Carrick pulled himself back to the present and looked around the room. Finn stood in the corner, talking to Mason and Ronan, who wasn’t paying any attention to their conversation. Carrick followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at Joa Jones. Then Ronan’s eyes dropped to his kids, and Joa’s eyes left Sam and Aron to look at Ro.
Well, well, well... Wasn’t that interesting?
Carrick felt movement next to him and looked down at his sister. He pulled her to his side. “You and Levi look so happy, Tanna. I’m so glad you are back in Boston, that you are joining us at Murphy’s and that I’m going to get to boss you around daily.”
Tanna stuck her tongue out at him. “You can try.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist, the way she used to when she was a little girl. Carrick felt his throat close and he rested his head against hers. He’d raised her with the help of his brothers from the time she was ten and she’d been his to protect. Now she had Levi and he could stop worrying about her.
But a part of him always would. She was his kid, dammit, as well as his sister. And now he got to raise a child from the beginning. He was going to love and protect and raise a baby of his own.
How utterly cool and exciting and nerve-racking was that?
Carrick kissed her hair, released her and stepped back. “Enjoy your welcome home party, Tan.”
Tanna handed him a wobbly, emotional smile, but before she could respond, Levi simultaneously slapped a hand on Carrick’s shoulder and snagged Tanna’s waist, hauling her to his side. Levi dropped a hard, openmouthed kiss on his sister’s mouth and Carrick made a show of staring at the high, molded hundred-year-old ceiling.
“You can look now, Carrick,” Tanna said, laughing.
Carrick met his amused friend’s eyes. “He’s going to be a pain in the ass about this, isn’t he, honey?” Levi said.
“Indubitably,” Tanna replied.
Levi placed a kiss on Tanna’s temple. “Can I have a word with your brother, Tan?”
Tanna nodded and drifted away. When she was out of earshot, Carrick raised his eyebrows at his friend, enjoying the heat in Levi’s cheeks. Levi was the most composed, centered guy he knew and it was fun to watch him rock on his heels, his shoulders hunching as he jammed his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.
“Um, I’d normally ask your dad this, but—you know.”
Carrick pretended he had no idea what was coming next. “What are you talking about? And, hey, did you catch the game last night?”
“No, I, Carrick, listen...uh...”
“It was crap. The ref was biased.”
“Dammit, Carrick, I’m trying to say something here!” Levi snapped, visibly annoyed.
“Something that’s more important than the game?” Carrick teased him, but took a step back, just in case Levi lost it and punched him.
“Can I marry your sister or not?” Levi demanded, impatient.
Oh, this was far too good an opportunity to pass up. Carrick grinned, saw the relief in Levi’s eyes. “Not.”
Levi’s mouth fell open, caught totally off guard. His eyes bugged out and his pupils turned a startling shade of red. “Okay, thanks for nothing. Just so you know, nothing but death will stop us from getting married this time around.”
Carrick lifted his hands and rapidly backtracked. “Whoa, calm down. I was only joking.” Carrick risked putting his hand on Levi’s shoulder and giving it a tight squeeze. “You know that I approve. I approved when she was nineteen, I totally approve now. Not that you need my approval.”
Levi’s tension levels dropped and Carrick thought he was on firmer ground. “Good to know.” Levi nailed him with a hard stare. “And that was a lousy stunt to pull.”
“It was fun until you got this rabid look in your eyes,” Carrick said.
He held out his hand and when Levi’s hand met his, he pulled his friend into a one-armed hug. “Congratulations, man. I’m genuinely happy for you.”
“Thanks,” Levi said, now sporting a wide grin.
Nope, he wasn’t done with his about-to-be brother-in-law just yet. “So, one down, two to go.”
Levi pulled his eyes off Tanna to frown at Carrick. “What do you mean?”