mad as you want."

"Oh I'm mad," mom snapped and finally set the pitcher of water down. Which surprised me. I thought dad was going to end up wearing it.

"Wait," dad said. "Are you more mad about what Lucas did or about me keeping it a secret?"

"The fact that it was a secret!"

"Oh," dad pouted. "Alright well, listen, we have attractive children. I didn't want Lucas to end up with a crooked nose. He's in a long term relationship now. Probably doesn't matter anymore. Have at it."

Lucas threw his hands up. "What?!"

"Oh," mom leaned a hand on the table top and gave dad a slow nod, her smile was full of evil intent. "Is that the requirement, is it? As long as the relationship is solid and long term. You're in luck then."

"I'm going to clean the kitchen," dad made a beeline straight for the door and disappeared inside. Mom snorted with laughter as soon as he was gone.

"Idiot."

Of course she wasn't mad. Not as mad as she let dad think. She just finds it amusing to make him sweat. Especially when she knows that she should be mad. She can never seem to reach that full rage level of anger though. She loves him too much. Even the parts of him that frustrate her make her smile when he's not watching. I love my parents.

"Flynn," mom called. "Can you please take over the grill?"

He nodded and bounded up onto the deck, his chiselled torso gleamed and his silk smooth hair shimmered in the sunlight. What an absolute stud. He flipped patties, the sea was a sensational soft blue background, the white tips of the waves, the glittering sun on the surface. It was one of those moments where the scene, the people, the atmosphere was enough to instil total peace and contentment. Belonging. I sat there, watching him and wondered how I could feel that for two different places.

Mom walked inside and now that Max had been left alone with the football, he ditched it and came toward Amalia. I decided to give him my spot and stood up gesturing at the place that I had been sitting. He smiled and gave me a slap on the back before I headed over to Flynn and slid my arms around his waist.

"I hope that's my girl and not Lucas being a weirdo."

"Lucas is over there oiling his girlfriend up," I giggled and pressed a kiss in the middle of his back. "He would do something like that though."

He peered over his shoulder. "Has. He has done something like that. Often. He's a strange one."

"Should I be jealous?"

Flynn sighed. "He's a beautiful man but I can't say that I've ever felt the urge to reach that next level with him."

"Don't lie," Lucas stepped up onto the deck with his hand behind him, fingers laced with Mills. She had pink cheeks and shoulders. Even with the sunscreen on, she was prone to a light crisp. "Remember when we decided who'd be top and who'd be bottom?"

I slid around to Flynn's side and raised a brow. "Do share."

"Oh I will," Lucas dropped his arm around Milly's shoulder and gave us a smug grin. "Yeah we were talking all about how we'd shack up if our women left. He'd be bottom. Because, he's bigger, but he's softer. You know? Gentle natured. I'd be the man, right babe," he winked at Flynn.

"We were drunk."

"We were drunk and cuddling," Lucas grinned.

"All we had was the one single dorm bed!"

I pinched his side and laughed. "Someone's getting defensive. Have something to share."

He shook his head and muttered something about the stress of being in this family, which just made Lucas and I laugh harder.

"You idiots are burning the food," Milly pointed at the grill and Flynn snapped to attention, cursing and panicking as he turned the heat down.

"Babe," he said, the tongs collecting grease as he scraped the food to the side. "Can you please get me a serving dish?"

"Sure," I tiptoed and he lowered so that I could give him a kiss.

I headed for the house and went into the kitchen, pausing at the threshold when I saw mom and dad cuddled up, leaning on the island.

Dad looked down at mom. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have kept it a sec—"

"It's fine," mom interrupted, giving his chest a gentle tap. "There are some secrets that father and son are allowed. They're adults now. They can choose who they talk to about certain things."

Dad grinned. "I love you."

"I love you too. And I'm damn glad that Lucas seems to have grown out of that behaviour."

"He's a Lahey," dad kissed her cheek. "We get there eventually."

"Yes, I suppose you do."

Dad gave her another kiss and then, while he was still watching her, he said, "now beautiful wife, give me a second with our eavesdropping daughter."

I laughed and wandered in as he and mom stepped apart. The oven was humming and the windows were wide open, letting the scent of the salt sea travel in, whirring with the hot food being kept warm in the oven. It smelled like summer. It unlocked a plethora of memories, childhood memories. Today was a good day.

