Page 47

46

Summer

“ W ell, you’ve had a productive first day in Eden. You got caught making out with me in the Garden of Eden. You went for a stroll through the market with…” He glances at me as we step into the elevator, waiting for me to fill in the blanks. He must suspect there was more to my walk and sudden change in attitude. Smart guy.

“Nice try.” That moment with the Almighty is just mine for now. Her words continue to burn in me like a small light in a sea of darkness.

Connor sighs and presses his halo to the pad on the wall. The door closes, and we immediately start to ascend. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

I laugh and squeeze his biceps. The elevator pings and opens, revealing the family house sitting serenely atop the cloud. It is the perfect picture of domestic bliss.

Uriel walks out onto the porch, smiling at us. “Just in time for dinner!”

Connor and I walk to the house, hand in hand, and when we step inside, the smell of food hits me hard, my stomach immediately rumbling with hunger. This house always smells like food. It smells like love and care. I’ve never had a home that smelled like this. Now that I have experienced this, I know I’ve never really had a home. However, Avalon is quickly becoming a place I would like to call home.

Connor chuckles and nuzzles into my hair as we walk into the dining room. He pulls out my chair, and I sit down, smiling up at him. He brushes his lips over mine and sits next to me. Zane and Zach are already at the table, practically vibrating in anticipation of the food.

“Are you two ever not hungry?” I ask, amused.

“No. It’s a gift,” Zach says, flipping me off.

“We’re actually doing Dad a favor. Whatever we eat, we’re stopping him from eating,” Zane says. Luke sits down next to him, chuckling quietly.

Farrah comes through, carrying multiple plates. Somehow making it look effortless, she places them all on the table and then goes to the kitchen to get more. After another two trips, the table is full of food, the wood practically groaning under the weight.

Uriel pulls out her chair, and I smile, remembering how Connor did the same for me. It is obvious where he learned how to love. Farrah sits down, gazing adoringly at Uriel.

Zach and Zane almost lunge for the plates, but Farrah pins them with a stern look. “The guest is served first. Your father and I taught you better than that.”

Zach groans. “She’s barely a guest.”

Connor smirks and rests his hand on my leg. I wonder if he is keeping me close so I don’t run.

“Even when she shares our last name, she is a guest, so she is served first.” Farrah lifts her chin, her voice clipped and stern.

I blush a little at the suggestion that I might be a Morningstar one day.

Connor chuckles and reaches forward to grab a spoon. He scoops up some vegetables and puts them on my plate. “Summer Morningstar has a nice ring to it.”

Farrah beams at him. “My wonderful boy.”

Connor smiles. “I know. I’m almost the favorite.”

Farrah clicks her tongue. “All of my boys are in joint first place.” She keeps smiling at Connor, but her eyes flash a little. “However, that will change if you don’t remove your hand from that plate, Zane Morningstar.”

Zane pulls his hand back like he’s been scorched. “But, Mom,” he whines, “she has food on her plate!”

Farrah gives him a reproachful look, and then she finally nods, giving them permission to serve themselves. The twins ravage the plates like they have never seen food before.

Farrah gives Uriel an exasperated look, but he simply smiles softly. “You wanted them to visit more, my love.”

She chuckles as we all begin to eat, the joy and love in her eyes never wavering.

“So,” Uriel begins, giving Connor a knowing smirk, “Gabe caught you in the garden, hm?”

Connor sighs. “He said he wouldn’t tell!”

Zach snorts, biting into a chicken wing. “And you believed him? Uncle Gabe is the biggest gossip.”

Zane nods. “Horn of the Almighty, my ass.”

“Zane!” Farrah scolds.

“Sorry, Mom.” Zane sighs.

“Has he caught you up to no good, Zane?” I ask.

“Not yet. But he tries.” Zane snorts.

Zach shrugs. “As long as it’s not Uncle Michael or the Almighty.”

Connor snickers. “You think the Almighty just walks around? Like she doesn’t have better things to do?”

I glance at Connor, thinking about the Almighty. There are so many questions. Why did she seek me out? Did she seek me out? Or was it just a coincidence that I was in the same place she was at the same time? I doubt that anything she does is a coincidence .

The rest of dinner is filled with more laughter and teasing. The food is delicious, and we all happily stuff ourselves. I relax into the feeling of safety and warmth. It is the perfect family dinner.

“Okay, who wants dessert?” Farrah asks, pushing her chair back. I stand to help her clear the table, but she shakes her head. “Absolutely not, Summer. I have five boys here to help me.” Luke is already collecting plates, and Farrah looks at her twin boys expectantly.

“You already have hel–”

“Boys. Now,” Uriel commands. He doesn’t raise his voice, but it does deepen, his tone making it clear that he will take absolutely no bullshit from his sons. Zach and Zane reluctantly spring into action, collecting the plates and taking them into the kitchen.

Farrah is looking at her husband, her eyes dark. Uriel winks at her, slowly sipping his wine.

I look away, feeling like I’m intruding on an extremely private and intimate moment between them.

“Hello, my love,” I hear Uriel croon as he pulls Farrah onto his lap.

Luke comes through with the dessert and rolls his eyes when he sees them. “Guys…”

Zach wraps his arms around Luke’s shoulders. “This is how you were created, baby Luke!”

Luke groans, his face contorting into a look of horror. “By them making out at the dinner table? If that were true, Summer would be very pregnant by now.”

Connor chokes on a mouthful of water. I blush deeply, glancing at Uriel and Farrah to gauge their reaction, but their attention is still fully locked on one another.

“Want to go work on another kid, my love?”

Farrah smiles and nips at his lips. “An inspired idea.”

Uriel pulls back and looks at his sons. “Enjoy dessert and clean up afterward.” He stands with Farrah in his arms and carries her out of the room. I can hear them whispering as they disappear upstairs.

Zach rolls his eyes, taking a big bite of apple pie. “Every family dinner.”

Farrah’s laughter fills the house before their bedroom door slams shut.

“So your parents are… really in love, huh?”

Connor slings his arm across the back of my chair, taking a bite of his dessert. “They’ve always been like that.”

Zane nods. “Since we were kids.

I smile, looking at Connor. “It’s nice.”

Zach snorts. “Not the word I’d use.”

“No?” I ask Zach.

Luke blushes but chuckles into his dessert.

“They were like that even when we had friends over as kids. Imagine having to explain to your friends that they should just ignore your parents, who act like horny teenagers in love whenever they are in the same room. Got me a weird rep at Eden Academy.”

“They’re in love! It’s sweet!” I protest. They have no idea how amazing it is that they grew up surrounded by this kind of love.

Connor chuckles and scoops me up into his arms. I yelp in surprise, and he looks down at me. “Off we go, my love! To make another baby!” He mimics Uriel’s voice so well that I can’t help but burst out laughing as he whisks me off upstairs.

“Wait, you dick!” Zach shouts. “You’re leaving us to clean up again!”

Connor hums loudly to drown them out as he carries me upstairs to his bedroom.