I sighed. “I’m sorry, Len. I’ve been really spacey this week. I’ll get better once the camp’s over, and I can get back to some semblance of normality.”
“I suppose I can hand the snacks back to you next time,” she said, steepling her fingers.
“I don’t know, you may be stuck with it now. Especially since you picked up Mom’s favorite. I’ll probably be demoted to drinks.”
Lennox jumped out of her seat and pointed in my direction. “Aha! I knew it. Drinksdogo to the least reliable.”
I smiled, saving the spreadsheet I was working on and shutting the computer down before pushing to my feet. “I never said that.”
“You didn’tnotsay it either, though.” She narrowed her eyes. “I’m gonna ask Mom.”
She probably wouldn’t like the answer she got. It wasn’t that Lennox was unreliable—she wasn’t in the slightest—it was just that my dear sister had little to no patience for cooking. Given the choice between a home-cooked meal and grazing on random things for dinner, she’d choose the grazing.
“I think it’s more the fact that Mom doesn’t consider ‘girl dinner’ a real thing,” I said, locking up the office as we walked into the barn.
As I turned, Lennox looped her arm with mine and led me outside. “Well, that sounds like Mom’s problem. Who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board? Those little salami roses? I mean, come on. They’re so cute.”
“Do you even know how to make those?” I asked.
“No, but that isn’t the point. It’s the fact that it’s a real thing.” She tipped her head back in a groan. “Ugh, that’s what I should’ve done for tonight! It would’ve been a chance to show her I was right.”
“Alright, well, let’s make a deal,” I chuckled. “We’ll switch next time. That’ll give you plenty of time to practice meat art.”
Lennox turned to me as we reached the front door of our parents’ house and gave me a wink. “Meat art is a pastime I can get behind.”
I shoved her forward as she stepped inside. “Gross, Len. I don’t want to hear about what you do with Bishop’s dick?—”
A spluttering cough caught our attention, and we both looked up to see Lincoln, Bishop, and our dad standing in the living room staring at us in a mixture of horror and humor.
“God fucking dammit, Lennox,” Bishop cursed. Lincoln burst out laughing, earning a jab from the grumpy bastard beside him. “It’s not funny, you asshole.”
“I mean, it’s a little funny,” he said, glancing down at his feet to hide his smile.
Bishop jerked his head toward the kitchen. “You want Josie to walk in talking about that shit in front of everyone?”
Lincoln shrugged. “I don’t believe in gatekeeping, buddy, and I’ve got nothing to hide. Josie asks to try things all the time.”
Dad shifted on his feet, shaking his head as he headed back toward the kitchen. “Y’all are gonna send me to an early fuckin’ grave.”
“I don’t either, but—” Bishop gestured around, his cheeks flushed “—there’s a time and a place.” Then he smacked the back of Lincoln’s head. “And don’t call me buddy, asshole.”
Lennox walked up to her fiancé and gripped his chin, forcing him to look at her. “If you take that stick outta your ass, I’ll do that thing you like so much,” she dropped her voice, “daddy.”
I groaned and waved my hands in the air. “Too far, Len. Too far!”
Lincoln, on the other hand, looked like a kid in a damn candy shop. “I always knew you were a kinky fucker.”
Bishop’s face was bright red at this point. He pointed his finger at Lincoln. “You’re gonna pay for that shit,” and then he looked down at Lennox with fire burning in his eyes. “And I’ll deal with you tonight.”
“Promises, promises,” she smirked, reaching up on her tiptoes to give him a chaste kiss.
Dad appeared in the doorway, cradling Stella to his chest. “Y’all better behave in front of my granddaughter, or I’m gonna have to kick your asses. Let’s get this sleepy girl home.”
I walked over, running my fingers along her cotton onesie. She still had that sweet newborn smell. It called to something deeply biological inside of me, and I ached for it. “Oh, don’t take her away just yet. I haven’t had my turn yet.”
I held out my hands, gently taking her from Dad and laying her against my chest. She wiggled in my hold and let out a soft coo that had everyone in the room melting. “Hi, sweet girl,” I whispered. “You’re getting so big.”
“Isn’t she?” I hadn’t heard Josie come up beside me. She peered over my shoulder at her daughter. “I can’t believe she’s already closing in on one month. It seems like just yesterday?—”
