Thankfully, no one had to see the way her words affected me when Alex piped in across the table. “Oh, were you just being nice when you let Colton kiss you twice?”
“Alex,” Autumn gasped at the same time Marisol scolded, “Alexandra! That was unnecessary. I’m sorry, Colton. My daughters seemed to have lost their manners along the way.”
Both women tucked their chins as they continued loading their plates.
“That’s okay, Mrs. Easterly. I never had siblings of my own, but I imagine that it’s like this in most families.”
“Were you an only child, dear?”
“I was in foster care most of my life.”
“Oh, Colton. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean-”
“That’s okay,” I said, reaching for a hearty steak kabob. “It’s common knowledge at this point. I’m envious of your family. It seems like there is a lot of love here.”
Noticeably, the table grew quiet, but no one seemed to touch their food.
“God, man,” Andrew whispered beside me and I felt embarrassed for whatever had settled over the family. I wasn’t sure what I had said that left them all out of sorts. Not even Nash would make eye contact.
The scratching of chair legs across the hardwood floors drew everyone’s attention to Autumn. “Wine. Does anyone else want wine?”
Hands shot up from around the table and I eagerly agreed to help Autumn in the kitchen. Together we poured the wine, chuckling when we realized we had both bought the same brand at the store. It definitely made it an easier process to divvy out.
Once the wine was served and the alcohol flowed through our veins, the chatter around the room filled the open space. The sisters and farmhands joked around while Andrew asked me about being a sports celebrity.
It felt. . .like home. There was a time where all I wanted as a child was to feel like I was accepted and wanted. Ms. Cathy had done her best to include all of us kids, but it was a strain on her and her family. I could easily imagine the large gathering of the Easterly family around a plump, juicy turkey at Thanksgiving. Or the girls excitedly bouncing around a Christmas tree. It was something I was determined to give myself in the future. A future I hadn’t really thought much about.
Not until the letters began arriving.
And now, it seemed, the text messages if the buzzing of my phone was any indication.
As Marisol began passing out pieces of an apple pie, I reached into my pocket to check the message from an unknown number.
“Do you need to get that?” Autumn asked from beside me, leaning over in her chair to whisper.
Quickly, I shoved the phone back into my pocket, knowing that I was going to have to deal with it later and dismissed Autumn’s concern.
The pie was one of the best things I’d ever eaten, and I made sure to let Marisol know. I left out the part where I wanted to smear the pie filling over Autumn’s body and lick up each morsel from her skin.
Nash and Andrew began cleaning the table, and I offered to assist, but the matriarch brushed away my invitation.
“Next week I’ll have to have you all stop by the house,” I said as Marisol poured herself another glass of wine.
“How is it coming along? I imagine it will take months just to get it to living condition, especially with the storm system moving this way this week.”
“Well, it helps that I’m paying for twenty-four-hour construction. The contractor estimated he’d have the place habitable in three weeks at that rate. Though I suppose we’ll lose a couple days if the storm is as bad as they’re calling for. But the exterior will be solid by Wednesday. The plumbing and electrical are getting tackled the following week.”
“That’s fascinating. Hopefully, Autumn can help you along the way.”
Pulling my gaze from Marisol and toward her daughter, I replied, “She already has been.”
“Dad,” Autumn interrupted as she stood from the table. “I’m going to take Colton to the barn. Can we take the Polaris?”
“Sure, honey. The keys are hanging in the mudroom,” Nash called out from the sink where he was loading the dishwasher.
“Come with me,” the temptress said and I eagerly followed. Hell, I was so infatuated with Autumn, I’d follow her just about anywhere.
She hopped in the driver’s seat of an off-road vehicle that I definitely planned on ordering for myself when I got back to my trailer and I took the passenger seat. Together we rode in silence, our bodies rocking back and forth across the uneven terrain, until ten minutes later we came upon a clearing where I recognized the barn from the pictures.
