Colt:That sounds like a crime.
Denver:Don’t make it creepy, and you’ll be fine. It’s Blair’s nephew.
Then I finish the oil change and strip out of the filthy coveralls before heading over to the big house. Heat waves radiate off the gravel, and there’s a slight hint of smoke in the air from a forest fire raging a few valleys over. Between the heat and unseasonably dry conditions, we’re in for a doozy ofa summer. Possibly even worse than the drought and crappy haying season we had last year.
Brushing dirt from my pants at the bottom of the porch stairs, I stick my tongue out at Odessa, who’s currently fucking with some flowers she’sdefinitelynot supposed to be fucking with.
And she knows it.
“Uncle Denny,” she yells, jumping up with a startled expression, pretending she wasn’t doing anything wrong.
“Oh, Kaaaate,” I sing—not loud enough for Kate to actually hear, given how loud the music is blasting inside the house. I just want to scare the kid straight.
“No!” Odessa charges toward me. “Don’t call her. I wasn’t doing nothin’.”
“Quit fuckin’ with the flowers, or your mom and aunties are going to kill you.”
She puts her hands on her hips and stares me down. “Swear jar.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I tousle her hair. “Serious, though. I won’t have your back if you wreck the flowers right before the wedding.”
Heading inside, it’s no surprise to find the women, along with Cecily’s mom, frantically prepping food. Once again, I’m questioning if they understand the meaning of “low-key,” but this doesn’t seem like a good time to call them out. Instead, I make eye contact with Austin, raising my brows at the commotion.
Openly singing along to Dolly Parton, I scooch past Beryl and Cecily to get to the coffee machine, then back again to sit across from my brother. Dropping the loose change from my pocket into Odessa’s swear jar on the way by.
“How full of regret are you about asking her to marry you?” I ask Aus, tilting my head in the direction of the gaggle of women huddled around the kitchen island.
“No regrets.”
“Not even about choosing to have coffee here even though your house has perfectly good coffee and a quieter kitchen?”
“Nope.” He shakes his head, bringing the white mug, full to the brim, to his lips. Then he mumbles, “I’ll put up with the loud to make her happy.”
If that isn’t the most raw thing I’ve ever heard my brother say. But I get it, because I would put up with my worst nightmares for Blair with zero hesitation.
Denver:Reminder: I’m coming over tonight
Denver:No nude, because I think my family would frown on that at the kitchen table
Denver:And remove Jonas from your list, I got it covered and cleared it with Whit.
Denver:Yes, I know you could’ve handled it yourself, but now you don’t have to.
Blair:You didn’t have to do that
Denver:You can thank me tonight
Blair:I have some ideas
I’m staring at my phone like a love-drunk fool when Cassidy sits next to me to nurse Hazel. Except I’m pretty sure she didn’t come herejustfor that purpose—not when there are a hundred other places to sit.
“What are your intentions with my best friend?” Never one to beat around the bush or worry about being polite, she stares me down, and Austin snickers under his breath. “Because I’m prepared to hurt you, if I need to.”
“Very threatening, Cass.” Hazel’s tiny socked foot kicksmy arm and I grab it, gently encompassing her entire foot in my hand. “You even have the baby doing your dirty work for you.”
“I’m serious, Denny. You can’t treat her like all the other girls around here.”
“Good thing she’s from Vancouver, so I guess I’ll treat her like an out-of-towner then.” I reach across the table, stealing a cookie from Austin’s plate. He reaches to smack me, but misses and gives up. Eyes jumping between Cassidy and me, he probably assumes she’s going to give it to me worse than he could anyway.
