Across the Vanishing Sky (Starlight Grove, #1)(83)

Dex grinned as he stood, stilling my motion. “I am the coolest option, obviously. But we can hang tonight. I’m working on building a new computer. You can help.”

Owen’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

Owen let out a wild banshee cry and raced to his room.

Dex took the plates from me, his fingers brushing mine. My gaze lifted, colliding with his before his dropped to my mouth. “You cook. I clean.”

I cleared my throat. “Seems fair enough.” I crossed to the junk drawer and pulled out the extra key to my cabin, anything for some distance. Anything to not smell that cedar-and-sandalwood scent. “In case you need to get in here while I’m gone.”

Dex’s mouth thinned, but he took it. “You want me to follow you to camp and work? Or drop you both off?”

God, that was nice. Too nice. I shook my head. “I’m good.”

The hard line of Dex’s mouth didn’t shift. “Text me when you get there and when you head home.”

I tried not to shift uncomfortably. “I’ll be home right after work. Owen has a playdate after camp.”

“Good.” The single word sounded more like a grunt, and I rolled my eyes.

“See you later, Buttercup,” I called as I grabbed my bag and ushered Owen out of the house.





The first lunch-goers at the hostess stand were a welcome sight because I’d already scrubbed every table, organized all the condiment bottles, and refilled every salt and pepper shaker. There was nothing left for me to do, which meant my mind was spinning.

I moved to head for the hostess stand, but Cora swooped in and guided the couple to their table. My face fell.

A chuckle sounded to my right. “Why do you look like someone just stole your puppy?” Wylder asked.

I sent a scowl in his direction. “I like to stay busy. Is that a crime?”

Fiona patted my shoulder as she passed behind me. “Yeah, Wylder, you’d think you’d appreciate someone here to work.” She sent a pointed look at Aidan, who was leaning against the bar, scrolling on his phone.

“Hey,” Aidan said, affronted. “I got no customers.”

Wylder’s gaze narrowed on him. “Then hit the stockroom. That’s been on your task list for two weeks.”

Aidan flicked Fiona a scathing look. “There will be payback.”

The woman with gray sprinkled liberally through her dark hair cackled. “You don’t scare me, pipsqueak.”

“I gotta work on my mad-dog look,” Aidan grumbled as he headed for the stockroom.

Two familiar faces appeared at the hostess stand, and I started in that direction. “I got ’em.”

Aster’s hair hung in loose waves that framed her face, and she wore jeans and an antique belt buckle paired with a blouse covered in pale-blue flowers. Holly had her blond hair swept back into a high bun, a few wisps falling free.

Holly didn’t wait, just crossed into my space and pulled me into a hug. “Are you okay? I wanted to come over last night, but Cora said the Archers had you covered. You know you can come stay with me anytime.”

It wasn’t the first offer I’d gotten. Cora had suggested that Owen and I stay in her small apartment over the coffee shop, telling me she could stay with Travis in his cabin outside of town. The fact that she was willing to take me in despite her lack of space said everything about who she was and the community I found myself a part of.

“You’re always welcome at mine, too. We’ve got a few guesthouses on the ranch also,” Aster said. She was trying to keep her expression easy, but I saw the concern bleeding through.

“Thank you. Both of you. That means more than you could know. But I’m good. Dex said he’d stay at my place until all of this was over.”

Both women were silent for a moment, and then Aster let out a little squeal. The sound was a burst of happiness after a trying few weeks. “You know crises can bring people together.”

My cheeks heated. “It’s not like that.”

“Mm-hmm,” Cora said with a smirk as she walked up to our group. “I bet it’s not like that at all. Because a man just loves to sleep on a lumpy couch away from his nice, comfortable bed.”

Aster’s pale-blue eyes twinkled. “Who said he’s sleeping on the couch?”

“He is!” I squeaked. “He’s just being nice.”

“Nice is a good start,” Cora suggested.

“Just be careful,” Holly warned, looking truly concerned.

Annoyance flashed through me. “Dex is an incredible man who’s turned his life upside down to make me feel safe. But you can rest assured, he only sees me as a friend.”

Holly’s lips pursed, but she didn’t say anything.

Aster frowned. “What do you mean?”

I couldn’t help but stiffen. “He just won’t go there. I don’t think with anyone.”

Sympathy washed over Aster’s face. “He’s carrying a hell of a weight.”

“Dr. Carrington, reporting for duty,” Cora quipped.

Aster sent her a quelling look. “We could all do with a little therapy in our lives. It helps us dig into who and why we are. Helps us figure out how to live better, healthier, happier.”