Summer approached us, a loose dress swirling around the tops of her boots. Jonah had their son in his arms and was talking to Teller by the two grills.
More than one grill. Mom had tried a small electric grill once. She’d started a fire and dumped a potted plant on it to extinguish the flames. We’d tossed the grill after that.
Summer smiled. “You get something to drink?”
I lifted the same kind of root beer Wynter was drinking. “Yes, thank you.”
Tenor’s presence had been requested by Lane and Cruz inside the shop and I hadn’t wanted to follow like some little girl who couldn’t be alone. At least with the two younger Foster brothers, I wasn’t the youngest adult.
“How’s it been?” she asked, care lacing her voice. “With Tenor?”
Autumn saw us and started for us. She tugged on Scarlett’s arm as she passed where she stood with Tate. I didn’t know Tate’s wife well. She was a quiet school teacher who worked with Autumn. But being married to the eldest Bailey was close enough to having a say over my job. Nerves lit up in my stomach. I took a small sip of root beer. Too much and I’d belch in front of everyone. It’d be like burping in a job interview. I’d already gotten the social media manager job. Now I needed to sell myself as Tenor’s significant other.
“Don’t start with the good stuff before I can hear,” Autumn said as she drew near.
“I ditched Sawyer with Gideon when I saw you all gathering.” She grinned at me, unashamed. “I won’t call Junie so she can eavesdrop. We havesomedecorum.”
Wynter giggled. “I was trying not to pry.” She elbowed Summer. “So I’m glad you asked.”
“There’s nothing to say.” Other than the time I got myself off in his bed. Or last night when he’d read part of a sex scene. My cheeks grew hot.
Summer snickered. “Oh, this is really going to be good.” She held up a hand, looking green around the gills. “Not too graphic, please. He’s our brother, and I don’t want to lose my appetite.”
I smiled. What would it have been like growing up in such a big family? Having so much support that everyone was in yourbusiness? I was grown and Mom stayed out of my personal life. She was there if I needed her, but she wasn’tthere.
Next week, she was going camping again with Daniel.
“We’re still learning each other.” That was true without giving them details, or worse, lying about how there was nothing but unwanted chemistry between me and their brother. “He’s an incredibly private man.”
Autumn nodded. “I couldn’t believe he ventured back out into the dating world. I was so happy to see it was with you. I trust you with his heart.”
Her words touched me while adding a heavy amount of longing. His heart was untouchable, and he’d set a boundary last night. The least I could do was respect it. So, yes, they could trust me with him, but also, they didn’t have to worry. Tenor could enforce his own limits.
“I’ll do right by him.” I smiled. “I promise.”
Wynter gave me an appreciative grin. “That’s the thing, Ruby. We’re not worried and you can’t imagine how relieved that makes us. He’s been so guarded since—” She pressed her lips together.
“Katrina?” I asked.
The sisters nodded.
“The fallout was devastating,” Summer answered. “He took the breakup really hard.”
“I don’t think it was the breakup,” Wynter clarified. “Not by itself. I think she said worse things about him than that asshole from high school ever did.”
The other sisters’ nods were solemn.
My heart went out to a young Tenor. “I’ve heard a little,” I admitted, “and it’s just awful. Both with his bully and his ex. Tenor’s been the best... everything... ever. I’ve never felt so special.” Nothing about my claim was a lie.
“When you find the right guy,” Summer said, “you’ll be his center.”
“Yeah.” The word gusted out of Autumn. Her dreamy smile dug its way into my brain.
When you find the right guy, you’ll be his center.
Didn’t that sound amazing? To be someone’s first thought and priority? Someone that I could be myself with? Someone who would get over himself to have me?
Too bad my life wasn’t a book.
