Crisis averted.
And then Emily steals me away to meet everyone. While Faith and Natalie talk about summer plans for the bookstore and bakery. “Issy and Liam are watching the dog by the way,” she tells me. “Your friend dropped her off earlier and they begged Piston to let them take her for a walk. Between Jupiter and Summer’s old dog King they have plenty of practice.”
“How old are they?” I’m pretty confident that Junkyard wouldn’t hurt anyone, but she’s young and strong.
“They’re both about ten.”
“Oh, yeah. That should be fine.”
I say hi to Alessa, and meet Mila and Shelby and Harper and Kaylee, and Rory and… The odds of me remembering all these names later are slim to none. But they're all really nice, and they all seem so happy.
I kind of slip out of the conversations after a while, not because I don't feel welcome, but it's really a little overwhelming. There are several coolers lined up with drinks. Alcohol in one cooler, and soda and water for everyone in the other. I take an orange soda, pulling it out of the melting ice and running the can over my forehead to cool down a little.
"They can be a bit much." One of the old ladies, blonde, curvy and just a bit taller than me, leans past me to pull out a cola for herself. She pops the can and takes a long sip.
“Rory, right?” I ask, just to be sure.
She grins. “Yup. I'm still getting used to them, too. It’s been almost a year, but I’m away for work a lot so I don’t always make it to brunch. They’re all really nice."
"They seem like a family."
"They are. I didn’t grow up with much of it. I didn’t really meet my father until I was older because he didn’t see the point until I could be useful, and my mother doesn’t have a maternal bone in her body. Since I’ve been here I’ve really learned that the family you choose is just as important as the family you start with."
"My parents were great, but they died a while ago. It’s just me and Nat now. Well, and Clark obviously."
She nods. "Yeah, I heard what happened from Natalie. It must've been hard."
I shrug. "It was, but we have each other, and she has all of you now.”
“And maybe you do, too?” Rory asks. “If I’m annoying just tell me to get lost. I saw you and thought us new girls have to stick together. Emily and Alessa are basically sisters at this point. They practically live in each other’s pockets. And FaithisEmily’s step-sister if you think about it.”
“That’s weird, right?”
Rory nods. “Kinda, yeah, but Eagle-eye and Miriam have been together since I’ve been here so it would be weird to me if they weren’t. I’m only reminded when someone reminds me that Damien is Faith’s little brother. It’s sort of nice that everyone here has a crazy story. It makes me feel less like an oddball."
"I was just thinking that!” I grin and point at Rory. “Are we best friends now? I feel like we’re best friends.”
“Deal.”
“What’s your story, then?” I ask.
"Me? Oh, I fooled around with some bikers on my dad's plane, and then it crashed, and then I was the key to his decryption program for hacking computer systems, and every criminal organization and their brother wanted their hands on it. You'd be amazed at the number of dongle jokes that still get made around here." She shrugs.
“Oh! You’re um… whatshisnames’ daughter!”
“Connor Whittaker. That’s me.”
I take a second look at Rory. She doesn’t look like her father’s one of the richest assholes in the country. “You look so normal.”
“Thanks? I think?”
“Sorry! We’ve only been best friends for like thirty seconds and I’m already blowing it. I guess I mean, you could be literally anywhere right now. But you’re here, in Emily’s backyard. Why?”
She raises an eyebrow at me. "You mean other than Bull, Diesel and Shrapnel? You have to admit, when three of these guys put their minds to it, they can make a pretty compelling argument. Naked."
Am I blushing? I might be. "That can't be the only reason, though."
"No, it’s not." She sighs softly. "I’m not as rich as my dad, by the way. Don’t feel bad for me, I’m pretty much an IT nepo baby, but I get a normal salary. A lot of people assume they’re with me because of my family, but it’s really the other way around. This was the first place that I’ve ever felt like a part of something just because I’m me. I could lose my job and get disinherited tomorrow and I’d still be at the next brunch, you know? My guys would probably just tease me about being a kept woman and then ask what we should do for dinner. The worst part is that some days I'm terrified they won't come home, because I know they're doing something that they won't even tell me about so I don't get worried, but I know that when they do come home, they come home to me. And always will, as long as they're able. And then you add the old ladies and the freedom to do anything you want? It's a pretty good life when you think about it."
