Page 109

Too bad this marriage is just temporary, huh, Easton?

We settle around the campfire Bruce built in a community fire ring near our site, and Ava arrives with a tray of s’mores fixings that could pass for a four-course meal. There are graham crackers, cookies, Oreos, and croissants, as well as several different types of chocolate candies other than just the traditional chocolate bar. She’s also included peanut butter, cookies-and-cream spread, several jellies, marshmallow fluff, and regular marshmallows.

“Is that all for tonight?” I take in the number of options spread before me.

Lennon laughs. “It could be, but don’t worry, Mom always overpacks the s’mores ingredients. In fact, tomorrow for lunch we’re having a savory s’more platter.”

“Savory s’mores?”

Ava nods proudly as she sets down the tray, and Hudson, James, Nora, Blair, and Bruce descend on the spread. “They’re s’mores made with meat and cheese, Easton. Hudson suggested them a few years ago, and since our family loves s’mores, they stuck. Now we always make them for lunch.” She tilts her head. “Think of it as a charcuterie board where you melt the cheese instead of a marshmallow and load your crackers with meat instead of chocolate.”

“Plus, there are pickles,” Blair adds, licking her lips. “All of the pickles.”

Nora arches a brow at her. “You know, your love of pickles could be taken in two very different ways, Blair.”

Blair glares at her. “At least someone appreciates a good pickle, Nora. Can’t speak for yourself on that one, can you?”

“That’s enough, you two,” Ava warns as the girls head to the fire with their s’mores fixings. “So, how are you enjoying yourself so far, Easton?”

I inhale deeply, surveying the surrounding forest. “Well, I’m definitely looking forward to savory s’mores now.”

Ava grins as she takes a seat on the picnic-table bench beside me. “I’ll take that as a win, then, since I’m sure Lennon’s been complaining about this trip for weeks and trying to convince you that it’s warfare-level torture.”

She’s barely brought it up, but I keep that detail to myself. I don’t want Ava to think Lennon doesn’t appreciate these trips, because deep down, I know she does. Hell, I can see it on her face, the flames casting her in a glow that makes her smile even more captivating.

Fuck, I want to kiss her again.

To sneak up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist as we stand in front of the fire together. To bury my nose in her hair and breathe in the shampoo scent now familiar on my sheets. To stop hiding this need to hold her, protect her, and show her the kind of love she fucking deserves.

Lennon deserves so much more than she’s ever allowed for herself.

I just don’t know if she’ll ever let me be the man to show that to her, especially after last night.

“Jesus, Lennon. Stop it!” Nora shouts as Lennon tries to shove an unpeeled banana in her sister’s mouth.

Ava rolls her eyes. “Girls, please don’t let me down right now. You know what that looks like to everyone else. Remember your training.”

Lennon is still laughing when she turns back to her mom. “Yes, Mom. I remember.”

“Uh, there was training about a banana?” I ask. The girls are far enough away that Ava and I can talk without them eavesdropping.

“I’m sure you’re aware that sex was never a taboo topic in our household, Easton,” Ava starts, watching her kids interact in front of her. “And I was raising four girls. You’d better believe I was going to make sure they knew their way around a penis and a condom.”

“That’s fair.”

“But we also had many discussions about phallic-shaped foods.” Ava raises her voice to address her daughters. “Remember, girls…banana to mouth…”

All three of them finish the sentence simultaneously. “Not mouth to banana!”

Laughter rolls out of me. “Holy shit. How have I never heard this story before?”

Hudson comes over to where we’re sitting, grumbling. “I’m surprised it took this long for you to hear about it at all, Easton.”

Ava shakes her head at her son. “Look, one day I’m going to sit down with James and make sure he knows his way around a clitoris too, Hudson.”

Hudson’s face twists with disbelief and irritation. “The hell you are.”

“I won’t have my grandson leaving women unsatisfied. I helped you out, didn’t I?”