Page 97 of Sundown Somewhere

“Brenna back?” Milo asks, the itch to go after a snack obviously eating away at him.

“Not yet.” Dolly shakes her head.

“Then I’ll wait.”

“Good, then take these.” Nash hands Milo the tongs, almost dropping them in the process, all but knocking over Anton as they pass in the doorway on his way to the kitchen.

“Y’all know there are fresh biscuits?” Anton asks, taking a large bite. “Oh, hi, Dolly. Guess that makes sense.”

Dumbass…

Popping the last bite into my mouth, I savor the sweetness, pulling Dolly into me. I feel her relax, the muscles in her back easing as she lets out a sigh. A happy sigh. A sound that is music to my ears.

“I will thank you properly for that biscuit later,” I whisper into her ear.

She giggles, turning to face me. “I like the sound of that.”

I steal a kiss, sealing my promise to her. For a brief, fleeting second, I think about taking it deeper, but we’re interrupted by my older brother.

“So, you wife this one up yet?” Anton asks, depositing himself in the chair Gus vacated.

For fuck’s sake…

“He’s workin’ on it,” Dolly replies, poking me.

Well, that was an unexpected response. Not at all unwelcome, though. Simply less snarky comeback than expected, and more sweet, sassy Dolly. I look over the top of her head at my father, who is giving me a side glance that says it all. Those four words answering my concern from earlier.

Doesn’t mean that we need to give the instigating little shit that is Anton any more room to run here, though.

“He should work faster,” Anton replies. “He’s dragged his feet long enough.”

I grunt, glaring at him. The urge to smack him rises in me, which I know is why he said it. This is what he does. Pokes and prods, instigating until one of us snaps. Usually, it takes a lot more than this to get me going too. But the brother right above me in the lineup also knows that the angel currently in my lap is my Achilles’ heel. Something that 99% of the time he’s good about respecting. Today is apparently the one percent.

Dolly reaches over, placing her hand on mine and squeezing. The warmth from the contact and the softness of her skin is enough to quell the murky waters in me, tamping down my desire to slap him upside the head.

Lucky for Anton, she’s as used to his shit as I am. She’s also even more unflappable.

Someday all this instigating is going to get him in trouble. All I can do is hope that I’m around to witness it firsthand.

“Anton…” Auggie warns.

“What?”

“Dude, I hope that whenever the woman of your dreams magically sprouts up from the peach grove, she fucking gives you hell,” I tell him, sending up a silent prayer that it happens sooner than later.

“That’s harsh.”

“Fuck around and find out, kid,” Milo adds.

“Pretty sure Anton’s not fucking anything,” Dolly retorts.

A collective gasp rings out, followed by a series of guffaws as we all burst into laughter. I yank Dolly into me, stealing another kiss, pride surging through me.

That’s my girl…

“I feel that was uncalled for,” Anton murmurs.

We all laugh again, the easiness of the moment surrounding us and solidifying in me something I already knew but have been too afraid to admit. I want this to be my every Sunday.