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“I don’t believe Cheryl is part of this conversation.”
“I’m still getting over the shock. Laney is a lot like her, after all. Proud. Leaving when she couldn’t get the Diamond UU. Coming back only when things between you two went south. And not showing tonight.”
The defensiveness that surged for Dad switched to my wife. I recognized bait when I heard it. I took a moment to study my uncle. When Dad had told us he didn’t talk to his side of the family, and then Mama’s side cut us off, I had assumed the common denominator was Dad. He must have been at fault.
But at the moment, I could walk away and never talk to Cameron again. I couldn’t say that for the rest of the family. What had it been like growing up with this guy? And trying to run Barron Ranch with him?
Holden had turned to manage the grill. Stetson was glaring at his dad, and the disappointment in Bruce’s eyes was directed at his brother. A faint smile played over Kira’s mouth. Did she enjoy the drama?
“I understand there’ve been issues in the past between you and them. But I’m not interested in any of that. If Cheryl wants to hold it against me, so be it. If you want to hold my marriage against me, so be it. I love my wife, and I’m here to work things out with her. Anyone who interferes with that is free to go fuck themselves.”
Bruce’s eyes flared. Kira chuckled softly. Stetson and Holden exchanged a shocked look. People must not talk to Cameron like that, not to his face.
I hadn’t meant to say those words, but I didn’t regret them. Cameron seemed like the type that trampled people who didn’t stand their ground. He was a predator, roaming the pastures, looking for the weak calves.
I wasn’t a calf, and I wasn’t the ignorant kid of his little brother. And I didn’t come here to play his games.
I set the beer down. Another shitty memory to attribute to the drink. “Holden, thank you for the invite, but I don’t have much time in Coal Haven. I need to make it count.”
“I understand, man. See you around?”
I nodded, appreciating that the loaded look he gave me said he understood more than what I said. I walked around the house. I’d like to have told my cousins and aunts goodbye, but Cameron could explain it since he thought he knew everything.
I got into my car and calmly drove away, not giving Cameron the satisfaction of knowing he’d riled me more than he had. I now had a lot clearer picture of why Dad had chosen to stay and face the reckoning over going home. And, for once, I was grateful for his choice.
* * *
Laney
Liam and Kennedy were splitting a s’mores dessert Remington had created. It was a chocolate lava cake crusted in graham crackers, with a torched marshmallow on top. To cement the sugar shock, chocolate sauce was drizzled over the top. They’d offered me a spoon, but it was a little too close to feeling like a third wheel.
Besides, it’d take longer for two of them to polish the dessert off. These two weren’t the type to hang out at the bar. They had each other to go home to. I had a quiet office to avoid while I wondered how Archer’s meet and greet was going.
Kennedy put her spoon down. “You’re really nervous about how it’s going, aren’t you?”
“Am I that bad?”
She smiled. “I understand the nerves. Bruce used to make me feel that way about Liam.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and frowned. “Wait. I guess it was the other way around. They were warning me off him.”
“You understand how Archer feels.”
“Yeah…I’m not any help.”
I laughed. “No, that’s exactly what I need.”
Kennedy took a sip from her straw and her gaze shifted to the door. Her eyes widened.
Liam’s gaze flicked up, and he put his loaded fork back down on the plate.
“He’s here,” Kennedy said under her breath.
A wave of heat crashed into me before I even looked. A tall, dark, and brooding man stopped at the end of the booth. “Sorry for the interruption.” His tone was polite but loaded. “Can I join you?”
I scooted over. His family event had started before I met Liam and Kennedy, and I’d been at Rattler’s with my friends for an hour. Didn’t seem like enough time to get to know an entire side of a family he’d never met. Dread started welling up. I had wanted the night to go well for him, had hoped it wouldn’t affect things between us. But I didn’t think it’d go poorly enough that he’d leave early.
Archer slid in next to me, not stopping again until he was touching me. Bourbon and citrus enveloped me. He adopted a smile, his mask sliding into place quickly and thoroughly, and he stuck a hand out. “Hi, I’m Archer.”
Liam gave Archer’s hand an easy squeeze. “Liam. Your cousin, I guess. This is my wife, Kennedy.”
