Page 46 of Ash Fall

"I'm having a private crisis."

"Need help?"

"No."

"Want help?"

"Definitely no."

His mouth starts to curve.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"I know exactly what you were about to say."

He laughs again, and I stare hard out the windshield because my cheeks are getting hot. Then his hand leaves the wheel long enough to reach over and squeeze my knee. It's brief and familiar, something he's done a hundred times, but my body does not react in a familiar way at all. His hand is gone before I manage a coherent thought.

A large farmhouse appears in the distance, and relief rushes through me hard enough that I almost laugh. The conversation is over, at least until I have enough emotional stability to deal with whatever just happened inside me.

Chapter 21 - Luna

The farm looks almost exactly the same as the last time I was here, which feels impossible considering the rest of the world. There's a long gravel drive, two weathered barns, several fenced pastures, equipment sheds, grain bins, and the two-story farmhouse tucked behind mature trees.

A livestock trailer is already hitched to Anders's truck. Wooden crates sit stacked near one of the barn doors. Feed sacks are piled under the overhang, and large plastic totes have been set beside them.

Gage slows the motorhome as Anders steps out from behind the trailer, then stops with relief washing over his weathered face as he lifts a hand in greeting.

Gage is out and across the gravel before I finish unbuckling, and Anders meets him halfway as I follow him out. Neither man says anything at first. They just grab each other. Gage folds his grandfather into both arms, and Anders's thick hands grip the back of his shirt. Their shoulders shake once. I look away to give them whatever privacy can exist in a driveway with an entire convoy pulling in behind us. When I look back, Anders has one hand cupped around the back of Gage's neck.

"You made it home, boy."

Gage nods hard. "Yeah."

Anders's eyes are wet, and so are Gage's, and both of them pretend otherwise. Then Anders gives him three hard slaps on the back, Gage does the same, and that completes the official Strickland Male Feelings Ceremony.

I walk over to them with Penny beside me. Anders sees me and opens one arm immediately. "There's my girl."

I walk straight into his hug. "It's really good to see you."

"You too, Luna." He presses a kiss to my hair before holding me back at arm's length. "And just how is my adopted granddaughter?"

"That's becoming a really complicated question."

He nods in understanding. "Fair enough."

Doors slam behind me as everyone starts unloading from the other vehicles. Gigi climbs out of the Escalade last, and Anders notices. The change in him is so fast that I almost miss it. His back straightens, and he smooths one hand over his shirt, the other over his hair.

Oh, this is adorable. Gigi walks toward us in her sunglasses with her cherry red hair shining in the sun, and he doesn't take his eyes off her once.

"Anders."

"Elenor."

She stops in front of him. One eyebrow goes up.

He clears his throat. "Elle."