“Give him ten minutes, Drew.” Riona snaps.
“An hour, minimum,” I correct her jab, and Drew starts to laugh.
“I see why you two got along…” she jokes.
“Like oil and water,” I grumble as Auggie wanders in the back door and Daisy enters from the kitchen. I clear my throat and step aside as Rhea comes in behind her with Sunday on her tail. Daisy’s hair is curled around the ends, and I’m pretty sure she’s wearing mascara. I turn with the intention of saying something to Rhea, but she’s smiling across the kitchen at them as they nervously say hi, and I realize the truth in what she said.Daisy isn’t just yours.I look around the kitchen and swallow my discomfort when I see how everyone is here for her, for them.I was the problem.
Auggie didn’t want to meetme.
I flex my hands to rid them of the shake, but it does nothing, so I go to tuck them in my jeans, but Rhea pushes her hand into mine and squeezes.
“Breathe,” she whispers, “look at that smile.”
I follow her eye line to Daisy, who’s dragging Auggie across the kitchen to show him the ridiculous dessert that Boone made for after dinner. I can do this. For her.
We all find our seats, and I’m instantly tested when Kaia sits across from Cael, who’s purposely trying to start shit to see me explode. Ryangrabs the bun that’s being tossed back and forth, giving them both a look that makes them stop.
“How’s the season?” I ask Ryan because the tension that floats over the table is violent.
“A lot of rookies, a lot of mistakes.” He takes the platter from his sister and spoons himself some food before handing it to me. “How's… this?”
I scoff. “Fine. It pays the bills.”
“Listening to you two talk is like two robots trying to learn human emotions,” Kaia jabs, and Cael starts losing it laughing.
“At least they aren’t choking each other out,” he snorts. “Remember Daze’s second birthday?” Cael asks, and Riona looks like she’s ready to commit murder.
“Don’t start,” Ryan snaps, and Cael shrugs.
“That sounds like a fun story,” Clementine says, and Cael nods.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It’s when I proposed to her.They had all made the trip to Harbor for the occasion, and it ended up with Ryan in lockup.
I swear, Riona married me just to piss him off.
“This is delicious, Boone,” Drew speaks up to cut the tension. She’s a sweet woman, a little quiet, and nothing like I expected Silas to marry. I guess once you’ve had your fill of a woman like Riona, you actively seek out the opposite. I turn to check on Rhea, who’s listening to all the conversations intently but not really saying much. Her brown eyes watch every interaction with caution as it goes around the conversation and lands on Boone.
“What do you think, Aug?” he asks the kid, but he’s too busy whispering something to Daisy. Rhea’s hand finds my thigh under the table, and I look over at her to calm down the vicious urge to start shit with everyone at the table except her.
“It’s great, I could use more salt,” Auggie finally responds, and Boone just laughs at him.
“I like that kid,” he nods. “Honesty is a good trait to have.”
“It’s true, the world has enough liars.” Riona’s words are venom.
I’ll love you until the day we die, Bright. What’s mine is yours. For always.
Only it wasn’t true. Not for her.
But I died the day I stepped foot on home soil, alone…
“How long have you all known each other?” Drew asks, looking between Riona and me.
“College,” Riona answers dryly. “There was a time way back when Silas was quite the party animal.”
“You?” Drew laughs, and Silas just shakes his head of greying hair at her.
“They’re lying. If anyone was a party animal, it was Bright,” Silas jabs.