"So," dad smiled after mom had wandered out with the serving dish for Flynn. "How are you doing, princess?"

"I'm good dad," I rested my palms on the kitchen island and hoisted myself up so that I was sat on the edge of it. "It's nice being here again. Relaxing. How are you? Not in too much trouble?"

He laughed and adjusted his backward cap. "Nope. Thank God your mom is a patient woman."

"Oh dad, I'm sure being married to you doesn't require much patience at all."

"Oh ha ha."

"You did look a bit scared out there, dad. Frightened for your life?"

"I'm not scared of your mother," he made a slow wander over to the kitchen threshold where the living room was just a step across the corridor and looked out of the big floor to ceiling sliding doors. We could see the crew outside and dad watched mom laughing with Max and Amalia. "I am scared of losing your mother though."

"I doubt that would happen," I said, standing beside him.

"I've never considered it impossible because then I might get lazy. I knew that I'd found the woman for me when I met her and ever since, I've been doing what I can to win her over. I never wanted to become complacent so I do the surprises and I do the dates and the affection and we keep it alive because it's worth it. And I don't make mistakes because I know what a mistake could cost me. I don't do things that would jeopardise how she sees me because I wouldn't ever be the same if she no longer looked at me as the love of her life."

I watched him talk, smiling so hard that it hurt. He seemed so distant now, as if he was thinking out loud. "You don't ever make mistakes dad?" I had to ask because not even my father was capable of perfection.

"I mean, I make mistakes, of course. But I'm talking about big ones. You know. Ones that would hurt her or hurt our family. It's not hard to keep out of trouble. I still piss her off but not to the point where she couldn't stand me. And vice versa. Your mom is compassionate and generous and she's firm but that's because she wants the best for the people that she loves."

I sighed with content and leaned into him when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "You both inspire me. I want that, dad."

"You don't have it?"

He was referring to Flynn. "No I mean, Flynn is perfect. He is. I have no complaints about our relationship or him as a partner. I jus—"

"You're restless, bub," he said and I stared at the floor, twisting my lip between my finger.

"I'm restless?"

"It's good to have a great relationship, but you need more than that. You're like mom. You want the big dreams. You can find a home in someone like Flynn, honey. But you can't find a career in him. You have to have more. You have to have goals and aspirations. And believe me, if he's not pushing you to achieve those goals, he's not the one."

I swallowed down a lump that kept me from answering. He'd managed to describe how I was feeling and I hadn't even known that was it.

"Your mom and I were on absolute fire for each other back when we were teenagers. In love like it was. . . surreal. But she had dreams. And she'd have chased them whether I followed her or not. But I wanted to watch her succeed. You know? I wanted to watch her getting everything that she worked for. It was fulfilling to be part of that. And she was the same when it came to the NFL. We've been each other's biggest supporters and that's essential. You can't hold each other back. It'll never last if you do."

I exhaled a pent up breath and looked out at Flynn who was still manning the grill. He'd never held me back. In fact, he reminded me all the time to do whatever it was that made me smile, that made me whole. I'd like to think that I had been supportive too. If all of that was true, why did I feel restless? Why did I feel like something was missing? I loved him with my entire heart, I would spend the rest of my life with him, but dad was right. I needed more and something told me that it wasn't in California.

My train of thought was interrupted when mom walked back inside, fanning her face. She'd ditched her sundress and was in a high waist bikini, looking far better than a woman her age had the right to. Dad watched her walk into the kitchen with his mouth hanging open.

"Babe, give a man some warning, damn. It's ten thousand fucking degrees hotter in here now. Should we have a cold shower?"

Mom started giggling while she walked around the island toward the fridge and dad looked at me with a wink.

"See, simple."

"You're a love guru, dad," I gave him a pat on the arm and left them alone. Because despite the fact that dad made it sound like that was some sort of example, I knew he meant it and he'd be on mom in a hot minute. He could put it down to effort, and sure, that helped but it was obviously a unique sort of love. Bless them.

My gaze fell on Flynn and I wanted so much to be sure that, that would be him and I in twenty years. But would it be? No one really knows.

To be continued.

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