And now, I was thinking about her tits, which was entirely inappropriate given we’d just met. And given my random lunch date with Dallas. And yet . . .
Apparently the horny brain was having a field day.
“Well, if you need help, let me know. I’m pretty crafty. I’m here as an animator, so between working on my project, I’ll have time.” Once I actually started my project.
Eventually, something would come to me. Right?
June’s face lit up. “Oh my god, you’re an animator? That's so cool. How did you get into that?”
I opened my mouth to answer her, but Laura ran back up to us with a man that looked almost like Dallas. A little older, a little more stressed, but just as handsome. He wore a denim shirt with his sleeves rolled up and khaki pants.
“I’m not going to repeat what Laura just said to me,” he said as he approached. “But are you okay, June?”
“I definitely am okay. Madi rescued me.”
His shoulders relaxed a fraction and he blew out a sigh of relief. I’d heard tidbits about him from Dallas, and realized he wasn’t exaggerating. This guy needed a massage, a nap, and a beer ASAP. “Oh good. Let me grab the mop, and I’ll feed the three of you lunch.”
“Oh we’re not?—”
The pretty man moved like a superhero, already darting out of sight. June watched him go and then looked at her niece. “What on earth did you say to him?”
“Just what you said,” Laura chirped. “But don’t worry. I didn’t tell him about your kiss.”
June narrowed her eyes. “You mind your business, Laura Anne Moore. You hear me?”
She grinned. “Cross my heart. Can we have lunch now?”
“Didn’t you just eat a donut?”
“I’m a growing girl.” Her head tilted back as she looked up at me. “How did you get to be so tall? Can you show me how so I don’t end up as short as Aunt June?”
June feigned an offended gasp. “How dare you call me short? I am almost average height, I’ll have you know.”
Laura wrinkled her nose, clearly unconvinced. I snorted as June dragged her niece close and tickled her until she was giggling and squealing.
It’d been a long time since I’d seen a family relationship like that. It was clear June loved her, and clear Laura loved her back. My heart squeezed as we waited for Austin to return.
I wasn’t close with any of my family. There were times I missed them, but I’d become the black sheep. I was an apple that had not only fallen far from the tree, but the tree had oranges. Not even the same type of fruit. I kept in touch with my younger siblings, but outside of them, it was just me.
Usedto be Justin and me.
I was better off without him, I reminded myself.
“I have returned,” Austin announced with a mop and bucket in hand.
June and I stepped further apart from each other to give him the space to mope it all up. June kept her elbow balanced on the top of Laura’s head, who kept poking her in the ribs and giggling like a menace.
“Have you met Madi?” June asked as she watched Austin. “She’s your artist-in-residence.”
“Fuck. I mean,oh. I promise we don’t normally have water on the floor. Sorry about that.” He winced. “It’s nice to meet you, Madi. My sister was thrilled to have someone here for the residency. Welcome to Whynot.”
“No worries,” I rushed out. “And thank you. So far, I’m loving it.”
“You got in on Friday?” Austin asked.
I nodded. “Yep. Well, barely. My car broke down and I got it all the way to the shop, but . . .” I trailed off as his expression went off like a light bulb.
“See,” Austin said, looking at June as if I’d just proven a point for him. June immediately groaned as if she already knew what he was about to say. “This is why I can’t take time off. What if someone needed me like she needed Dallas? And he took the weekend off?”
