Page 45 of Sterling Clay

“Daddy, can Dutton please come over?”

Mavis and Ford catch a look before Ford speaks, “I really don’t mind.”

Dutton has his hands folded together like he’s praying, bouncing on his toes, pleading with his mom.

“If you’re really sure.” Apparently, the invitation must have already been offered.

“Got a call with my girl later. That’s my only plan tonight.”

My brother is newly in love and his world-famous country-music girlfriend will be home from her tour in a few weeks. Until then, he’s doing lots of Facetime and hand jobs to get him through the absence.

I don’t think I could ever have a long-distance relationship. If I had a woman, a wife, I’d want her present all the time, working with me, beside me, like I remember my parents before everything fell apart. I’ll never understand how my father loved my mother before her death, and then seemed to forget all that love after she was gone.

My gaze lands on Mavis.

“Let me swing back to Clay’s place so Dutton can change and then I’ll bring him over to your house.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Ford agrees.

Dutton and Winnie face one another and scream, jumping up and down like bouncing beans and teetering with excitement.

As for me, I’m thrilled for Dutton. Then, I step over to Mavis.

“Hey, you think you might want to come back here after you drop off Dutton? There’ll be a grown-up band playing later tonight.”

Mavis’s dark eyes open wide, whether surprised by the invitation or something else, I’m not certain, but I’m not interested in brushing off that kiss and I don’t want her avoiding me until we can talk about it.

“Let me get Dutton settled.” She glances back at him, brows furrowing. “I’ll think about it.”

“Think yes, butterfly. You deserve a night off.”

She offers me a cautious smile and I want to reach out for her, tug her to me, and give her another kiss right here to ease her troubled mind. But I promised to let her lead.

For the first time in my life, I’m relinquishing control, and the sensation is both frightening and thrilling.

I watch as they all walk away. Ford and his girls. Mavis and Dutton. Then Ford turns around, walking backward a few paces. He points at his eyes with two fingers then swivels his hand toward me.

You owe me, he mouths. Then he laughs and spins back around.

Apparently, I’m not fooling anyone about my attraction to Mavis.

Not even myself.

Chapter 16

[Mavis]

I’m anxious. Nervous about leaving Dutton at Ford’s home. Nervous about returning to the Harvest Festival. Nervous to see Clay after that kiss.

Still, I talk myself into accepting that Dutton needs a friend his own age and I do deserve at least one night that’s kid-free for a little while.

Wearing a denim dress and cowboy boots, I walk amid the people gathered around the wooden dance floor, now lit by strings of Edison bulb lights and a few spotlights on a new band.

Clay sent me a text earlier, telling me where to find him, and I slowly approach where he’s standing with his brother, Knox, and the woman I recognize as my old neighbor, Halle. My anxiety creeps up another notch. I might not know these people, but they know about me.

“Hi.” My voice cracks as I near and Clay turns.

His eyes light up underneath the warm bulbs overhanging the dance floor, and he smiles wide.