Page 96 of Sundown Somewhere

“Depends,” I say with a shrug, trying to be nonchalant. Not a single one of them believes my lackadaisical attitude though.

“On?” Gus prompts.

“A lot of things.” I lift a shoulder again, this time not out of nonchalance, but out of simply having no fucking idea. “Her, mostly.”

“Been a big couple of months for her, hasn’t it?”

I nod. “Yeah. So, I’m letting her call the shots here.”

“What does that mean for this weekend? When you make your announcement?” Milo asks.

Shaking my head, I bite down on my lip. I’ve been asking myself the same thing. “Dunno. Still figuring out how I’m gonna do it. Pretty sure that no matter which way I go, assumptions are going to be made and what’s between us won’t be secret much longer.”

The knot that has been slowly growing in my stomach over that tightens, another twist added to the cluster. I want to honor her desire to keep this between us, while also shouting it from the rooftops. Showing her off the way that she should be. Celebrating her and everything she does for Hickory Hills. I need to find the perfect way to do both.

“Between us,” I continue, gesturing to the small group surrounding me, hoping they know what I’m about to say stays here. “It’s no secret that as far as I’m concerned, she stops the world and spins it backward.”

“Good to see you’re finally willing to admit that,” Auggie comments.

“Only to y’all.” I pause, sucking in a harsh breath. “Just not sure if the shift between her and me is a forever thing in her mind, or if this is simply a get over one guy by getting under another kind of deal.”

“Huxley!” my father half scolds.

I can tell by his tone, matched with the tug of the corner of his mouth, that he’s only pretending to be taken aback by my choice of expression. That he’s doing it mostly because if my mama was present, she would be upset. Not that I would ever say such a thing in front of my mama.

“Yeah, Dad, because that’s the crassest thing Hux’s ever said…” Milo snarks.

I laugh, shaking my head. I know these guys understand, if for no other reason than they’re family, and that’s what family does. It also means I know that I have their support. Which feels damn good.

“To answer your question, Dad, maybe? Depends on if she’s as all in as I am.”

The screen door slides open, the sound of the metal dragging against the frame making all of our heads whip toward the house, conversation ceasing immediately. Like all five of us had been caught with our hands in the cookie jar.

My insides tighten, my breath hitching as Dolly steps outside, sucking all the air right out of the moment. Something about the cute little sundress she has on, covered by a frilly blue seersucker apron, makes me hard in an instant. All my self-control is tied up in holding myself back from yanking her into my lap and kissing her until she can’t breathe—until the only thing I can feel is her curves in the palms of my hand and her core grinding against me.

“Hey boys,” she greets, all smiles.

Walking straight over to Auggie, she hands him a small plate, one of her honey butter biscuits sitting squarely in the middle. My father lights up like a kid on Christmas, taking the plate from her with glee and wrapping an arm around her.

“I always knew you were my favorite child,” he mutters, not bothering to lower his voice so that any of his actual children might not hear.

“Thanks, Dad,” Milo comments.

“Don’t let your actual daughter hear that,” Nash retorts.

“Who do you think sent me?” Dolly replies with a wink.

Turning around, she walks over to me, handing me an almost identical plate and then planting herself in my lap. My mouth waters, and I’m unsure if it’s because of the biscuit, or because she’s now halfway fulfilling the mini fantasy I was just having. Shifting, Dolly makes herself comfortable, my dick twitching in reaction. There’s no way she can’t feel the semi that she’s helping hide, but damn if she’s doing a better job than I am pretending it’s not there.

Good thing I have this biscuit to distract me.

“Where’s ours?” Gus asks, playfully miffed that she didn’t bother to bring enough for everyone. “We don’t get a special delivery?”

I ignore him, biting into the warm, fluffy baked good, letting the honey butter drip down my chin. Oh, fuck…that’s delicious. Almost as delicious as the woman who made them.

“Ask your girlfriends,” Dolly sasses. “There’s plenty in the kitchen if y’all want some now. Or, you can wait ’til dinner.”

Gus opens his mouth, presumably to argue that she brought Auggie a biscuit, but then Margeaux sticks her head outside, the sun radiating off her red hair making it seem even brighter than normal. In a flash, Gus is up and out of the chair, heading indoors, the sound of Margeaux’s giggle ringing through the air.