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It was the same argument I’d had with Avery about calling Afton annoying, which was probably why Afton so freely told Jenni her thoughts.
“Don’t be rude.” My tone lacked conviction. Some days, being an adult was hard.
“Why? She was rude first.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. “Did she say something?”
Afton stuck her lower lip out. “She called me a pill.”
There were worse names, but the sentiment was there. I might have to talk to Henry and hope he cared.
Avery nodded, looking guilty. “Riley and Afton kept waking the puppy up. Jenni would get mad at us and then Dad got mad.”
“He got mad at you?” I should’ve asked them more about how their stay had gone, but I had decided that during their visits with their dad, I would have to butt out. He was the parent in charge on those weekends.
“No, he yelled at Jenni. Said it was just a…” Her gaze darted around and she lowered her voice. “Ableepdog and if it was going to be a problem, then she had to get rid of it.”
“I’m surprised he was okay with it in the first place.” I was also surprised he’d called Jenni out on how she was with the kids, but given his history of being second best to his parents’ dog, it made sense. “He doesn’t like dogs.”
“I don’t think he likes the puppy,” Landon said in his most serious voice.
“But he’s soooo cute, Mommy.” Afton wiggled.
“Okay.” I blinked and finally remembered that everyone was watching the exchange. So. All that was out there. I didn’t think they would judge. They knew what it was like when outsiders threw around opinions on their lives. “Well, I guess that’s settled, then.”
Holden lifted the rod and began reeling in. “Anyone else up for some hot dogs and s’mores?”
Landon sprinted off the dock to race his sisters to the firepit.
Holden saved me again.Thank you, I mouthed to him.
“No problem.” He rose.
Stetson did the same and reeled his line in. Lyric was helping Nora drag the kayaks in. If I wasn’t afraid of staring, I’d think Stetson was sneaking peeks at Lyric’s ass. But then, Lyric had been doing the same to him since I’d arrived.
“Leave the chairs.” Holden snagged his bottle of Coke and hooked it on the fingers of the same hand he held the fishing rod with. With his other hand, he tangled his fingers through mine. “Am I allowed to ask you on an official date now?”
I bit back a grin. “You haven’t been deemed annoying, so I think you can.”
He tipped his head close. “Think you can get away for an overnight?”
“I don’t know about that.” My body screamed yes. I slid my gaze to him. “But maybe we could go to Crocus Valley again? I hear there’s a private place to park there.”
He laughed and squeezed my hand. “I think I know the place.”
* * *
Holden
Firelight danced in front of all of us. Stetson had tossed on a hoodie and tended the fire. Nora and Isla couldn’t shake Avery and Afton if they tried, and Landon was parked in his chair next to me, trying to pretend he wasn’t tired.
Emery sat farther away from the campfire to stay out of the smoke when the wind shifted a little to the left or right. She had a sleeping Riley bundled in a blanket on her lap. Emery had put her into footed pajamas after the food was done. Riley’s curls poked out around the blanket, and instead of making it hard for me to breathe, I thought she was adorable. And almost wished I could be the one to hold her like that. Someday.
The s’mores ended in less of a mess than I imagined. Roasting marshmallows quickly became a higher priority than including the chocolate and graham crackers. Nora brought her homemade graham crackers, but other than what she took, they had remained untouched until Emery took one.
She ate it and dutifully avoided my gaze the entire time.
Emery sat up, cradling Riley. “I think I can lay her down, but I might have to stay in there with her.” She called to the other girls, “Guys, it’s time for bed.”
