Page 35 of Good Directions

“It was between that and Blowing Kisses…”

Mama just keeps handing the material to me…

“Blowing kisses just doesn’t do it for you?” I say, looking directly at Sawyer. The door was wide open, and there was no way I wasn’t going to walk through that.

If looks could kill, I would be a dead man where I stand. From both sides.

“Anton Wright Hayes,” Miss Belle says, voice full of warning.

“What?” I shrug, trying to play it off. “Maybe Sawyer’s like Jace. Prefers her kisses all wet and sloppy—like making out with a golden retriever.”

“If someone’s not wet by the end of it, you’re doing it wrong,” Jace comments, appearing out of nowhere, swooping in to grab a piece of celery off the plate sitting on the counter.

“Jace. Butler. Hayes,” Miss Belle exclaims, the sweet, Southern belle long gone, and in her place the woman who could stop traffic with a single look. I know that woman well. As the kid who lives to push buttons, she made a lot of appearances during my childhood. “That’s it, outside! Every one of you boys, out!”

“What’d we do?” Milo asks, arm still slung around his new fiancée.

Our mama shoots him a look that lets every single one of us know that she is not in the mood for questions. “Fine. Then stay inside and be prepared to contribute to a conversation about the cute little lingerie set I just bought your sister that says bride on it and⁠—”

“Bet Auggie needs help cleaning that grill,” Hux says, pushing up from the seat at the counter, right as Milo goes, “So, where’s the cooler?”

I’m out the door faster than both of them, Jace hot on my heels. Off in the distance, I think I hear Gus walking through the door, but I don’t stop to confirm—he’s on his own. Because the last thing I want to hear about is anything involving the words sister and lingerie in the same sentence.

Nonetheless, once we’re outside, I throw a glance back, searching for Sawyer. I know better, but I can’t help myself. I am the kid who lives to push buttons, and the urge to continue to push hers grows more and more each time I see her. Especially now that we’ve shared secrets.

Two hours later, the grill that sits on the large back porch of Magnolia Manor has never been cleaner, and the step that Miss Belle has been complaining about being loose is fixed up again. Laughter wafts out the open window from the kitchen, as Margeaux tries to gives directions to Brenna on how to fry beignets, Willa’s snarky commentary no doubt as unhelpful as ever. Dirty dishes litter the long, farm-style table that sits on half of the porch, none of us in any hurry to clear them.

“So, what’s this I hear about a hot new bartender at Pour Decisions?” Jace asks.

Milo quirks up an eyebrow. “The only hot bartender we have at Southern Brothers is Brenna.”

“Little sisters don’t count.” Jace waves him off.

“She’s not my little sister…” Milo winks at him, his shit-eating grin growing as he takes a long swig of his beer. “But I like knowing that you think of her as one.”

Jace nods, tipping his drink toward Milo in a long-distance toast. “So, you’re not getting someone new?”

“Brandt interviewed a gal, if that’s what you heard. But he wasn’t a fan. Said she didn’t have the aptitude.”

“To pour beer?” Gus questions.

Milo shrugs, leaving it at that. The sound of the screen door opening steals our attention, Dolly slipping outside with the first round of fried goodness in hand, smiling like she’s won the lottery. With the speed of a jack-in-the-box, Hux pops up out of his chair, grabbing the plate and stealing a kiss from her.

“Give it a rest, you two,” I tease. “We get it; you’re cute. Duxley is finally together, and all is right with the world.”

Milo reaches over, smacking me upside the back of my head.

“Ow! What was that for?”

“Fuck around and find out, kid,” Milo says, smirking as he delivers his standard comeback to me.

“We’ve established this; Anton’s not fucking anything,” Dolly zings.

Oh, shots fired…

I’d clap back, but Dolly is off-limits. All the sisters-in-law are. But Dolly the most. Hux has already shown that he’s willing to actually, physically throw down when it comes to her, and I value my limbs.

“I do just fine, thank you…”