Read Online The One That I Want by Marilyn Brant - Free Book Online

brother Derek, Derek’s wife Olivia, and their three boys for dinner and fireworks.
    Analise had always been a girl’s girl, one who kept to herself more often than not and, when seeking out friends, chose other girls as her companions. She rarely hung around boys if she could avoid it, so spending an evening with Shar’s adorable but rambunctious nephews—ages eleven, nine, and five—always gave her a new perspective.
    “C’mon, Analise,” Riley, the middle son, urged. “We’re gonna play Freeze Tag. James is it!”
    James, the eldest, crossed his arms. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m a ninja, you little brat. And you can bet I’m gonna get you first.”
    “Boys, be nice,” Olivia called out to them then rolled her eyes at me. “And don’t forget about Peter.” She patted her youngest son on the back and then began rubbing his shoulders like a coach readying a boxer for the big match. “Go chase your big brothers, honey. Go, go!”
    “Okay!” Peter said, sprinting away, arms pumping, like a mini superhero on the move.
    Olivia and I laughed.
    “You’re lucky you have a girl,” she said. “You can still have some breakables in your house.”
    I smiled. “Well, there was this one time when Analise decided to practice her fouettés in the living room. There was a vase and a couple of porcelain figurines that didn’t survive the day.”
    The other mom grinned at me as Shar walked into the room.
    “Hey, I just saw Chance’s jeep pull up in the drive,” Shar said. “Are he and Nia joining us?”
    “They are,” her sister-in-law said brightly. “It’s been hard to nail those two down for many events this summer—”
    “They’re always ‘working out’ together,” Shar said, using air quotes.
    “Is that what all the kids are calling it these days?” Olivia quipped.
    “Shh! They’re coming,” Shar said.
    I couldn’t help but smile at this. Chance and Nia had been an unlikely pair when they met at Harbor Fitness, the local gym, this spring, but they’d been inseparable from the moment they finally got together. Ahh, young love.
    “Hey, everyone!” Nia said, entering the family room like a sprite emerging from the forest. She was a mass of long dark hair, sparkling eyes, and youthful femininity. I might only be ten years older than her, but it felt like four decades at least.
    Chance Michaelsen trailed in after her, grinning but—as usual—silent. He offered a friendly wave to us all and took a moment to hug his sister and then his sister-in-law. To me, he just smiled and nodded, looking more like a marble Adonis than any living human had the right to.
    “What do you have here?” Olivia said when Nia handed her a large foil-covered tray.
    “Just a quick pan of galaktoboureko ,” she said. “My mom and I made extra.”
    I’d had this only a couple of times before, but it was delicious. Semolina custard in a phyllo pastry, covered with a sweet, lemony syrup. It was the signature dessert of The Gala, her family’s Greek restaurant and bakery. Every dish they made was rich and mouthwatering.
    “Yum,” Olivia said, peeking under the foil. “Thank you. Derek has got hot dogs and brats grilling out back, and the boys—”
    “Uncle Chance!” Riley shouted as he barreled toward the quiet man and attempted to tackle him.
    Chance looked amused. His very buff body was hardly swayed by the nine year old’s affectionate attack, but he pretended to cower in fear for a moment while his nephew boxed at him. Then he growled and grabbed for the kid, making Riley shriek with delight, and the chase was on.
    “Wish I had his energy,” Olivia said.
    “Don’t we all,” Nia agreed.
    Shar was unable to camouflage her smirk. “Well, from what I’ve heard about you from my brother—”
    “Shut it, Sharlene!” Chance bellowed from down the hallway. He might not talk a lot, but he was direct when he did. And there was nothing wrong with his hearing.
    Nia blushed.
    My best friend just