“Tex.” Tank’s voice cuts through. “We have company.”
Both men turn. Tex’s face splits into a grin. Saint’s expression warms into something quieter but no less welcoming.
“Well, well, well.” Tex sets down the tongs and crosses the room in three long strides. “The mountain hermit finally descends with his mystery woman.” He extends his hand to me, his grip firm and friendly. “Ma’am. We’ve heard absolutely nothing about you because Tank has the emotional transparency of a brick wall.”
“I’m standing right here.”
“I know. That’s what makes it fun.” Tex winks at me. “I remember you being pretty, but you are way out of his league.”
Saint approaches next, quieter than Tex, offering his hand with a nod. “Jessie. It’s good to finally meet you. Tank’s been... different since you.”
“Is that right?”
“He laughs now.” Saint’s mouth curves. “It’s unsettling.”
“Okay.” Tank’s hand lands on my lower back, warm and steady. “That’s enough character assassination. Someone get her a drink before you scare her off.”
“Wine?” Jane’s already at my elbow with a glass. “Or something stronger? Fair warning, Tex makes a margarita that’ll have you confessing your sins by the second round.”
“Wine’s perfect.” I accept the glass, grateful for something to do with my hands.
“Grab seats, everyone,” Sadie calls, carrying a massive bowl of salad to the table. “Steaks are almost ready, assuming Tex stops critiquing and starts plating.”
“I’m plating! Under protest, but I’m plating.”
A shuffle of bodies and chairs follows as everyone finds their spots with the easy familiarity of people who’ve done this a hundred times. Tank pulls out a chair for me, then settles into the one beside it, his thigh pressing warm against mine under the table.
Jane drops into the seat across from me, Tex beside her. Sadie and Saint take the ends. Platters of steak, roasted potatoes, salad, and still-steaming bread that smells like heaven start circulating.
“So.” Jane spears a potato, eyes bright with curiosity. “Auction Survivors Club. How’s cabin life treating you, Jessie?”
“Cabin life?” I buy time with a sip of wine. “It’s... cozy.”
“Cozy.” She repeats the word like she’s tasting it. “Is that code for ‘very small space, very large man, constant sexual tension’?”
I choke on my wine.
Tank goes still beside me. Tex barks out a laugh. Saint closes his eyes like he’s praying for patience.
“Jane.” Sadie’s voice is mild, but her lips are twitching. “Maybe let her finish her first glass before the interrogation.”
“What? We were all at that auction. We all saw these idiots lose their minds.” Jane gestures with her fork. “Tank looked like he was going to vault the tables. Tex had to physically hold him back from bidding before the announcer even started.”
“Yeah, you’re not wrong,” Tank admits, grabbing his beer.
“And you.” Jane points at Sadie. “Saint was so focused on you, he forgot how numbers work. Started bidding against himself.”
“It was a strategic choice,” Saint says calmly, cutting his steak. “I was eliminating competition.”
“You were panicking.”
“Strategically.”
Laughter bubbles up from my chest, loosening something tight. These people don’t know me, not really, not yet, but they’re including me in the joke, the history, the easy rhythm of their lives.
Sadie stands and walks to Saint, passing him the roast potatoes. He pulls her in and steals a kiss on her cheek before accepting the bowl. Jane flicks a green bean at Tex in retaliation for something I missed, and he catches it mid-air and eats it with a wink. Underneath the table, a black and white border collie called Maisie makes the rounds, optimistic nose brushing against knees, tail thumping softly against chair legs when someone sneaks her a scrap.
This is what family looks like, I realize. Not polite and performative, butloud. Messy. People talking over each other and reaching across plates and giving each other grief because they’ve earned the right.
