She eyed the house like a bad guy was coming after her. “Christy is here,” she whispered.
“What?” That was the last thing I’d expected to hear. But at least no one was dead. “Why?” As far as I knew, Silas and Christy had broken up a long time ago.
“‘Cause she’s freaking crazy. Why else?”
“Where’s Silas?” Shouldn’t he be the one meeting me at the truck, warning me about this? My touchy stomach twisted hard, and I winced, my abs contracting.
Thankfully Anna was wigging out too much to notice. “He left an hour and a half ago with Uncle Holden and Ashton to pick Ford up from the airport. I tried calling all the brothers, but no one answered. Silas left his phone on his bed. I heard it ringing.”
I ran a hand across my brow, not sure what to do. “She showed up after he left?”
She nodded, her eyebrows drawn tight.
Jenny waved from the back door. “Come on in here, you two. We’ve got dinner ready.”
I popped the handle up on my suitcase and whispered into Anna’s ear, “Does Christy know?”
“About you and Uncle Si?” She shook her head. “Definitely not. She thinks they’re still a thing.”
What? How was that even possible? None of this made any sense.
“She’s inside being Granny’s sous chef. So cheugy.”
“Let’s go!” Jenny’s waving was getting bigger, more animated. “You’re letting all the heat in.”
Anna and I shared a tentative glance and walked to the door. Jenny hugged me like yesterday hadn’t happened and I didn’t know how to take it. Had she known Christy was coming? Had she invited her—tobeach week—toget back at me? No, Jenny wouldn’t do that. Was this hug her trying to smooth things over?
Bo pulled me into a hug, but his smile was nervous. “Here, I’ll get your bag. You and Anna are sharing the Flamingo room.” Sophie and Anna had always shared that room. My heart panged at the thought.
I followed Jenny and Anna into the kitchen, my body a stiff board. When I came around the corner, there Christy was, mixing a large tossed salad in a glass bowl, barefoot, wearing an apron like this was completely normal. She looked up and smiled, her Bambi eyes nervous but excited to be here. Her hair had grown a couple of inches since the funeral and she’d had her blond highlights recently touched up. She really was pretty—cheekbones that could cut glass and almond-shaped eyes. I could see why Silas had picked her.
A punch of insecurity hit me square in the chest. I shoved it off. Silas loved me. He always had. There shouldn’t be any doubt in my mind after the past couple of days. Christy was confused or grasping at straws. But this was only going to endin heartbreak for her as soon as Silas got here. If I was kind, it might soften the blow.
Faking confidence, I lifted my hand in a small wave. “Hey. It’s good to see you again.”
Anna, Bo, and Jenny all glanced at me with varying degrees of discomfort.
Christy smiled. “You too, Lemon.” She handed the bowl to Jenny. “I think we’re ready.” Then she untied the apron and laid it on the counter, revealing a darling sundress that hugged her curves perfectly. If Sophie were here, she’d say,Love the dress. Hate her.That’s what she always did when she saw a woman that she thought was pretty.
Anna stuck to my side, and we walked to the small, round dinner table together. Christy sat next to Jenny on the other side with Bo between us. I wasn’t sure where the guys would sit when they got here, but that was the least of my worries.
No sooner had Bo finished a blessing on the meal than the back door opened.
“We're baaaack. And we brought Grouchy McPoutyface.” Ashton’s sing-song voice floated into the room.
“Okay, AshyKnees.” That was Ford. “You're just jealous I'm so much better looking. Everybody knows that's why you and Holden are so chipper. You're trying to make up for your ugly mugs.”
Ashton snorted. "Whatever you say, Crankenstein."
My brain registered that I should laugh. Normally I would have. The Dupree Brothers could start their own comedy act, in my opinion. But I couldn’t make myself right then. Because Christy had actually stood up, smoothed her dress and smiled into the doorway like June Cleaver waiting for Ward to come home after a long day of work. Anna wasn’t lying. She really, truly thought she and Silas were a couple.
Anna pressed her knee against mine, gripping her chair. I gripped mine.
Ashton walked past Jenny, glancing at Christy sideways, confused. “Hey, I didn’t know you were gonna be here," he muttered.
Ford came in next, straight-up scowling as he peeled his guitar strap from over his head. For a split second, it struck me how much he took after Silas. Same color hair, same face, different eye color—a little shorter and more baby-faced. But there was no doubt they were brothers. A shadow crossed his face when he saw Christy. But that was just Ford. He didn’t even say hi when he walked past her. Just grunted.
Silas stopped in the doorway, and my stupid heart actually whooshed at how handsome he was in his board shorts and slim-fit T-shirt. He stared at Christy, then at me, and back at Christy, wearing that poker face he did so well.
