I peek out the window and see all the men and Brittany shooting at bull’s-eye targets a ways out, facing the woods. One of my uncles shouts at the kids, no doubt reminding them to stay far away from the guns.
Stone turns toward the window. I wave, thinking he won’t see me, but he does and waves back, smiling.
My insides do that strange fluttering thing, and I turn back into the room, ready to resume pickle slicing.
“That Brittany sure likes to hang out with the boys,” Nu-Nu murmurs.
“Because no one makes her come to the kitchen,” I mutter.
Nu-Nu lifts a brow.
Mom leaps in. “Her YouTube channel is successful because she’s a girl doing what most girls don’t. She’s unique. Different. And people crave her content.”
Mom sounds so proud. I wish for once she’d sound like that when she talked about me, instead of dismissing my license job—which I don’t even have anymore.
“She’s certainly something,” my grandmother mumbles, making it sound more like an insult than a compliment. “You know what I think?”
“What’s that?” Margie asks, sipping her drink.
“I think Coco did bring a date, and he’s cute. I want to meet him. Coco, go tell him your grandmother wants to meet him.”
Worry pools in my stomach. That’s too much focus on me. If I get Stone, my mom will ask if he’s reallytheStone Maddox, and before he answers, she’ll say,See? He’s not rich. I told every single one of y’all there was no way Coco could be friends with him.
I quickly attempt to come up with an excuse as towhyhe shouldn’t be accosted by these women. “I’m sure he’s busy. There’s plenty of time to meet him once the food’s ready.”
Aunt Whitney crosses to the window. “Is that a lambicorn? Coco, did y’all bring a lambicorn?”
“It’s a lambicorn,” Nu-Nu says from her perch. “Coco, go get that lambi. I want to see it, too.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As I start for the door, Nu-Nu stops me by throwing her arm out. “You don’t have to go now.”
I pull my apron off. “Why’s that?”
She gives my mom the side-eye. “Because that fella you brought is heading this way, and he’s got the lambicorn in his arms.”
Here he comes, and Nu-Nu’s either going to approve or disapprove of him. Fingers crossed she likes him.
Because, I realize, I do.
I like Stone Maddox a lot.
Which means I’m in trouble.
Chapter 20
Stone
Soon as Harold slips the rifle in my hand, my body falls into muscle memory. The feel of the wood stock is familiar, the smell of gunpowder is reminiscent of a blurry memory, and the way the butt of the rifle feels against my shoulder is anchoring.
He gives me a stern fatherly look, the kind a dad gives before prom. It’s anIf you even think about impregnating my daughter tonight, I will blow your nuts offkind of look.
Yeah, and he’s a prepper, which means not only does he have a thousand weapons that can kill me, but he also probably has a huge tub of rice to hide my body in.
Wait. How do I know that? Oh, right. That whole I-know-stuff-but-I-don’t-know-how thing.
“You ever shot one of these, Stone?”
