Pas de Trois

Chapter 29: "You're not helping."

Chloe couldn't remember the last time she'd been so excited to see Hannah's car. But when they left the airport and it was waiting out front, Chloe really felt like they were home. The whole family, plus Danny and Slade were in L.A. for her Aunt Scarlett's wedding.

"I miss our car," Slade said as he slid into the backseat with Chloe. "Danny and I shared a car back home. It wasn't anything special but-"

"Sharing is not how I'd describe it," Danny snorted. "He would take some girl out and I'd be stuck waiting around for someone else to get me."

"Anyway, I miss driving," Slade said.

"Me too," Chloe agreed.

Hannah drove, Colin sitting next to her in the front seat. The rest of the family fit into Brent's escalade with the bodyguards who'd driven the family cars to meet them at the airport. Maddox was already in Los Angeles to rehearse for his upcoming tour.

It made sense then that when they reached their house that one of Eli's cars was in the driveway since he was still managing Maddox's tours. What Chloe wasn't expecting was to see Clay come outside a minute after they'd pulled in.

"Why is he here?" Chloe asked.

"I don't know," Hannah didn't look happy either.

"Ugh, let's go get Starbucks and maybe he won't be here when we get back," Chloe suggested.

"Would you two leave him alone?" Colin snapped. "The rest of us still want him around."

"Sorry," Hannah said quietly, like she'd been scolded. Colin gave her a tight smile before he got out of the car.

"So that's Clay?" Danny asked.

"Yeah, that's him," Slade answered before Chloe could. "He's actually nice but, you know," he shrugged, like they should just fill in the rest.

"He's a lot hotter in person than he is in his pictures," Danny peered out of the car. Clay walked back into the house with Colin.

"Yeah, he is," Chloe had to agree there. "He picks the worst angles for selfies."

"But he does fill out those shorts perfectly," Danny went on. "Damn."

"Alright, that's enough," Slade gave them both a look. "Unless Hannah wants to add something."

"I was honestly thinking he looks better than the last time we were here," Hannah blushed. "But so does Bryce, he kind of grew up."

"Damn, he did get taller," Chloe realized. She pushed Slade so he would get out of the car. Bryce came over to hug her and Hannah.

"Is Uncle Adam here too?" Avery was asking.

"Yeah, we've been cooking dinner," Bryce said. "Well, Clay and I cooked. Dad watched."

They got all their stuff inside and it was just as Bryce said. Clay was cooking while Adam stood there talking to him and reading instructions.

"I'm so glad Adam is here," Slade said. It seemed like he'd only spoken loud enough for Chloe to hear him but Danny grinned.

"So am I," Danny said, his eyes sweeping over Adam's backside. Slade gave him another dirty look but Danny just kept smiling. Chloe wanted to ask Slade why he was happy to see Adam but she didn't really get a chance with the whole family buzzing around them.

Brent pushed his way into the kitchen, acting like he was just there to see Bryce and Clay but Chloe soon realized that he was supervising while they made dinner. It was pretty pointless since Clay and Bryce did most of the cooking while Eli and Maddox were away anyway but no one seemed to pay much attention to him.