Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(80)

Movement caught my attention, and the back door swung open. “What’re you thinking about so hard over there?” Dex asked as he strode across the space.

“Just summoning the energy to make dinner,” I said with a half smile.

Dex instantly shook his head. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

“You already made lunch. You don’t have to make dinner, too,” I argued.

“I’m not.” Dex’s words had a finality to them.

My brow scrunched. “Well, it’s not appearing out of thin air.”

A knock sounded on the door, and Dex grinned. “You sure about that?”

He strode to the front door, peeking through the window before opening it and stepping aside. “Perfect timing.”

A parade of Archers filed inside. Skylar led the charge, racing in and dropping to the floor next to Owen. “We missed you at camp. Is this Yeti? She’s the cutest.” Skylar instantly wrapped her arms around my dog’s neck and shoved her face into her fur. “Dad, can we get a dog?”

“You already have a Highland cow and a goat. And there’s Lucy, too,” Kol said, shuffling in and setting a towel-covered baking dish on the island that separated the living area from the kitchen.

“They’re Grampa Way Way’s. I need a dog of my own,” Skylar argued.

Kol sent me a cantankerous look. “I’m blaming you for this.”

My mouth made the barest curve as if remembering I could, in fact, smile. “If you get one, I’ll help you train it.”

“See, Daddy? It’s perfect,” Skylar cried.

“Every girl needs a dog.” Waylon shuffled in with a massive aluminum container, and Maverick followed, holding a pot.

Wylder brought up the rear, carrying another baking dish. “It’s good security. You loooove that.”

Kol scowled at his family. “You’re ganging up on me.”

“Hey, I didn’t say a word,” Mav argued. “I’ll just send you adoption links.”

Wylder chuckled. “Send ’em to Sky. Then he’ll never stand a chance.”

All the brothers and Waylon deposited their various dishes on the island.

“What is all this?” I asked.

“Comfort food,” Waylon answered instantly. “After a hard day, you need comfort food. We’ve got fried chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade mac and cheese, rolls from scratch, and green bean casserole.”

My nose stung as I worked to keep the tears from my eyes. They brought me a whole dinner. Waylon had probably been working on it since he left my house around lunchtime. Because he cared. And they all showed up, so I wasn’t alone.

Before I could say a word, another knock sounded. Dex frowned, and I knew it was because he wasn’t expecting anyone else. He’d shared that Orion almost never left ranch property.

Dex crossed to the door, peeking out before opening it. “Hey, Jimmy,” he greeted. “What’s up?”

“Orion sent in an order for a chocolate cake. Paid me thirty bucks to deliver it here,” a youngish voice said from the doorway.

“Thanks, man.”

“No problem. I’m saving for new wheels, so I’m never saying no to thirty.”

“Good luck with that,” Dex said, a smile in his voice.

“Thanks. You guys have a good night.”

“You, too.” Dex closed the door and headed back to the living room. “I guess we have dessert, too.”

Wylder grinned at the box and then at me. “From Orion, that might as well be a hug.”

It felt like one. “Thank you,” I croaked. I cast a quick glance in Owen’s direction to see him teaching Skylar his game, completely oblivious to the rest of us. “I didn’t want to admit I was still a little unsteady at the idea of being alone.”

Dex’s mouth thinned into a hard line. “You’re not alone, and you’re not going to be alone. I’m gonna sleep on the couch until they catch this bastard.”

My eyes popped comically wide. “You’re what?”

Maverick slapped Dex on the back. “You might want to ask the lady first. Otherwise, it’s known as breaking and entering.”

Dex sent him a scowl before turning back to me. “You’re gonna feel safe, Hellion.”

“O-okay then.” I’d just have to come to terms with the mountain-man/professor/hacker guy sleeping on my couch. Just like I’d have to live with the temptation of those lips hovering over mine—their heat and their promise. But what was one more sleepless night?

“I talked to the camp director,” Kol broke in. “Let her know what was going on so they’re extra careful.”

I’d been planning to do that at drop-off tomorrow, but now I didn’t have to. It hit me then they were all showing up in their own ways. In ways my parents never had. In ways Nova and I had tried to be for each other as much as we could. And for the first time in forever, I wondered if this was what family felt like.





33





BRAEDYN





I stood in the doorway watching Owen’s chest rise and fall, his face completely slack in truly deep sleep. My lips twitched. My boy always ended up at an angle across the bed. It didn’t matter that he had plenty of room to stretch out in a straight line; he always sprawled.