Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
P aige hadn’t realized how much she missed being part of the living. She was having so much fun with all of Lukas’s friends. Every single one had made her feel welcome. She’d been fairly social before Emery died, but she couldn’t bring herself to go out anymore. This was good for her.
Blake kept his distance, but Paige knew that was because he didn’t want Lukas to suspect anything. And she saw his point. Every time Seth or Grayson tried to talk to her, Lukas was right there, interrupting. He didn’t do it when it was one of the girls or the married men—like Hayden or Jamie. Just the single guys. It was annoying, but she understood why he did it.
She knew he was just being protective. It was something he’d never been before, but after he found out what happened with Emery, he became an overbearing big brother.
A fire roared on the beach in Lukas’s backyard. The kids were all inside asleep under the watchful eye of Estelle, and the dogs were either napping under trees or chasing each other.
Several mosquito lanterns were lit and gave the whole atmosphere a romantic summer night vibe.
Paige sat in a chair by herself and watched Blake—she couldn’t help herself. He stood talking with Adam and Conner. All three men had beers in hand and were laughing.
Jamie and Bethany sat by the fire, their heads together. Earlier today, Jamie had chatted with Paige about art. She pulled out her phone to google him. She found him easily and scrolled through the photographs he’d taken. He was really good. She spotted Bethany in a few of them, but nothing of his kids.
Something knocked her chair, and she jerked her head up. Blake had hauled a chair next to her and collapsed into it.
“This is the first time I’ve caught you alone all day.” He handed her a beer.
“I know. It’s been nice. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the girls. They are all really sweet.”
“I saw you talking to Seth as well.” His voice came out in a growl.
“Are you jealous?” She’d seen the way he reacted to the UPS guy. He definitely had a jealous streak. She knew it was silly, but she liked it.
He shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Well, apparently he doesn’t value his friendship with Lukas as much as you do.” She had to force herself not to smile when she said it.
He chuckled. “Maybe not, but I saw Lukas butt in.”
“Well, I didn’t mind. I’m not all that interested in Seth.”
She took a risk and laid her hand on his knee. She expected him to pull away, but instead he scooted closer and flung his arm across the back of her chair.
“Good thing it’s dark, and Lukas can’t really see us.”
Holy flip. He wasn’t rebuffing her.
She quickly found Lukas across the way. “He’s distracted with Tess.”
Blake’s fingers brushed her shoulder. “That too.”
“I always envied their relationship. Even before Emery died, I saw how happy and relaxed they were with each other. I want that.” Her marriage with Emery was anything but happy. She didn’t like thinking about it though.
“Me too.”
“Do you think that maybe eventually you and Debbie will find your happiness?” She was testing him. She wanted to see if Debbie was really someone she had to worry about.
Blake choked on his beer. “No. I don’t. Debbie is not someone I was ever relaxed around. I’m actually starting to realize that what she and I had was not healthy. If we’d managed to stay together, it wouldn’t have lasted, and it wouldn’t have been happy.”
“Why now?” She was fishing. But this was the first time she’d ever got him talking about Debbie, and she wanted to know where she stood with him. They were on the verge of something, and she wasn’t about to let it slip away.
“I found peace in my soul. Never before have I had that. I don’t want the chaos that Debbie brings.”
She swallowed and prepared herself to ask the question she really wanted to know the answer to— how do I fit in, but before she could, Liz waved a bag of marshmallows in the air.
“S’more time!” she yelled.
Blake chuckled and removed his arm from the back of Paige’s chair, the moment ruined. “How do you like your marshmallows? Burned or golden brown.”
He stood, and she blinked up at him, shocked at how quickly things had changed.
“Black of course.”
He gaped at her. “Black? You’re a monster.”
“Monster? That’s rich coming from a man who eats his bacon extra crispy.”
She followed him to the fire, arguing the whole way about how to cook a marshmallow, and wondered if they’d ever talk about their feelings.