Athena snorts and picks up another cushion from the floor.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention to anyone you saw Zara and me kiss.” I assume she hasn’t already. She doesn’t seem to know anyone in town, other than my mother. And I would have heard if someone had blabbed to Mom about Zara and me kissing.
“So you’re ashamed that you’ve kissed her?”
“Of course not.” Never.
“Do you want to date her?” There’s no accusation in her tone this time. Only curiosity.
“I don’t date,” I say truthfully, though it’s none of her business.
Understanding lightens her eyes, and she tilts her head to the side, as if to get a better read on me. “So, you just have S.E.X with women.” Her eyes narrow. “Do you pay for it?” The words are spoken with a hard huff to her tone. “Or just hook up with women you meet?”
I’m sitting under a microscope, and she’s studying me like I’m some sort of biology experiment.
Peony squirms in my arms, ready to be put down. I lower her to the floor. “I’ve never paid for S.E.X.” Have no interest in paying for it either. Not that I’ve ever needed to. Finding a woman who wants to screw hasnever been a problem. “Anyway, we’re getting off topic. I can’t order you to be friends with Zara. But you’ll find she’s a good friend to have. And she wants to be your friend.”
Athena stares at me and then blinks. “She…she wants to be friends?”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“Because I’m your employee.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t be friends. I’m not talking about you two becoming besties. But wouldn’t it be nice to have someone in town who you can talk to? About women stuff?” Or whatever it is women talk about.
The corner of her mouth quirks up. “Okay.”
“Good. We should get going. My parents are expecting us.” The only reason I’m taking Athena along is because it might be easier on Peony if there’s another person she knows and trusts at my parents’ place.
Zara had planned to join us, but she obviously can’t make it now.
Lucas, Simone, Kylie, and Zoe are already in my parents’ backyard when we walk through the side gate. So are Kellan and Troy. Emily and Jess are volunteering with the hayrides in town, so they won’t be here until later.
“Okay,” I say to Peony as I carry her, the midafternoon sun kissing the back of my neck. “Should we try this again with your uncles? Remember, I’m here, and no one will hurt you. They just want to get to know you.”
Peony’s expression doesn’t give any hint that she understands me. Her gaze is on Simone and Lucas’s two girls playing with the water table.
Athena and I walk across the recently mowed lawn to the girls.
Zoe spots Peony in my arms and points at her. “Baby!”
Peony grins at the two-year-old. Mom has taken Peony to visit Simone and the girls a few times, so Peony knows Zoe. It’s just Lucas who Peony hasn’t gotten to know yet or spend time with.
“Hey, girls.” I kneel beside the table and lower Peony to the ground. She immediately plays with the table, scooping water onto the grass.
I laugh. “I don’t think that’s what you’re supposed to do with the water.”
Lucas walks over to us, his steps hesitant as if he’s gauging Peony’s reaction to him. He crouches between Kylie and Zoe on the other side of the table. Peony eyes him leeringly, the yellow scoop still in her hand.
I put my hand on her back, reassuring her I’m here. Nothing bad will happen.
My oldest brother picks up the red cup, fills it with water, and pours the contents into the small tray elevated above the table. Water rains from it onto the table below. And onto the rubber duck floating on the water.
A delighted smile breaks out on Peony’s face, though I suspect this isn’t the first time she’s seen the table make rain. She splashes her hands in the water, creating waves that send the duck bobbing toward Lucas through the shower.
He pours more water into the tray. Peony grins at him.
But the smile only lasts a fraction of a beat. It falls away, and her expression turns uncertain, her little brow wrinkling.
