“Hello there,” Nova greeted brightly.
Hayley’s gaze flicked between Levi and his sisters. “Um, hello?”
Constance slapped him on the chest with the back of her hand while she smiled at Hayley. “Pardon our brother’s rude manners. I’d say he was raised by a pack of wolves, but then that would make us the wolves, wouldn’t it? I’m his sister, Constance.”
Hayley’s eyes cleared, and she smiled in return. “Oh! Hello! I think I owe you a big thanks.” She lifted her chin to look up at Levi. “Right?”
He nodded, resigned. The cat was about to jump right out of the bag in three, two, one...
“I hope you don’t mind that I had to borrow your clothes recently. You really helped me out.”
Levi could feel the vibrating energy bouncing off both of his sisters. Between the two of them, he’d probably set off a Geiger counter if someone pointed one his direction.
“I don’t mind at all,” Constance crowed. “In fact, I’mextremelyhappy that you were able to make use of them.”
Her words were perfectly normal, but the unhinged grin on her face and the barely contained excitement were enough to make anyone feel hesitant. For some reason, however, Hayleydidn’t seem to pick up on the undercurrent of nosiness as she stood there relaxed instead of on guard, as she should be. Maybe he could still rescue her from a ruthless though well-meaning cross-examination.
“What are you doing here?” He winced as his tone came out gruffer than he intended.
Hayley’s brows collapsed over her eyes as she looked at him.Why are youacting like this?her expression seemed to say. Her mouth, however, said, “I left something that I need, so I came back to get it. I didn’t realize this was a bad time, though.”
Her journal. She’d come back for her journal.
Nova stepped forward and wrapped an arm across the back of Hayley’s shoulders. “This isn’t a bad time at all.” She looked at Levi with narrowed eyes. “Is it, brother?”
“It’s our dad’s birthday, and we were just starting dinner. Why don’t you join us?” Constance held out her arm in invitation while also turning to stare Levi down and dare him to revoke the invitation.
Hayley looked to Levi, a silent question in her eyes.
He gripped the back of his neck before nodding once.
Constance and Nova gave each other quick glances of triumph before leading Hayley to the back deck, Levi on their heels. The rest of his family seemed on high alert, like a pack of prairie dogs popping out of their underground burrows to give unblinking focus to the newcomer. He suppressed a sigh and prayed the attention about to be poured on Hayley wouldn’t scare her away.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Hayley Holt, the circulation librarian from Little Creek.” Levi went around the table introducing all the members of his family to Hayley.
His mom quickly put the beginning of his story of Little Creek obtaining a bookmobile together with Hayley’s sudden appearance. “So this is who stayed with you while the road was closed? It’s so nice to meet you, my dear.”
Levi retrieved another plate and some silverware from the kitchen and set them down on the table beside his own. The bench seat was snug with one more person, but he wasn’t going to complain about having Hayley pressed up against him.
His dad elbowed him and winked. “Cozy.”
Levi refrained from rolling his eyes. No matter what he claimed, Dad was just as bad as his mom and sisters were.
“Levi was about to tell us about the rockslide and his mystery guest, but now that you’re here, why don’t you tell us about you yourself?” Mom smiled warmly before bringing a bite of salad to her mouth.
“Well, what would you like to know?” Hayley leaned further into Levi’s side, even though the action wasn’t necessary since they were glued together like two pieces of paper in a kindergartener’s art project, and whispered to him, “Can you pass the zucchini, please?”
Six pairs of eyes darted around the table, connecting with someone before shooting off and connecting with another member of the family. Everyone had one burning question that they were dying to know, but no one wanted to come right out and ask it.
Levi scowled at his family as he handed over the dish. “Really?”
Hayley laughed, the melodic trill that never ceased to take the edge off his fraying nerves. She patted his leg under the table. “It’s all right. A girl gets trapped with a guy and everyone wonders if the forced proximity is the environment needed to kindle a romance. Considering they’re your family and love you, Levi, it only stands to reason that they’d want to know if something happened or not.” She took a bite and chewed, her face showing surprise. “This is really good. What did you season it with? Lemon?”
He nodded absently. She wasn’t upset or overwhelmed orfeeling awkward about his family’s invasiveness? Did that mean he had room to hope that she felt as sure about the rightness of them being together as he did?
“So...” Aliyah drew out. “Didsomething happen?”
Hayley nodded without contest. “Oh, something definitely happened.”
