I rise and turn toward the house as Hercules crashes into me like he’s done a hundred times. I don’t think, just scoop him up. Maybe I’ve donethata hundred times, too.
My gaze locks on Coco, who stands at the window, looking down at us. Her eyes catch mine—and everything inside me stills. Like she’s the only thing that makes sense.
This is the first glimpse I’ve had of who I was—fury barely contained beneath the surface. And it is a bitter, rage-fueled monster.
I start to head toward the house when Harold stops me with, “You done shooting?”
“No, sir. I’m going to get Coco, see if she wants to join us.”
“Shooting’s not her thing.” Brittany elbows her husband. “She hates all of this. Picks the same spot for hide-and-seek every time. She doesn’t even try.”
I’m not sure how long I’ve known Coco. A week? A year? But the way they talk about her, like she’s invisible—it twists something in my gut. Like I’ve seen it before. Like I’ve felt it before. Maybe not with her. Maybe not here. But somewhere. And maybe that’s why my hands shake from a memory I didn’t know I had, and why I want to walk straight into that house and pull Coco out of it.
I reply quietly, calmly, emotions tamped down, “Maybe itisher thing. She just hasn’t been given the chance to show you. Either that, or you never listened.”
“Oh, we’ve listened,” Brittany says, scoffing. “She prefers it up there.”
I put Hercules down and give Brittany a pointed look. “Maybe someone should ask if that’s where she wants to be instead ofassuming.”
Harold, Jet, and Brittany exchange looks that say eitherWho is this serial killer that Coco brought home?orMaybe he has a point.
I’d give it a fifty-fifty shot at either one.
Brittany lifts her eyebrows. “Okay, sure.”
With that, I turn on my heel and head for the house to rescue Coco.
Chapter 21
Coco
When Stone enters the kitchen, all conversations stop. Nu-Nu speaks first. “Coco, introduce me to this handsome young man.”
It was just a few nights ago when he wooed all the ladies at book club, and the same thing will probably happen here. “Everyone, this is Stone. Stone, these are my aunts: Margie, Michelle, Susan, and Whitney.”
Whitney winks at him. “There’ll be a test later. Don’t forget.”
He chuckles, but it sounds tense. “I’ll try not to.”
And that’s it. No mention of food. No wondering if someone made strawberry pretzel salad and if he can just sneak a corner, no one will notice, he’ll cover it with whipped cream.
None of that.
Something’s wrong.
Margie steps forward. “Is that a lambicorn?”
Stone’s eyebrows lift. “His name’s Hercules. Would you like to pet him?”
“Abso-freaking-lutely.”
As my aunts surround him, oohing and aahing, Stone puts Hercules on the floor and crosses over to me. I take him by the sleeve. “I want you to meet my grandmother, Annabelle. Nu-Nu, this is Stone Maddox.”
She peers at him with stars in her eyes. “Aren’t you a strapping young man? Say, you like gumbo?”
The look of surprise on Stone’s face is priceless, like she’s snapped him out of whatever funk he’s been in. “I ... Of course.”
“I don’t make it much anymore, but for you, I’ll cook one up. I’ll even put extra chicken feet in it.”
