Page 71 of Together Is Where We Belong

“Already?” he asked as he took a huge spoonful of oatmeal and shoved it into his mouth.

“Don’t go so fast where you’ll choke,” I warned.

“Okay,” he said as he chewed the food in his mouth.

“When they get here, your mama and I need to talk to them for a few minutes. You think you can play in your room for a little bit while we do?” I said to prepare him for their arrival.

“I can do that. I’ll pick out a couple of trucks to take with me.” He beamed as he took another bite.

Carolina brought our plates over to the table as I heard footsteps on her front porch. She tried to hide the tenseness of her body by moving around me, but I caught it.

“I’ll get it,” I told her so she could start eating her breakfast.

I went to the door and opened it, putting my finger to my mouth to give them the hint to not barge in here asking questions.

Holden, Gentry, and Brooks nodded in understanding, and I moved away from the door to allow them to enter.

“Hey there, buddy,” Gentry said as he walked into the kitchen and sat on a barstool.

“I’m going on an adventure today with you guys,” Luke said as he went to stand.

“Finish eating your breakfast, please. And make sure you drink all your juice,” Carolina said as she looked over to the three of them, then over to me as I walked around them and took my seat at the table.

“Do you guys want anything to eat?” Carolina asked as she went to stand. My hand on her arm stopped her.

“Nah. We already ate,” Holden said as he stared over at us, his arms crossed over his chest.

Luke took the last bite of his food and stood. He picked up the glass and tipped it back, gulping down the remaining juice. He picked up his bowl and carried it to the sink. The clattering dishes caused Carolina to jump slightly. He skipped out of the room and told no one specifically that he was going to play in his room until we were ready to leave.

Leaning over, I whispered in her ear, “Nothing is goin’ to happen especially with the four of us here. You’re safe,” I promised as I patted her arm to offer her some comfort. Touching her so freely was different, but after last night, I couldn’t help myself. I had this need inside me to comfort and protect her. I couldn’t explain it, not after the years of hating her for what she’d done to me; I just couldn’t not protect her.

I looked over to my brothers and Gentry, all of them looked between each other and over to me at my exchange with Carolina. With a shake of my head, I ate the breakfast she made me, the bacon the perfect amount of crunchiness.

Brooks and Holden sat at the table and Gentry walked over and leaned against the refrigerator as they waited for us to finish eating.

Once we were done, Carolina grabbed our plates and carried them over to the sink. She stood there and looked out the window, her hands on the edge of the counter.

“I’m going to go get dressed. I’ll be right back,” she said as she turned and left the room.

“Is she okay?” Brooks whispered when she was out of earshot.

“No. No, she’s not,” I said as I let out a sigh, hating that she had to go through this.

The three of them instantly tensed and went on high alert as they waited for me to elaborate.

“Not here. Not where Luke could hear,” I told them with a shake of my head.

“Let’s go out on the back porch,” I suggested as I stood from my seat and walked around the table.

The sounds of the chairs scraping on the tile floor echoed in the room as I unlocked and opened the back door. I walked outside, and the three of them followed closely behind me. Gentry pulled the door closed behind him.

I couldn’t help but look around the fenced-in backyard before I walked over and sat down at the table off on the corner of the porch. They followed suit and sat down. Each of them put their elbows on the table and their chins rested on the tops of their fisted hands as they waited for Carolina to come outside.

Just as I thought her name, she walked out the back door wearing a light blue sundress. Her bare feet walked across the wooden deck in our direction.

I stood and walked over to her. She looked up at me with scared eyes as she let out a breath.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped. When I went over to my house, they’d blown up my phone with concern. The second I told them that I needed to talk to them, they dropped everythin’ and came over here,” I whispered to her as I brought my hands up and ran my fingers up and down her arms. Chill bumps peppered her skin beneath my fingers, and I stilled.