Page 71 of Rival

Uncomfortable with his line of questioning, I internally scold myself for even saying something. “I don’t really know your brother, and I didn’t know you until recently. I just try to respect my father and give him time to himself without me underfoot.”

“But you cook.”

I cock my head at him. “I do.”

Scowling harder, he says, “But if you’re cookin’, you ought to at least eat your meal in the kitchen. You don’t even do that unless your dad is passed out in his chair.”

I’m not sure what he wants from me, so I redirect. “You don’t mind taking Billy back over to the Coopers’ for me?”

“No, I don’t mind. Although I’m not a fan of their son, but I’ll do it. Hold him a minute and I’ll go let them know I’m leavin’.” Setting Billy back into my arms, he leaves me at the side of the house feeling as if I’ve pissed him off. Worrying myself won’t fix anything, but I wish I knew how to navigate this new “we’ve had sex and now we aren’t” situation.

It’s only a few minutes before he’s heading back and taking Billy from me. “I’ll get him over there. Your dad’s lookin’ for you, by the way.”

Eyeing the house with trepidation, I nod. “I really appreciate your help.”

“Darlin’,” he calls out when I turn to leave. Pausing, I glance over my shoulder at him, waiting until he tells me what he needed. “Are you really doin’ okay? I’m feelin’ all sorts of wrong about leavin’ the way I did.”

“I’m fine, Griffin. You don’t need to feel any obligations toward me.” Hesitating, I add, “But I do wish we could have finished our book.”

With that, I turn and leave him standing in the yard with a little kitten crawling up to his shoulder.

Faintly, I hear him murmur, “We’re gonna damn well finish our book.” I’m not going to hold out any hope.

Entering the kitchen, I drop my shoulders when I hear Griffin pull out of the drive and stick my head into the living room where Corbin and my father are fully settled in. My father notices me and asks, “When’s dinner?”

“About half an hour. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”

Corbin throws out a quick thanks and I nod once before slipping back into the kitchen. Everything is already baking, so I just need to wait quietly until it’s done, then I can escape to my room and keep quiet until my father is asleep.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Jaxon

“You’ve had this permanent smile on your face for a whole week. Tell me what’s got you so happy?”

Edith freezes and looks up with wide eyes. “Uhh, what?”

“You’re happy. I want to say it’s me that’s putting that look on your face, but you’re daydreaming too, and now I gotta know.” Swallowing hard, I ask the question I don’t want to. “You figure things out with that guy from the other week?”

She shifts back and forth as if she’s debating, and when I drop my chin to give her a harder look, she jolts. “No!Well, I did talk to him, but nothing’s been sorted. I just maybe kind of got myself intoanothersituation now and I feel like I’m losing my mind over it.”

That brings me up short. I’m glad I don’t have to fight off a guy who’s snagged her attention after taking her virginity, but it seems as if someone else has stepped up to the plate.

A crack of thunder draws our attention to the door, where we see Ruth scowling in the same direction. Throwing her arms up, she shouts, “Come on, God! Give us a bit of a break, would ya? We’re doingyourwork here!” Then she crosses her chest andkisses her hand. “I love you no matter what, though. All right people,” she hollers out, clapping her hands together. “Let’s get everything picked up. Looks like we’re done for the day.”

All the able bodies start running around to cover their projects and bring everything inside now the roof is on to protect it from the rain. It’s chaos for about ten minutes until people drift out and run toward their vehicles just as the raindrops start falling.

“I’m going to help Ruth to her car. Stay here for a moment,” I tell Edith, then hurry to usher Mrs. Danielson out the door, doing my best to shelter her from the rain that’s quickly turning into a deluge.

As soon as I’m back inside, I see Edith frozen in the center of the now cluttered space, looking around in horror. “Should we organize this?” she asks, placing her hands on her cheeks.

“Nope, we’re gonna make a run for it and talk. I got some shit to say.”

She whips her head toward me, a bit worried, but takes my outstretched hand, anyway. I yank her out the door behind me. There’s no one left in the small space we’ve designated as our lot, and we haul ass, hunched over to protect ourselves the best we can until we get to my truck. Wrenching the passenger door open, I pick her up and toss her inside before slamming it shut and running to mine.

As soon as we’re both out of the unexpected downpour, another rumble of thunder shakes the windows and we both look up at the sky, breathing hard.

Edith glances toward me, then laughs as she attempts to wipe the water off her face. “Well, that came out of nowhere.”