Goddammit, these kids were my nieces and nephews. Four of them. I’d never thought of them like that.
When we got a divorce, I’d go back to being nothing but a stranger. I should feel relief, but it was slow in coming.
Autumn returned with Darin on her hip. He was holding her costume nose. “Hey! Come on in.” She set Darin down, took the nose from him, and grabbed the bowl from me.
I was pressed against the open door while Wynter and her family filed in and went toward the kitchen where the others had gathered. Autumn’s ass was facing me while she helped Darin dump the candy into the bowl.
She handed the empty bag to Darin. “Can you go throw this away for me?”
“Kitty?” Darin asked.
“No, she’s hiding.” She tapped the bag. “Garbage, please.”
He toddled toward the kitchen. Chance was dumping his candy out on the table.
Another group of kids came to the door. I stayed with Autumn as she went through the trick-or-treat routine. Whatever was going on in the kitchen was a ritual I had no history with.
The street was quiet. Shadows of kids flicked door to door down the road, but no one was making their way toward our house.
Autumn didn’t leave the doorway. “It’s tradition for Chance to trade out the candy he doesn’t like.”
“Because you carry the good stuff?”
“It helps I like it too.” She took a piece out of the bowl and opened it. Instead of popping it in her mouth, she fed it to me.
I caught the tips of her fingers and she giggled. Chocolate exploded on my tongue. When was the last time I’d had a candy bar?
She tucked her hand into mine. When we turned,Wynter was watching us. Now that her jacket was off, her Bavarian barmaid outfit was clear. Her pale hair was braided down each side. Myles was dressed like me and Tate.
“Is that how disgusting Myles and I are?” Wynter asked Tate. He just grunted.
“We haven’t done it under Mama’s roof,” Autumn retorted.
“You have no proof,” Wynter said smugly. She bit her lip. “All right, fine. I don’t lie very well. Do you still have adult treats?”
“Of course.” Autumn dragged me into the kitchen. She went to the cupboard she kept her spirits in and took out a bottle of Copper Summit Gold. I took out six glasses to keep myself from having to make small talk with guys who either didn’t like me or didn’t know me.
“None for me,” Tate said. “I’m driving.”
“Same,” Myles added.
“He likes when I’m the one who gets tipsy,” Wynter whispered to Scarlett. Tate winced.
I tried not to laugh. Enjoying this interaction wasn’t part of the plan. I wasn’t kissing Bailey ass to get my land back. But their family chemistry was infectious. It was hard not to get drawn in.
It was also hard not to make comparisons to my own experience and come up so damn short.
“Scarlett, are you Belle with your Beast?” Wynter asked.
Scarlett blushed and the way she looked at Tate was full of adoration. “He’s going to build me a library.”
Tate gave her a heated look in return. Any more of this shit and the room wouldn’t be kid friendly. But then,the kids were probably used to this. Same with the adults. It was me who wasn’t.
Tate leaned against the counter next to me. “Jonah said he helped you tow Hank’s truck last week.”
“Yep.”
He nodded. “You guys have been busy with fence.”
