“One sec!” I say, washing dressing from my hands. My heart does slapshots against my ribs. I wipe my palms on the dish towel like it's going to save me as I exit the kitchen and cross to the front door. I sling it over my shoulder and give the best smile I can muster with this unknown anxiety spiking with every beat of my heart.
I’m not a worrier. I don’t get nervous.
I wasn’t even anxious at the wedding, knowing Kayla’s family would be there. I was too fixated on helping Kayla out of her predicament. Too excited about giving myself a shot at something real with her.
But now …
Now …
Ihavethat something real with her. Or close enough. We may not be together in every way yet, but I’m invested. Fully committed. I’m open to taking this relationship the distance, if that’s what Kayla wants.
And I’m almost positive that’s what she wants.
As long as her family doesn’t object.
“Lawson, Jolene,” I say. Lawson’s handshake is firm but grounding. Jolene smells like flowers when she gives me a hug. “So good to see you both.”
“Yeah, and what about us?” Hunter asks, elbowing Wes and the youngest brother, Grayson.
Kayla calls her brothers twerps, but the word probably fit a lot better when she was twelve and they were ten, eight, and seven. They were probably skinny little dorks who were always going through her diary, or something.
At thirty, twenty-eight, and twenty-seven, respectively, they’re probably still the kind to rifle through her social media to find dirt to tease her about. But they’re also grown men who’ve clearly worked out a time or two.
Don’t get me wrong: I could take any of them in a fight. I could probably take two of them at the same time.
But if all three decide to gang up on me …
Actually, I still like my chances.
“Bring it in,” I say, holding my arms open. Wes is the oldest, but Hunter is the loudest of the three boys, and he pounds a fist on my back a bit harder than the other two. “Good seeing y’all.”
I step back and Kayla instantly tucks herself against me, a clear sign that we’re a team.
Or maybe she’s using me as a shield against wet willies, or something.
I’m okay, either way.
“What brings you to town?” Kayla asks.
“Jane’s baby shower tomorrow. Remember?”
“I remember. Why are the guys here?”
“It’s a co-ed shower,” Wes says. “Sean’s coming, right?”
“I am,” I say.
Kayla gives them all a long look. “My brothers didn’t drive over to Sugar Maple to go to their cousin’s baby shower. You came here to check on me.”
Hunter reaches over and gives her a noogie. “See? And Aldridge thought you were just a pretty face.”
Kayla smacks his hand away, but she has an indulgent smile on her face. “If you guys are here, you may as well stay for dinner. Sean smoked a whole chicken, so we have plenty.”
Every eye turns to the dinner table—a table that sits two comfortably, and not a person more. “We’ll eat in the family room.” I say.
“Maybe it’s time to get a bigger place,” Jolene suggests, her tone light but unmistakably probing. “Or are you still figuring out where that place should be?”
“What do you mean?” Kayla asks lightly, but I can hear the thread of worry in her tone that screams,“What do you think you know?”
