“I’m not a kid anymore, Hads.” She leans into me, and we zone out watching one man hand out roses to multiple women. Nia gets the dopey look on her face she always does when she makes me watch this show with her.
The credits are rolling when Maggie appears in the doorway. “Supper’s ready, you two.”
Nia flies off the sofa. “You’re next to me tonight, okay?”
“Sure.” Maggie crooks her arm and Nia beams as she hooks her arm in Maggie’s. They walk to the dining table, walking some sideways-step-dance thing, and I follow, running a hand through my hair and wondering how the hell I never saw this incredible woman for who she was from day one.
I sit at the head of the table. Nia pulls out Maggie’s chair, and they chatter away about plans and dreams as Kayley catches my gaze, a happy expression filling her face—the ‘will you look at that’ face—as she stabs her roasted veggies and takes a bite.
Returning the ‘hold your horses’ stare, I cut a mouthful of roast beef and bite it from my fork.
“You two are having quite the conversation,” Mom says.
Kayley and me snap our attention to her instantly.
Shit.
“I didn’t hear anything...” Maggie says, confusion dropping her brow.
“You won’t.” Nia narrows her eyes at me and Kales. “They do this every supper when they are ‘talking’about us.”
“Oh, what did they say?” Maggie asks in a whisper, leaning over to Nia.
Nia tilts her head as if in deep, deep contemplation. “So, Hads said he’s constipated. And Kayley tells him he needs to quit the mansplaining and eats some fiber.”
The entire table cracks up.
A whoop comes from Kayley as she chokes on her mouthful. Her face turns beet red as she struggles for air. I stand and lean over, slapping her on the back. Coughing out the carrot, or whatever the orangish lump is, she laughs, swatting me away.
“Hah! Who’s constipated now?” I volley back to Nia.
She giggles, and Maggie’s shoulders are shaking as she holds a hand over her mouth.
The amusement dies down and we tuck back into our food as Maggie asks, “What time are we up for the roundup tomorrow?”
Kayley eyes home in on Maggie. “So, you’ve ridden before?”
