“I wouldn’t be stranded because I can change a tire. I’d change it and be on my way.”
“I forget we’ve got Miss Independent over here. She’s probably been changing tires since she was five years old,” Ashlie says, folding her arms and leaning back in the stool.
“Six, but close enough,” I say, glaring back at her.
“So…you wouldn’t call me to come help you?” Chase’s face is scrunched as he asks the same question as before, clearly not understanding my position.
“Help me do what, exactly? By the time I called and waited for you to show up, I could have had the tire changed already.”
“That’s not the point…”
“What’s the point, then?” I curve an eyebrow up and cross my arms, waiting for his reply.
“The point is that you wouldn’t call me to help you when you’re stranded,” he speaks slowly, forming his words carefully.
“I wouldn’tbestranded, Chase,” I answer again as I watch him pull his lips together in a line, biting off any additions he had for this budding argument.
“I think we’re witnessing their first fight,” Hunter whispers loudly, nudging Ashlie withhis elbow.
“Speaking of ashy, get your dry ass elbow away from me,” Ashlie teases, pulling lotion out of her bag and handing it to him.
“That’s just my White half showing,” he jokes, rubbing some of the cream on his arms. The tension between me and Chase slowly fizzles as our friends continue to joke around, and finally, I’m relaxed enough to grab water and menus. We spend the rest of lunch laughing about one thing or another. When it’s time for them to go, Chase pulls me in close, as usual.
After they leave, I make the final decisions on the attire spread for my portfolio and then pack it up. Before I can work on the menu, I need to combine my digital sketches with images from my idea board. Luckily, my boyfriend and new brother just so happen to be good with technology, and they’ve offered to help me combine it all after my shift. Checking the clock, I have about two hours before I can hang up the apron.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
KAYLA
Ipull up to The Bluffs in time to see Mr. St. Clair and Maggie talking in the driveway of the fourth rental house. The man’s pale face is as unpleasant as it was last night, and I don’t have any desire to have another encounter with either of them.
It’s not that he’s ugly by any means, but the frigid look in his eyes combined with his rigid posture lets you know upon first meeting that he’s a snooty man. I clocked it from the pathetic handshake he offered last night. All my internal warning systems were telling me to get out of there. It’s easy to see where Maggie gets it from. She gives her dad a hug before he dips into the back of a waiting, jet-black luxury car. Once she’s back inside the house, I grab my tablet and head to the door.
“Kayla!” Artemis nearly knocks me back down the stairs as she tackles me with a hug. Her curly hair bounces when she tips her head back to smile at me.
“Hey, Artie.” I grin, patting her on the back. “What you been up to today?”
“We went to the museum after lunch to see Ashlie, and she gave us a behind-the-scenes tour!And then, her boyfriend surprised her with flowers and cookies?—”
“That’s not your business to tell, Artemis…” Hunter says from the door, shaking his head. I lift an eyebrow, just now learning this bit of information. “Bryan showed up at the museum after lunch with grand gestures and an apology.” He shrugs.
“So how is ityourbusiness to tell but notmine?” Artie huffs, scowling.
“Just get inside.Per-son-al bu-bble.” They roll their eyes at each other as we walk into the house. Artemis joins Avery and Hadley outside on the deck after she makes me promise I won’t leave before saying goodnight. I tuck my museum questions aside, making a mental note to text Ash about it when I get home tonight. But watching Hunter kick at a scuff on the floor has me wondering how he’s taking it. I still don’t know the details about him and Ashlie, but I assume Bryan showing up makes it all more complicated.
“Hey, you okay?”I bump his shoulder.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because ashy Bryan is back…”
“He’s not ashy. Hisbabiesare going to be ashy.” Hunter smirks, using his sense of humor to try and deflect from the vulnerability in his eyes. He clears his throat, changing the subject as we move toward the couch. “Let’s see that portfolio.”
Chase joins us from the kitchen, bottles of water in hand, with a big smile on his face. Standing behind the sofa, he tosses the bottles on the empty cushion next to me and wraps his arms around my shoulders, kissing my cheek before turning his attention to the tablet in my lap. I show them the problem I’m having with adding pictures from my idea board to my sketches, and then I show them an example of how I need the presentation slides to look. Wordlessly, they get to work. Chase swipes on the tablet, arms still around me, while Hunter grabs a wireless mouse, keyboard, and glasses I’ve never seen him wear before. They’ve turned my tablet into a mini computer, backing up my sketches and moving files around so fast my eyes cross. I watch in awe at how quickly they anticipate each other’s thinking,picking up where the other left off like a well-oiled machine.
“Think you could switch me spots?” Chase says distractedly, still clicking away.
“Sure…” I say, handing the tablet to Hunter and moving off the couch as Chase climbs over from the back. Standing there, looking at these two in their element for the first time, I’m struck by how much I still have to learn about them. My brother and my boyfriend—two things I didn’t have at the beginning of the summer.
