My chest rises and falls in sync with his, but it doesn’t stop the panicked thoughts.
“Did you not need to threaten him because he’s changed his mind?” I shouldn’t have given him this space. God, I was fucking stupid.
Ollie lets out a laugh that vibrates through my body because of his closeness. “Not a fucking chance. When I threatened him, he responded by saying that if he ever hurt you, he would serve himself up on a platter. Rhyland Cole is a good man, Payton.”
“I know that.” The best, in fact.
“He’s also going out of his mind without you. He said he even drove past here on the way to Tilley’s. It’s killing him to give you the space he thinks you need, but do you want to know what I think?”
“I don’t know, do I?”
When I quirk a brow, he mouths, “Asshole.”
“I think what you both need is just each other.”
“When did you get so insightful about love, Ollie?” Seems like it was just yesterday that I was storming his house after Hollie had left and helped him get his head out of his ass, thinking he knew what was the best for them.
He chuckles and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You can thank my wife for that. Love makes you a little nuts if you haven’t noticed.”
“You wanna stay for dinner? Mom is out picking up probably enough takeout to feed an army.”
“Actually.” He winces. “ I think I’m gonna head out and get back to work.”
“You mean basically you want to avoid Mom because you think she’s not afraid to still punish you for your actions earlier?” I waggle my brows, and just to mess with him further, I add, “Pretty sure I saw her in her bathroom, looking for your favorite soap.” I only last about two seconds before I lose my composure and laugh.
He pulls me into the crook of his arm and pretends to mess up my hair with a noogie, just like we’re kids. “You little shit.”
“Hey, watch your words around this little one. I wouldn’t be surprised if she learns to say ‘shit’ or ‘fuck’ first.” I mouth the curse words because that would, of course, be my luck that she repeats them after I say it.
Ollie beats me to the swing to get Gabby out of her seat and pulls her against his chest.
“Come on, sis, I’ll walk you both in before I dip.”
“Hate to break it to ya, Ol, but Mom is the least of your problems. Because not only did I talk with Mom, but I also relayed everything to Hollie. Better eat something delicious tonight for dinner because I’m pretty sure you’re a dead man when she gets home. I felt her fury states away. Surprised you didn’t, too.”
“Fu—” He hesitates before saying adding a “dge” to the end. And that only makes me laugh harder. As much as I love my brother, he deserves everything that’s coming to him.
“Girlfriend, you are a total hot mess,” I coo at my daughter. Gabby is sitting in her high chair, covered in sweet potatoes. She’s as physically a mess as her mama is mentally and emotionally. I wonder how much of it actually made it into her mouth instead of on her face, in her hair, and on her outfit.
“Oh, please,” Mom says as she enters the kitchen. “That’s nothing compared to what I dealt with with you kids growing up. But what was the rule in this house again?”
“You can play with your food as long as you eat it,” we say in unison.
“Don’t listen to your mommy, sweet pea. You’re just the sweetest thing.” Mom smacks a kiss to my daughter’s cheek and narrowly misses getting smacked with a sweet potato hand.
I notice my mom has something under her arm.
“What do you have there?”
Mom smiles with a look that I don’t know should make me happy or run for the fucking hills.
“I was cleaning out the storage in the garage the other day and came across some things. There’s a pile for each of you to go through, but this item in particular I thought you might like now. I thought it might help you figure things out.”
What could she possibly have that could help me right now? Is it maybe a time machine? But I can’t exactly recall one of those being shoved into the garage for a rainy day.
Mom finally retrieves what she’s holding under her arm, and I gasp as I take in the book. The front cover is a field with brown and dark teal wildflower stickers lining the top and bottom of the cover.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you still have this.”
