Someday Never Came

Chapter Nineteen

Everyone goes their separate ways to clean up once we’re back at the house. I shower quickly before making my way back to the kitchen. I’m starving in a way that can only be caused by being surrounded by water in the heat of a summer day. I already smell the grill being fired up. One of the guys apparently couldn’t wait long enough for us to vote on tonight’s dinner.

I pop my head out the door to see Grayson manning the grill with Serena at his side. She’s back in the damn yellow sundress she wore at the airport, lacking many options since she still hadn’t made it into town for new clothing. Wyhtt must have thrown it in the wash when he did his load this morning. I grimace, annoyed at the fact I hadn’t thought to wash it myself.

Serenity makes a face when she sees my expression, her nose scrunches in such an adorable way that I almost go to kiss her. Catching myself before taking a step out of the doorway, I force myself to take a breath before spitting out anything that could explain the expression I just threw her way.

“I just realized you hadn’t made it into town yet for more clothes or anything you may need. If you want, I can take you now?” I offer.

“Oh, no that’s okay! Thank you though, I’m going to run into town tomorrow with Wyhtt. He needs to get a few things anyway.” I knew that already, but her rejection still stings.

“Well, if you change your mind just let me know.” I reply with what I hope is a kind smile.

“Will do,” she says before turning back to Grayson to ask what else he needs her to do in the kitchen. I offer to help, but they both shoo me away, swearing they have it under control.

I make my way back into the house, finding Wyhtt at the pool table on the upper floor.

“Not gonna shove me back down, are you?” Wyhtt asks, sarcasm dripping into his tone. I don’t offer a response, only a roll of my eyes as he continues. “It’s odd having her back here, isn’t it?”

I nod in agreement, still not giving any verbal answer as he eyes me up and down.

“I know whatever I say isn’t going to make a difference. If it would, she wouldn’t be here right now,” he deadpans. “But I feel the need to remind you to take things fucking slow.” My happy-go-lucky brother is gone, replaced by the brother I left to pick up all the broken pieces of Serena the last time I broke her heart. “I see the way you two look at one another—the way you both flirt. I see how she watches you. I don’t want either of you hurt. I love you both. You can get mad at me for sounding like a broken record, but I’m not sure either one of you will survive the loss of the other again. Just something to consider.”

“I know,” is the only response I can offer. I can’t make him any promises, but I can’t deny anything he’s said either. I know, is literally the only thing I can say. He picks up the cue stick, handing it to me in silent acceptance. We play two games, each winning one round before being called back downstairs for dinner.

There’s a mixture of burgers, baked potatoes, and a salad I assume Serenity threw together by the disgust on Grayson’s face when she offers him some. The man lives on meat, you would think he’s allergic to anything green. Wyhtt—on the other hand—is devouring anything she offers him. He fills his plate up twice by the time it takes the rest of us to eat our first servings. Not much is said over dinner; everyone is tired from the long day’s exposure to the sun.

I thank Serenity and Grayson for dinner before recruiting Wyhtt to help clean. We manage to get the grill clean, wipe the table down, and sweep before getting distracted by music coming from the living room. Promising to finish the dishes in the morning, we decide to join Serenity and Grayson. I see her growing sleepier by the second: her eyelids flutter as they fight to stay open and her witty responses get slower and slower. All I want is to hold her and have her fall asleep in my arms. I want to steal just a few moments of her time to have her all to myself away from my brothers, the music, and the overall chaos of the day.

She excuses herself, making her way to the porch. I follow not even three minutes later, desperately seeking a moment of just us, and willing to accept anything she offers. If I’m lucky, I can convince her to join me on a walk—for old time’s sake—to the pier we often snuck off to as teenagers.