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Ethan’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. “What, like in here? With you?”

“It’s a big place,” I said, throwing up a hand. “There’s more than enough room. Plus, having you guys under my roof means I can keep a closer eye on the progress. Make sure no one’s slacking.”

Ethan’s blush deepened. “That’s not a bad—”

“So, what’s for lunch?” Deacon’s voice interrupted my conversation yet again. I hadn’t even heard him and Nate come back, but when I turned around, they were both waiting in the doorway.

I dusted my hands off on the sides of my pants. “Uh, nothing much. Unless you count the granola bar in my purse that I brought up here with me.”

“That’s it?” Deacon asked incredulously.

“Well, yeah.” I was caught between being annoyed and embarrassed. “Plus, it’s not like I could make anything, anyway. There’s no power in any of the outlets.”

Nate’s face changed, and he jumped into action. “Ethan, kill the main at the panel and check the overhead drop line out back, why don’t you? See if that storm last night tore the mast away from the roof. Matthews, you can locate the well head and check the pressure switch. If the pump is shorted, we’re going to need to pull it.”

Then his gaze settled on me, and I had sudden visions of being sent up to the roof or electrocuting myself at the sockets. I did not sign up for that, and my labor was strictly regulated. But his next words were totally unexpected.

“I’m going to take Ava into town to get some real food.”

7

Ava

The inside of the boys’ work truck was a startling difference to the way Ethan described their trailer. It was pretty pristine, which in and of itself was a shock. Instead of the expected muddy floor mats and crumpled fast food wrappers, the leather seats were spotless and the cab smelled of expensive leather conditioner.

It was also pleasantly warm. Overall, not a bad place to spend the next thirty minutes while Nate drove us into town. He was quiet, his hand resting casually on the center console, just inches away from my knee.

The proximity was enough to make me feel dizzy.

I directed my eyes outside, using the underside of my hand to wipe a clean circle through the thick condensation on the glass. Now I could peek at the dense stands of old-growth Douglas firs blurring past, their massive trunks still damp and dark from the previous night’s rain.

“Seatbelt.”

My head snapped around to look at Nate, too perplexed at his sudden command to care anymore. “Excuse me?”

“Put your seatbelt on,” he repeated, his attention still fixed on the road ahead.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about being barked at, but I gingerly strapped the belt across my torso and clipped it in. I tilted my head, staring a hole into his cheek. “Satisfied?”

He scoffed. “I thought you were a big girl, Ava. Don’t big girls wear seatbelts? I figured that was a habit you would’ve grown into.”

My memory flashed back to a time when Nate had been mine and Julia’s designated chauffeur. He’d just taught her how to drive, but still insisted on taking us wherever we wanted to go, even when it threw a wrench in his own plans. Jules had lamented his overprotectiveness at the time, but I’d secretly thought it was kind of nice to have someone care about their sibling that much.

And of course, Nate had always scolded us when we forgot to put our seatbelts on.

“How Jules coped with you, I’ll never understand,” I muttered, adjusting the passenger-side air vent so I could get a warm blast of air to my icy hands.

“That’s the thanks I get for looking out for the two of you?” he asked, finally turning his head to give me a wry look.

“That’s what you get for spoiling our fun,” I challenged.

“Ah. Fun. Of course, just like the time the two of you decided to steal a pack of sparklers from my room and hole up in the treehouse,” he said, a hint of old accusation still fresh in his voice.

“Okay, well, that didn’t mean you had to spend an entire afternoon trying to climb up so you could confiscate it,” I shot back. “You brought the whole thing down with your weight.”

“You’re right. I should’ve just left it. Just like all those times the two of you tried to sneak out to the dock after dark,” he added. “I can’t possibly imagine all the amazing things that could’ve happened if I just let you ‘have your fun’.”

“Fine, I get it. You win. Immense thanks for all the times you looked out for us and drove us around, both back then and present day, Nathaniel. Is that better?” I asked.