Him (Him, #1)

by Sarina Bowen

rake one hand through my hair, and he suddenly captures my wrist, his brown eyes narrowing. “When did you get this done?” He’s looking at my new tat, and I feel sheepish as I answer, “Couple days after I left camp.” Rough fingertips skim the line of black ink. “What are these coordinates for?” I’m not surprised he’s figured it out. My man is smart. “Lake Placid,” I tell him. His eyes lock with mine. “I see.” He clears his throat, but when he speaks again, his voice is still lined with gravel. “You really do love me, huh?” “Always have.” I swallow hard. “Always will.”

“But here’s the thing about family, Ryan…blood doesn’t mean shit. You just need to surround yourself with people who do love you, and they become your family.”

The siblings crowd us as Jamie and I each open a box. I lift the lid and push some tissue paper aside. Then I pull out a gorgeous hand-thrown coffee mug. It says “HIS” on the side. I hear laughter and look over at Jamie’s gift. Another mug reading “HIS.” “Mom!” Jess hollers. “The point of labeled mugs is so that they can tell them apart! You should have done their initials.” “But that wouldn’t amuse me,” his mother explains, grinning.

Jamie doesn’t leave my side, though. He and I are the calm eye of a friendly, familial hurricane. And I hope the storm will never pass.