I swear I’m having an out-of-body experience right now. Up is down and right is left. The world has gone off its axis.
That’s the only explanation I can come up with for what’s happening.
Veronica comes around the island, handing Lark a glass of wine. “Here you go.”
Lark smiles and accepts it. “Thanks.”
“Anything for someone who likes to give Tristan shit.”
I clench my jaw, because if I keep going, they’ll keep going.
The woman I love takes a sip of her wine, grinning at me over the rim of the glass. She’s so going to pay for this. Then I remember she’s not allowed alcohol, so I reach over and pluck the glass from her.
“Hey!” she protests.
“You can’t drink yet.”
Lark huffs. “You’re no fun.”
Dad sidles up to her. “I’d let you have wine.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
“As fun as this is, can we eat now? Lark has a doctor’s appointment in two hours, and all of you have work to do.” I look to my father. “And you have to put up a solar-powered fan for the goat pen that Sadie roped you into.”
“Yeah, yeah, every party has a pooper, Tristan. I guess you’re it,” he tosses back.
“I’ll wear that hat. Now let’s eat,” I demand as I take my seat, and that’s my first mistake.
All the women, including my daughter, stand there looking at me like I’m out of my mind.
Harper laughs softly. “Well, well, the king has spoken.”
“Lark, are you sure you want to date a man who just issues orders?” Veronica asks.
Fallon chimes in, because of course they can’t just let something go. “I wouldn’t stand for it. Put your foot down.”
And, of course, the abuse wouldn’t be complete without my father. “I would never demand anything from you, darling.”
Lark lets out a giggle and then fixes her face into a scowl that is clearly not meant to be one, based on the scrunch around hermouth. “You guys make good points. I’ll be sure to make him pay for it.”
Sadie plops down beside me and grins. “I really like her.”
I glance up at Lark. “Yeah, I do, too, against my better judgment.”
Lark wraps her arms around my shoulders and kisses my cheek from behind. “I really like your family.”
I turn my face to look into her eyes. “Seems they like you too. Who knew it was possible?”
Her smile is bright as she lets go and sits beside me. A Gatlin and the Stones, enjoying a meal without bloodshed.
Only Lark could accomplish this.
“No, absolutely not,” I say as Lark walks Cloud out of the ring toward the tack room.
Today I got a call that I needed to come to Lark’s barn. Her brother said she was going to ride. I should’ve known. I should’ve known this woman was going to test every fucking limit there is.
We had a great lunch yesterday. We enjoyed each other’s company and got to see my family not be a bunch of hateful assholes. All seemed well in the world.
