"You," I growled.
Darcy was standing behind his mother as he knowingly grinned at me. The pussy, he was actually using his mother, the women who carried him for nine months and birthed him, as a human shield. He was a bloody wimp!
"You both promised you wouldn't start any fights tonight," Marie said as she turned to her side and looked back and forth between Darcy and myself.
I continued to glare at Darcy as I said, "I know, and I'm not going to start anything."
Darcy winked at me and said, "Me either."
I clasped my hands together to try and kill the slap-Darcy-itch that gathered on both of my palms.
"Is it too much to ask for a picture? The last one we have of you both together is from when you're both kids."
Lie.
"We're in tons of pictures-"
"They are family pictures," Marie cut me off. "Not any of just the two of you both in a picture on your own... not smiling anyway."
I swallowed down the rejection I planned when I saw Marie's face, she looked so hopeful that I couldn't say no to her even though I really wanted to. She was like a mother to me and I hated seeing her upset.
"Okay, fine."
Marie's gasped and quickly grabbed a reluctant Darcy's arm and all but threw him at me.
"Arm over her shoulder, Darcy, and arm around his waist, Neala. Somebody get Clare, she needs to witness this, it might never happen again!"
I rolled my eyes.
We weren't a bloody comet that only passed by the Earth once in a millennium.
I wanted to get the picture done, but Marie wouldn't move until Clare, my meddling mother, was next to her.
"Why do you want me Ma?" I asked as I sharply put my arm around Darcy's waist and left it hover there, making sure to barely touch him.
I refused to look at Darcy as the side of his body moulded against mine. This was horrible and he would no doubt make me break my promise to our mother's if I looked at him so I kept my gaze on Marie's bright one.
"Because we haven't seen this type of picture in nearly a decade!" Marie stated making Jess, who came up beside her, laugh.
"You both look great together," Jess commented just as my mother appeared.
My flesh and blood aka my cow of a mother squealed, "Oh, don't they just."
To which I growled, "Don't."
Jess smirked, my mother ignored me, and Marie pretended the camera suddenly wasn't working just so Darcy and I would be stood next to one another for longer. She thought she was being clever, but she was just being obvious. Well, to me she was anyway.
"Come on, Ma, you turned it off. So just turn the fecking thing back on," Darcy suddenly grunted.
I mentally snorted.
Okay, so he knew what she was up to as well.
"Don't rush me, I birthed you so I can unbirth you just as quick!" Marie snapped at Darcy making Jess laugh.
I glared at Jess who only continued to beam in our direction. It was honestly starting to freak me out so I switched my gaze to my mother, but when I saw water pool in her eyes I quickly made Marie my focus point.
Bloody women.
"Okay, both of you smile," Marie said in a cheerful voice then huffed, "and don't force it, Neala!"
I rolled my eyes but did as asked and smiled wide - and because Darcy didn't get told off I imagined he did the same. I flinched a little after the flash of the camera went off, but I quickly snapped out of it.
"Oh, my goodness!" Marie beamed. "It's beautiful. I'm framing this!"
"Me too!" my mother gushed.
"Oh, my God," I grumbled as I quickly dropped my arm away from Darcy and took a step too the left.
The freedom was short lived because my mother shot forward and pushed me back against Darcy, which surprised me and caused me to stumble. I was even more surprised when large hands gripped onto my waist and kept me upright and on my feet.
"Careful," Darcy muttered, but didn't look at me as he pulled away from me once again.
I brushed myself off with my hands and mumbled, "Thanks."
I blinked when I realised those were the nicest thing Darcy and I have willingly said to one another in years.
Wow.
My mother's giggle got my attention.
"Sorry, baby, but I want pictures with the both of you... with Sean."
I glared at my mother. "You're pushing it."
She just smiled at me like she had no clue what I was talking about, but of course she did because she knew everything. The cow knew Darcy and Sean were on my hit list and she wanted me in close proximity with both of them? She really was testing a girl's restraint.
"Sean!" my mother shouted.
I don't know how he heard her over the punters in the pub, but Sean popped up behind Jess and rubbed his neck as he said, "Yeah, Ma?"
My mother snapped her fingers at him. "Picture time with Neala and Darcy, now."
Sean hesitated when our eyes locked.
He swallowed, and shook his head. The worry on his face made me happy.
He was scared, and he should be.
"Sean, don't make me ask again. Get in the picture with Neala and Darcy."
Sean visibly paled as he stepped around a laughing Jess and walked in our direction.
"Please don't hit me," Sean muttered as he came up against my left side.
I gritted my teeth. "No promises."
My mother was exasperated as she gave the lads orders on where to put their hands on my body. They were both told to place their hands on my back, and lean into me because I was considerably shorter than both of them. I blew out a breath when their hands pressed against me and we were told to smile.
"Stunning!" Marie gushed.
I could feel the lads start to pull away when Justin's voice suddenly sounded in my ear.
"Don't forget me."
Our mother's squealed with delight.
Justin placed his hands on Sean and Darcy's shoulders and rested his chin on my head.
"Smile!" Marie shouted proudly.
We did as ordered and when the last flash went off I couldn't help but groan.
"Was that the last one?"
I felt a hand nudge my back. "Don't complain about getting in pictures with family, kid," Justin said.
I grunted but kept my mouth shut.
"No, it's not the last one. Now one with you all and Jess since she is joining the family. Where is Sarah? I want a group photo of all of you together"