“Just so everyone knows, I didn’t give in, and we scored that touchdown,” Annabelle said, waving one of Buster’s ribs.
Ethan didn’t refute her claim. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and mouthed the words,You’ll keep.
She shrugged, then licked the length of the rib while holding his eyes before sinking her teeth into it. Ethan managed to smile back while picturing those teeth on him.
What would it have been like to grow up here for Annabelle? The little information that Ethan had learned about her life had led him to believe it hadn’t been a bed of roses. But at least here, surrounded by people who would look out for her, it had to have been better on both her and her brothers. He thought about the scar he’d found, and wanted to hunt down the dead uncle and offer him the same pain he’d inflicted on his niece.
He looked at her again, now arguing with Branna over the touchdown. What the hell was it about this woman that got to him? Maybe it was that sometimes he saw something in her eyes, a flash of vulnerability, a small window that told him she wasn’t quite as confident as she wanted to world to believe.
Was she in fact like him? Did she have things that she kept hidden behind that beautiful façade? What had that phone call been about? Was it one of her brothers, or was something else causing her trouble? Pulling his eyes from her, he gave his head a little shake. He’d think about her later. Right now he wanted to have fun with his friends.
“Where’s your folks, Jake?” Ethan asked his friend. He liked the elder McBrides, who accepted him as their son’s friend. Sometimes when he was around they treated him as if he was one of theirs, and those moments had become precious to a man who’d never really had a family life.
“Over there with Cubby’s mom and the other old people.”
“You know if your mom hears you speak like that, you’re dead, right?”
“That’s a given, but since she’s over there and can’t hear me I can get away with it. Plus if you say anything I’ll deny every word,” Jake said.
“And she’ll believe you because you’re her son,” Ethan said, wondering what it would be like to have a mother who cared.
“You’ve always been a mama’s boy, McBride,” Newman said before going back to his conversation with Buster.
They always talked over each other, constantly interrupting and offering opinions. It was what he loved about this place, the close bonds the people in Howling shared, but especially his people. Ethan laughed as Jake lobbed a roll at Newman, who caught it and put it on his plate.
“So, have you set a date?” Ethan asked. “’Cause I need to clear my calendar and get my tux cleaned, especially since I’m the best man.”
“Yeah, Branna’s thinking soon, and we’ll have it here. I’ve decided to have two best men, you and Buster.”
“I suppose you’ve got to use him, seeing as he’s baking the cake,” Ethan said.
“Yeah, well, all you did was pull him from a burning building. Me,” Buster said, thumping his chest, “I feed him.”
They ate, tossed insults and laughed, and Ethan thought there was no place he’d rather be than here. As it got dark, everyone sat on their blankets and watched the fireworks display over the lake.
“It’s cold,” Mikey said, arriving beside the blanket he was sharing with Newman, Buster and Annabelle. The latter was beside him only because when she’d returned from seeing Dr McBride. It had been the only space available.
“Well then, squirt, come here and I’ll warm you up.”
Ethan watched Annabelle wrap her arm around him. The gesture was a natural one, and he guessed raising two brothers had made her comfortable around boys.
Pulling off his sweatshirt, Ethan moved so his hip brushed Annabelle’s, and laid it over the boy.
“Thanks, Ethan.” Mikey snuggled into Annabelle.
As the first of the fireworks started, he leaned his hand behind her to brace himself and his body towards her.
“Ethan.” Her caution was whispered.
“Relax, Annabelle, I’m just sharing body heat.”
Surprisingly she did, and they watched the display in silence. Beside them, Branna rested on Jake, and Ethan felt peace settle over him. He knew it was temporary, but at least here and now, he had found it. Tomorrow or the next day his family would raise their heads in some way, but he’d deal with that when it happened. Right now he would enjoy being near Annabelle without her trying to bite a piece out of him.
CHAPTER SIX
“I’m taking the front seat next to you, Annabelle Smith.”
“You sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable sitting in the back, Millie?” Annabelle said to the angry woman standing before her. Her lips formed a thin line as she scowled.And people say I’m belligerent, Annabelle thought.
