Woods extended his hand, cool and calm. “Nice to meet y’all.”
My dad was on the taller side, too, and looked him up and down for a second, sizing him up as any real father would. Then he took his hand and shook it. “Likewise. I’m Axel. This is Vanessa.”
Woods nodded toward her with that smooth, respectful eye contact he always had. “Pleasure.”
Vanessa smiled. “Nice to meet you, too.”
My dad, still holding on to that protective edge, glanced back at me. “Quamaine, huh?”
Woods grinned a little, hands in his pockets now. “Most people call me Woods. Feel free.”
My dad nodded once, lips twitching. “Alright, Woods.”
I watched the tension between them melt a little. Just enough. “Come on in,” I said. “Coats off. Get comfortable. Dinner should be ready shortly.” They took their coats off, and I hung them on the coat rack by the door while my dad glanced around.
“This is a really nice setup,” he said, impressed. “Y’all rented this whole cabin? It’s smelling real good in here, baby.”
Woods nodded. “Yeah. She’s been cookin’ all day. I helped a lil’ bit.”
“She always could throw down,” my dad said proudly.
“Got the kitchen smellin’ like somebody’s grandmama up in here,” Woods added.
I noticed Vanessa smile to herself. My dad chuckled, shaking his head. “Alright. I see what this is.”
I raised a brow. “What what is?”
He smirked. “You grown for real now.” And I didn’t even have a comeback. Watching everyone settle in the living room felt… surreal. “Alright now,” he added, clapping his hands once. “Where the drinks at? I know it’s Christmas Eve, but I ain’t tryna just sip on egg nog.”
I laughed, shaking my head as I headed toward the kitchen. “I got you, old man. Go sit down somewhere.”
A u t u m n ’ sp o p sseemed cool as hell. I could see where she got that calm but sharp and always on her toes shit from.
Returning from the bedroom, I saw that he had one arm slung over the back of the couch with a quiet smile on his face while holding a glass of whiskey. His shorty had a glass of wine in her hand, and Autumn was sipping from a bottle of water.
“Appreciate you letting us crash your little winter hideaway,” he said, raising his glass toward me.
I nodded. “Ain’t no crash. I suggested it. I wanted to spend some time wit’ her and knew that back and forth in the snow wasn’t gon’ be good for her.” I handed him the box of cigars. “Picked these up for you. You tryna see how that taste?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
Vanessa smiled, kissing his cheek. “Go ahead. I’m gonna help Autumn in the kitchen.”
Axel leaned forward, eyes scanning the cigar selection, then looked up at me with a nod of approval. “You smoke cigars?”
“Nah. I got my own thing,” I said, pulling the blunt I’d rolled from behind my ear. “But I respect a good cigar when I see it.”
He laughed, low and genuine, as he cut and lit his cigar. “Appreciate it. Ain’t too many young dudes that get it.”
I took a pull from my blunt, let the smoke swirl before I spoke. “I’m pushin’ forty, man. Ain’t that young.” We laughed a bit at that.
He gave me a long look at that, then leaned back, puffing slowly. “So, Quamaine…”
I could tell he was still chewing on how I let Autumn introduce me by my government. I smirked. “Woods is cool.”
He nodded once. “Right. So, what’s your story?”
I shrugged, exhaling smoke. “Ain’t no long one. I’m from Tavern City but…”
