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Her eyes, so much like King’s, locked on me, and she grinned brightly. “You want me to sit by you, don’t you, Rumor?”
Feeling trapped, I glanced at Maeme, hoping she’d come to my rescue. I would in fact love for Birdie to sit by me, but I also didn’t want to overstep. I was indebted to everyone in this room for helping me and putting themselves in danger by doing it.
“Annette isn’t here yet,” Maeme replied. “Take her seat, and she can take your usual spot. Now, give me a bite of sugar, missy.”
Bridie squealed and kissed Maeme on the cheek before running over to pull out the chair beside me.
“You never demanded to sit by me before. I’m wounded,” King said from farther down the table.
I glimpsed at him but looked away quickly, afraid I would blush. My panties were currently wet with his cum. No one knew that, but we did, and looking at him made my cheeks warm.
“You don’t like to talk about American Girl dolls,” Birdie informed him.
“Ah, well, in that case, I’ll let it slide,” King replied.
“I brought three of them with me,” Birdie informed me. “I can show you after we eat.”
“That sounds—”
“She’s going to the library with me to get some books,” Sebastian said, cutting me off.
I lifted my gaze from Birdie to look over at Sebastian. He winked at me. I didn’t mind going to see Birdie’s dolls first. I was about to say that, but King spoke first.
“I’m taking her.”
“To my library?” Sebastian challenged.
“It’s my library,” Stellan Shephard said from the other end of the table. “King will take her.”
My eyes cut from Stellan to King, who was watching me. When our gazes met, he flashed me a smug smile that made me want to scold him and kiss him at the same time. I didn’t want to be rude to Sebastian, but I preferred to be with King. All parts of my body were in agreement.
“King, you’ll let her see my dolls first? Right? I brought Evette. She has the same hair!”
King’s eyes dropped to his sister. “Yes, of course. But I’ll need a hug in return.”
Birdie grinned and clapped her hands together. “Deal!” Then, she turned her head and looked at me. “I’m a master manipula-lay-tator—or whatever that word is. Momma said so.”
I pressed my lips together, not wanting to laugh at her, and nodded in agreement. She was in fact very good at it. She knew how to work this crowd like a charm.
Barrett and Annette Kingston arrived, followed by Roland and Luella Jones. Different conversations broke out all around the room, and I listened as Birdie told me about her new bunk beds for her dolls and a diner she was wanting for her birthday. While she went on to describe it, I took quick glimpses at King as he spoke to his father and Stellan. Thatcher wasn’t here today, but Storm was, and he seemed deeply involved in the conversation too.
When King’s eyes cut toward me and he caught me looking his way, I quickly jerked mine back to Birdie. She was explaining the ins and outs of proper hair care for her dolls. I had no idea it was so in depth, but it seemed there was a lot to know about these dolls of hers.
“Rumor,” Annette said, drawing my focus off Birdie to look up at her sitting on the other side of the little girl.
“Yes?”
“I brought you a few bags of clothing. Things that Lela left at the house and never wears. Maeme mentioned you might like some more things to wear. I’ll have King go get them from the car before you leave.”
Oh. Wow. How nice of her.
“Thank you,” I replied. “I really appreciate it.”
She gave me a pleased smile. “You’re welcome. Someone needs to use them. I’m happy that you can.”
I hoped Lela was okay with this, but she wasn’t here today. I didn’t have a way to ask her. I’d mention it to King. He’d know what to do about that.
“She needs some riding boots,” Maeme announced.
