Andy stands, kisses her mom’s cheek, then dips down to kiss Beau’s. “Been a rough night for him.”
The phrase must be code because the three of them relax from high alert. Cindy bustles around the kitchen to fill two tupperware containers full of chicken and dumplings. She returns to shove the containers into Andy’s waiting arms.
“Make Harper eat this when his appetite returns.”
Andy smiles softly. “Will do, Mama.” Andy aims a grimace at me and Eli. “Sorry, I hate to miss this cute little double date, but I’m sure we’ll have hundreds of these for years to come.”
We all watch Andy leave, arms folded around the warm food containers.
“What’s wrong with Harper?” I ask in a soft whisper.
Beau’s contemplative for a few moments, before softly murmuring, “Harper has epilepsy. Sometimes his seizures are controlled, sometimes not. Andy and him are really close.”
Cindy’s gaze finally tears from the door, and she fixes her own food. I look down at my plate, weary at how the food looks, but I can’t deny it smells amazing. Hard to describe. But it smells a little like how I assume home should smell. Once Cindy joins the table, she grins around at everyone.
“It’s not Thanksgiving, but I wanted to say how thankful I am for all of you. It’s been a rough year, but every single one of you has made it easier in one way or another.” Tears rim her eyes, but she blinks them away. “Anyway, let’s eat before it cools.”
Beau’s hand stays warm on my thigh as I grab my spoon. Everyone around the table digs in without a word, even Eli closes his eyes in bliss, so it must be good. I load my spoon up, then take a bite, and suddenly I understand why everyone is silent. It tastes like heaven on my tongue. Savory and warm and comforting. I feel like I blink, and my plate is empty.
A chuckle sounds from beside me, just before Beau stands. He goes into the kitchen, refills our plates, then plops a plate down on the table with a knowing smile. That’s how I finish two entire plates of chicken and dumplings. Suddenly, I have a new favorite meal. If I had to choose one meal to eat for the rest of my life, it would probably be this one. It’s not just that the food is good, but that it’s made with love. My stomach and heart are full by the time I’m done with my meal.
Dinner winds down, and the boys stand side by side in the kitchen doing dishes.
Cindy fixes cups of coffee, and places creamer and sugar on the table. I add some sugar and a splash of creamer, before taking a grateful sip. Eli grins at me over his mug that saysoh, bless your heartwith a middle finger painted below the words. I snort against the rim of my mug.
“How long have you two known each other?” Cindy asks, gaze pinging between us.
“A few years,” Eli says easily. “We met at our old job.”
“And what job was that?” Cindy takes a sip of her coffee, not realizing the can of worms she’s trying to open.
Colby and Beau both freeze, simultaneously turning to look at us over their shoulders.
With a wicked grin, I say, “We were in customer service together.”
Cindy makes a contemplative sound. “Interesting.”
And that’s that.
After dessert of pudding pie, the four of us amble outside, stomachs full, and cheeks aching from smiling. I never thought I could have a life like this one. Never thought I deserved something like this. For so many years I punished myself for the crimes of my parents, thinking I deserved to be treated like less than to make up for their sins. The beauty of life is so easy to see when I’m focusing onmylife, and what I want to take from it.
At this very moment, that means letting Beau buckle me into the Chevy, drive me home, and make love to me so fiercely that I feel put back together, even after he takes me apart.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TREVOR
Our feet pound the packed gravel road as we jog, drenched by sweat in the late September heat. Shadows cut across the road from the oak trees, slashing sunlight through the trees. Eli grunts beside me as he works hard to keep up.
“You’re doing better than you were,” I huff out.
Eli runs a hand over his sweaty forehead, pushing at the curls that have escaped from his sweatband. “You could go slower.”
I chuckle. “I’m already running at half pace, half pint.”
Eli tosses me an aggrieved look but doesn’t reply.
We finish up our run in silence, ending up back at his and Colby’s place. I quietly follow Eli up to the apartment over Colby’s garage. These two are ridiculous. I’ve moved into Beau’s house, basically living in his bedroom now too, but Colby and Eli are still trying to give the pretense of dating and living separately. My bet is that Eli will move into Colby’s house before the end of October.
