Page 132 of Colt

“So ‘butt’ is okay, but ‘butthead’ isn’t?”

“How about we avoid the B word altogether, yeah?”

Dean rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

The flowers are a shitty consolation prize for Mom after I intentionally skipped Sunday supper the past couple weeks. I just couldn’t deal with seeing Billie and Ryder together, stupid as that sounds. But I was short on time, and I figured flowers were better than nothing.

I’m anxious as hell as I follow Dean through the front door. The smells of tomato sauce and sweet Italian sausage hit me the second I step inside.

Aw, hell yeah, Mom’s made lasagna.

I’m also excited. About the lasagna, obviously. But Dean and I ran into Lainey this morning at the Caffeinated Cowgirl, where she was working on her laptop. She said she’d be here tonight.

I was already thinking about coming to Sunday supper, but not gonna lie, knowing Lainey’d be here too was what tipped the scales for me.

“Mimi!” Dean shouts. “Pawpaw! Are you here?”

“We’re here,” Mom replies. “Oh, sweet boy, I’m so glad you were able to come. I’ve missed you!”

“I miss you too. Miss Lainey, you’re here for dinner?” Dean asks.

My stomach flips.

I hear the smile in her voice when she replies, “Your grandmama invited me. Isn’t that so kind?”

“Can we play UNO after we’re done?”

“As long as you eat your vegetables and mind your manners,” Lainey replies easily.

“That a deal?” Dean asks.

“That’s a deal. Such a good handshake,” Lainey says.

“Thanks. My dad taught me.”

“I’m sure he did.”

I round the corner and stop, my feet catching on the rug, when I see my entire family gathered around my parents’ enormous dining room table. There’s a twist in my chest when I see two empty places set with plates and silverware, just waiting for my son and me.

Dean is all smiles as he stands beside Lainey, who sits so that she’s facing me.

Our eyes lock. A funny kind of pressure builds inside my chest. I feel a smile tugging at the edges of my own mouth, even though I’m vaguely aware that my sister and Ryder are also at the table.

Lainey’s in that black dress again. Red lips. Green eyes.

Beautiful.

“Lainey,” I manage, then glance around the table. “Why y’all so quiet?”

Mack shoots me a pointed look. “Because you’ve been giving us the silent treatment for, like, a year now, and suddenly you decide to show up for supper like it’s no big thing. Care to explain yourself?”

Ugh, this fucking guy. I know he’s just pushing my buttons. Pushing me to mend fences with my sister and Ryder. They’re the only ones I haven’t spoken to.

I lean down to kiss Mom’s cheek. “Me and Dean were hungry.”

“Right,” Beck says, narrowing his eyes at me.

Setting the flowers down on the sideboard, I help Dean into his chair, then put his napkin on his lap. “This looks amazing, Mom.”