Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (47)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN


Kol




IN TRUE ARCHER-FAMILY FASHION, CHAOS REIGNED AS NOVA’S unpacking turned into a family barbeque. We’d migrated from the apartment to the back deck, where Waylon was manning the grill in his Carhartt overalls with a tiny Bigfoot stitched on the bib.

“Order up: One alien burger for Mav, one Bigfoot special for Brae,” he called with a grin.

“You can’t just call it a cheeseburger and a hamburger with grilled chilis?” I complained.

Waylon arched a brow in my direction. “Now where’s the fun in that?”

Skylar let out a squeal of delight as Nova raced after her, wearing a set of Sky’s fairy wings, a sparkly feather boa, and carrying a Nerf gun.

“Down with all alien invaders!” Nova cried out as she sent an array of foam darts in Sky’s and Owen’s direction.

Owen acted out an elaborate dying scene after being hit, while Sky claimed that she was magically healed by her alien powers.

“I think she’s the happiest with them.”

My gaze flicked down to the new voice beside me. Brae watched Nova dart toward Tink the mini-Highland cow and Pepper the goat, both of whom were also adorned in fairy wings. There was a longing in Brae’s gaze, as if she wanted to take part so badly but wasn’t sure she fit.

“Kids accept you as you are. There’s no need to put on any pretenses. You can just be,” I said quietly.

Brae nodded, still watching the scene play out in front of her. “I’ve been putting pressure on her and didn’t even realize it.” She sighed. “Or maybe I did. I just thought I was right. Actually, I was so damn wrong.”

I shifted uncomfortably. I wasn’t good at this sort of thing. Feelings and emotional processing. That was Wylder’s arena.

But the hurt in Brae’s eyes had me wanting to try to help. “Now you know. And you can just be her friend.”

Brae’s gaze flicked up to me. “Just be her friend.”

“I think that’s what she needs the most.” I was trying to remember that myself. Nova needed friends and support. And I needed to keep her firmly in that friend category.

But I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about her, feeling pulled in her direction, hungry for every smile or spark of mischief in her eyes. My gaze found her in every room. And sometimes, I swore I smelled the scent of sunbaked cherries long after I’d left her presence. I knew none of that was good, but I kept walking closer to the open flame anyway.

“Order up: I’ve got two alien burgers,” Waylon called.

Sky ran for the back deck. “Me, Grampa Way Way! Me!”

As she hit the steps, I bent, lifting my girl into the air as she shrieked and laughed. I wasn’t sure how many more years I’d be able to do this or how long she’d let me. So I soaked up every delighted moment.

“Daddy!”

I chuckled. “The alien is in flight. Coming in for a landing.”

“And for fuel,” she said, giggling as I swooped her toward the grill.

As I lowered her, I felt eyes on me—on us. I sought out the source. And there was Nova, wearing the ridiculous outfit and standing between a goat and a cow. But it wasn’t all that that knocked me sideways. It was the look of longing on her face.

She sent me a half smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes as she started for the steps. “Waylon, can fairy warrior princesses get alien burgers?”

He chuckled, sending her a wink. “Got some extra fairy magic for you on this one, warrior princess.”

“No hot sauce,” I warned, my voice going hard.

Nova sent me a pointed look. “Maybe I want hot sauce.”

“You hate hot sauce,” I shot back. But it was more than that. It was the fact that her whole system was still recovering from starvation. And things like hot sauce should be avoided at all costs.

She let out a huff of annoyance. “Fine. But you still don’t need to be so bossy, Boss.”

My lips twitched. “What if I add a please?”

“Better,” Nova grumbled as she headed for the grill.

“I know what my girl likes,” Waylon mumbled as he lifted some thin onion rings from a fryer he’d insisted he needed to bring over.

The words my girl sent a wash of annoyance through me. Which was ridiculous. Uncle Waylon was old enough to be Nova’s grandfather. But when her eyes lit and she did a little jump-cheer, a new wave of jealousy shot through me. That wasn’t me. I hadn’t been jealous about a woman … ever.

I hadn’t dated seriously since high school and that fateful day when everything fell apart. I had the occasional fling when it suited, if our particular interests aligned, but I was always honest about what I was looking for. After Sky’s mom? There’d been nothing at all. Because I hadn’t been able to trust a soul enough to let my guard down.

“Onion crisps.” Nova grinned. “My favorite.”

“Welcome home, warrior princess,” he said with a grin as he handed her a plate.

The rest of us got our burgers and headed for the massive outdoor table I had on the deck that spanned the length of my house. I’d been determined to find a table big enough to fit our entire family because I wanted Skylar to be surrounded by people who loved her. I never wanted her to feel like she didn’t have a whole slew of people in her corner, even though her mom had chosen not to be in her life.