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“Yep.” I turn to face Mrs Williams, trying to refocus. She gives me an all-knowing look.

“Your mother already paid, so you are free to take them. Shouldn’t be a hassle with a young man like that.”

“Thank you, Mrs Williams.” Oliver responds, smiling brightly. He has two boxes piled up, which leaves one for me.

“That’s all right, dear. Make sure she doesn’t crash into any fences on the way home.” I do my best to ignore their laughter and make my way back to the car. And completely accidently hit Oliver’s head as I shut the boot. I swear.

“Mum! They’re back!” Molly’s voice rings across the front yard as I pull the car to a stop. A few seconds barely pass before she appears next to Oliver, knocking excitedly on the window.

“Good luck,” I smile as I hop out. “Molly! Not going to say hello to your favourite big sister?”

“You’re my only big sister,” she responds, determinedly staring at Oliver who refuses to move. His eyes flick to mine, panicked. “I want to say hi to Oliver.”

“Oliver’s here?” I roll my eyes when Charlie comes sprinting from the porch. shouting. “Molly! It’s not fair you got to meet him first!”

“I haven’t met him yet!” Molly stamps.

“Maybe it’s because you’ve scared him off?” The twins turn and look at me, obviously unimpressed.

“Eden, tell your boyfriend to hop out of the car.”

“He’s not my— “

“Hi, everyone,” Oliver interrupts shyly, finally leaving the safety of the car—not like the cab would protect him from the wrath of the twins anyway. He’s gone bright red and awkwardly fiddles with his pockets.

“Oliver!” Charlie and Molly exclaim at the same time. Oliver gives me a begging look, which I ignore.

“You have to come and see my— “

“No! You have to come with— “

The twins bicker back and forth, each taking one of Oliver’s arms to drag him off to watch them do something. Not much amusement on the farm, I must admit, if fresh meat sends them into a feeding frenzy. I do worry the twins may eat him alive. But then again, he can probably handle himself, right? Right?

“Mum? All the stuff’s in the car,” I say as I enter the kitchen. Mum’s busy making dinner, watching amusedly as Charlie shows Oliver his new bike in the backyard.

“They love him.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Everyone loves him. He makes that part easy.”

“Do you love him?”

“What?”

Mum examines me with a steady eye. “Do you love him?”

“A bit early in the day for that line of questioning, don’t you think?” Before Mum can see how hot my face is, I turn on my heel and return to the car to grab the boxes.

Jesus Christ. Do I love him? What a ridiculous question.

After dumping the boxes unceremoniously into the living room— and seeing that Oliver is sufficiently distracted— I start preparing for the big surprise tonight. Okay, so maybe not a big surprise. But I wanted to do something special for Oliver. To show him I am grateful that he came. And also, maybe to thank him for putting up with my crazy family. Yeah, he’s definitely going to need thanking after dealing with the twins for a few hours.

“Edes? What are you doing?”

I’m knee-deep in the back shed when Jake’s voice cuts through the silence. Well, silence besides from my grunts as I dig through boxes and boxes.

“I’m trying to find the picnic blanket,” I pause, opening another box. “But it’s gone.”

“It’s not gone. It’s in the back of Dad’s ute.”