Page 109 of Peaches & Pistols

Carter fruitlessly wriggles in the chair trying to get loose, but each movement only binds the rope tighter.

“So…when you say you’ll kill me if I touch your sister, is this the kind of shit you have in mind?” James asks jokingly, but with a rattle of nerves behind the question.

“How ‘bout you don’t touch my fucking sister, and we won’t have to find out.”

We stand in silence, absorbing the severity of our crimes for barely three seconds.

“Delilah texted and said they’re making pot roast for dinner. She said it’s Mia’s favorite,” Connor says. At my surprised expression he adds, “Did you not know that?”

I didn’t know that, but to be fair, I’ve been trying to get Mia to take the reins and cook what she wants, not what I or the girls want. I don’t think she’s been put first a day in her life until she met me. So, knowing she told the girls her favorite dinner is a huge win.

“Good, I’m fucking starving,” James complains.

Reid elbows his older brother in the side. “You’re lucky you’re invited, so shut the hell up. Izzy has a chocolate silk pie waiting in the freezer and I’ll eat your piece if you piss me off.”

James mimes zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

“Could one of you drive back to the main house and bring Mia down? We need to get those papers signed and settle this once and for all,” I ask.

Reid nods once and takes off into the night to get my future wife.

36

“Do you think she’s still hungry?” Delilah whispers.

“She’s a grown woman, pretty sure she’d tell us if she was still hungry,” Izzy replies.

I actually wouldn’t. I’ve spent my life avoiding being an imposition.

I can’t blame them, I’ve been catatonic since finishing the best grilled cheese sandwich of my life. My brain’s short-circuited, refusing to accept that Carter’s here, on this property, and Greyson’s gone to face him.

It’s like I refuse to admit Carter would stoop so low and try to steal Everly from school. I laugh inside because of course he would. He’d commit any atrocity to preserve his image, reputation, and pride.

He’s proven time and time again he has no qualms laying hands on me, so what’s to say he wouldn’t do worse? But Greyson will keep me safe. He has to.

“Should we move to the family room and get more comfortable?” Izzy suggests.

A light hand on my shoulder has me recoiling before I can rationalize it’s my friend.

“I’m sorry, Mia. I didn’t mean to startle you. Do you want to come sit with us by the fireplace? It’s comfy and cozy in there,” Delilah coaxes.

Rather than answer, I stand from my place at the island and rinse my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. The three women pretend like they’re not tracking my every movement, but I can feel their eyes as I walk past them to the family room.

I intentionally take a single-seat armchair so no one can sit next to me. Izzy stretches out on the rug by the fireplace like a cat, while Delilah and Olivia each take an end of the sofa.

We sit in silence, the pops and cracks of the firewood the only sounds. Even those sudden noises have me jumpy and I can’t help huffing a laugh at how pathetic I am.

“Yea, we’re not going to do this,” Olivia declares loudly in the quiet space, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Do what?” I ask, looking between the three.

“Sit here awkwardly for god knows how long while the boys play Rambo. Fuck that. If we have to stay locked in the house missing the action, we can at least have some fun.”

“Livy, I don’t know if now’s the time…” Delilah tries to stop the Olivia Dalton train, which I’ve learned is pointless.

“Nonsense.” Olivia playfully dismisses Delilah.

Izzy hasn’t piped up or moved from her spot and I’m not sure she will either. She seems to stay out of other people’s business, and I can’t blame her after everything she and Reid had to overcome to be together.