Keeping my feelings for Dylan a secret is already harder than I expected.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LOGISTICS
DYLAN
I linger in baggage claim after Dahlia and Chloe have vanished into the crowd. The airport roar fades to white noise. We’re all here in the same state at the same time, the same December wind slipping through the doors, but I’ve just waved them off with a hug and a kiss on the cheek like we’re old pals.
I just met them. Why does it feel so wrong to say goodbye?
Tully’s Suburban idles curbside, hazards flashing, exhaust puffing in the cold. He leans out the window, waving me over. My brother is built like a tank—even though I’m taller, he could probably still take me.
“Hey, man. Good to see you,” he says.
I toss my bag in the back and slide into the passenger seat, leaning over to give him a quick hug. My brothers and I are all over six feet tall and are capable of wrestling at the drop of a hat, but we also hug every time we see each other. The Whitmans are a burly yet sappy lot.
“Good to see you too,” I tell him.
He merges into traffic, heading for 35. “Flight okay? Shop blow up without you?”
“Rudy’s holding it down. It’s been our best season yet, custom orders out the ass.” I take in the piles of snow. “But yeah, I didn’t cross everything off before I left and needed to go back and take care of some logistics.”
Speaking of out the ass, I’m talking out the ass right now.
Tully nods. “It’s all right. Dad’s doing well. Things are coming along with the renovation. You’ll see the progress, I think.”
We chat about the resort and Tully’s hockey season and pull into Windy Harbor a couple of hours later. The house is noisy when we walk in, music blasting. It smells like Grandma Nancy and Grandma Donna have been cooking for hours.
“Hey, there you are,” Goldie says, barreling into me with a huge hug. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
“Uncle Dyl,” Grayson yells.
“Hey, buddy.”
He hugs my leg, and I sweep him up, flip him upside down, and set him back on his feet again, his favorite thing for me to do. He laughs and reaches up for me to do it again.
“Dad and Camden are due back any minute,” Noah says, hugging me.
“Oh, good.” I look around. “Where are my grandmas?” I call.
I hear giggling in the kitchen and grin at my siblings. Grandma Donna and Grandma Nancy are two of the cutest old ladies in the whole wide world.
“Here we are,” Grandma Donna sings, her arms spread wide.
I lift her, making her squeal, and hug her tight. She’s still giggling when I set her down.
“Oh, fer crying out loud,” she says, her hand moving to her chest like she’s catching her breath. “I’m too old to reach your altitude.”
That makes me laugh. “Never. You’re never too old to see things from this view.”
“I’m glad you’re home, honey,” she says.
“I’m glad you’re home too.” Grandma Nancy puts her arm around my waist and leans her head against my arm. “Good gravy. Are they feeding you out there?” She reaches out and pinches my stomach, or tries to. “I can’t even pinch an inch!”
“That’s a good thing!” I laugh.
