I rolled my eyes. "Only a little bit."
Dominic chuckled as did Damien as they both moved to the large kitchen table. Branna was already putting out plates with food on them, and the smell was attracting the brothers like a bunch of wild animals.
"Touch those roast potatoes, Dominic, and I will end you," I said without turning around.
"How did you know I was going to take one?" he asked.
"Because you're impatient and greedy," I answered, making him snort.
I turned and smiled at everyone taking their seats at the table while I walked over and put the gravy boat on a coaster. I took my seat next to Dominic and smiled when he gave me a wink.
I looked to all the food and grinned. "Not to toot my own horn, but this looks amazin'."
Ryder chuckled. "It does look amazing, you and Branna did an awesome job."
Branna and I perked up with the praise and beamed when the other brothers agreed. Damien reached for a roast potato, and because he was seated to my right, I smacked his hand away making him yelp which his brothers found funny.
"Rude!" Damien snapped.
I raised my eyebrow. "Says the greedy fucker who is takin' food before we pray!"
Damien sighed. "Sorry."
I nodded and looked to everyone. "Hold hands."
No one moved except Branna, and it made me snort. "We don't pray before every meal but Christmas time is different. Besides, after all the shite you lot did over the past few years, you need to be prayin' to God."
Branna snorted when all the brothers practically grabbed each other hands and held them; everyone bowed their heads, and so did Branna, so I guess it left me to say a prayer.
"Thank you for blessin' us with this meal we're about to receive and thank you for keepin' us all safe and sound throughout our struggles over the past few weeks. Thank you for makin' mine and Branna's family whole again by bringin' the brothers into our lives. Please keep Damien safe when travels to America and when he is ready, guide him safely back home to us. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."
"Amen," everyone said in unison.
I looked up and reached for the mashed potatoes bowl but froze when I realised everyone was looking at me. I felt my entire face flush as I cleared my throat as I said, "Branna always says the prayers, I never do, did I mess it up?"
Dominic leaned over, pressed his hand to the back of my neck and pulled my face to his. He covered my mouth with his and gave me a long, gentle kiss. "No, pretty girl, it was perfect."
I smiled when we broke apart and looked to everyone else and found them smiling at me, I felt like I was about to combust when Damien reached over and kissed my cheek. "Love you, Bee," he said.
I forced myself not to cry, but it was hard because this was a damn touching moment.
"Love you, too, Dame."
Alec's overplayed clearing of his throat made me snort. "Love you as well, Alec."
I flicked my eyes to Kane and found him already looking at me, his eyebrows raised. "I love you Kane, and you Ryder, and you Branna. I love you all."
Everyone chuckled as more I love you's got thrown around making everyone beam with happiness. We all dug into our food then, and drank our beers as the lads started up random conversations about the future. Dominic wanted to finish school and go on to college; Damien was going back to America for a while; Alec wanted to remain a bachelor; Kane wanted to see if he could do something with the abandoned community centre in town for the kids in the area, and Ryder just wanted to marry Branna.
A few times I just stopped to look around at the faces of the people who had all done what I thought was impossible; they had set up camp in my heart and wouldn't leave no matter what. It was the best feeling in the world.
I had a family again, a whole family, and I felt truly blessed because of it.
"Are you okay, phat ass?" Dominic asked in a teasing tone from my left.
I looked at him; I looked past his bruises and saw him. He was perfect; he saved me from myself, and he was all mine.
I gave him a wink that made him smile as I said, "I've never been better, Fuckface."
To write and self-publish Dominic took a crew of people, people I wouldn't have been able to do without during this journey. I couldn't have done any of this without you all, you're all brilliant!
God, for giving me the courage to simply 'go for it'.
My daughter, you're everything to me, mini me. I love you with all my heart.
My sister, the brainiac behind our late night brainstorming sessions. Like I said at the start of the book, I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without you. You're crazy, annoying and sometimes brilliant, I love you!