Chapter 30 - Dallas
CHAPTER THIRTY
Dallas
Was this what Avery had felt like last year when we’d all been scrutinizing her, Mateo, and Levi?
It had to be.
I mean, back then, I hadn’t been a complete fucking idiot. We’d had one dinner before Avery, Mateo, and Levi had told us about their relationship where it’d been so painfully obvious I was still surprised Austin didn’t catch on.
Now that Evie and Avery kept smirking at me like two evil Cheshire cats—I, maybe, sort of understood now why she’d kept it a secret for so long.
I typed out my text to Madi, ignoring both of them. They could scrutinize all they wanted.
Me
Do you want to come over to June’s shop and help pack orders? We’re all pitching in to help out. I think everyone will be here.
She’s being stubborn.
Madi
Sure! Should I bring anything?
Patience? Beer? Coffee?
Me
Nope, just you is perfect :)
Madi
I’ll be over in a few, just need to find an umbrella
June left my side and disappeared into the flower cooler. I rubbed my jaw, torn between following her to ask questions and staying put.
“Oh,” Avery said in a tone full of trouble. “So. Mateo did mostly keep the bro-code.”
“Mostly,” I snorted. “Okay.”
“I’m just saying. In case you were worried.”
“The only thing I was worried about was making things weird,” I said dryly. “And right now, at this very second, they are. So I’d appreciate you not asking anything right now.”
“Hmm. Maybe. I did promise myself if you were ever in love, I’d give you just a bit of hell.”
“Avery,” I growled.
Evie held up her hands. “I’d like to request that if you’re a Whynot, you don’t bicker right now.”
“Make that request again when Austin gets here,” Avery said, narrowing her eyes on me.
I ignored the scrutiny of my sister and decided opening the pizza box and making Laura a plate was the best use of my time. June had yet to say another word as she hauled everything I’d need to make bouquets and arrangements out of the cooler.
“Here you go,” I said as I handed Laura her plate.
She grinned as she took it. “You’re always feeding me. I think you’ve made me more plates than my dad has.”
Ouch. “I doubt that. I’m glad you’re doing better, though.”
“Me too,” she sighed. “I’m glad Aunt June let me help.”
The back door burst open and I fought a laugh as a very soaked Levi filled the doorway. Mateo was right behind him, shoving him through.
“Well, look who decided to show up,” Avery said.
“Uh oh,” Mateo teased. “I hear we’ve got trouble.”
“Hey,” I said. “We’ve got pizza.”
“Great. Ah, shit, we’re tracking in water,” Mateo said.
The back door shut and our group split apart, finding towels, making plates, and getting settled all over again.
“Madi is joining us,” Avery said to them.
Mateo’s brows shot up and he looked right at me. Levi flashed an almost apologetic look. “Oh really? Can’t wait to meet her.”
“God,” June sighed. “I hate all of you right now.”
“Everyone but Dallas and Madi,” Laura whispered.
My lips pressed into a thin line and I’d burst out coughing to cover my laugh. June planted her hands on her hips, unamused.
I cleared my throat and decided to pick a different fight. “Oh, I have a request, since both of you are standing here.” Levi and Mateo both gave wary glances. “It’s a few weeks late. But can we maybe never ever text me again while you’re busy?”
Mateo cackled, his eyes crinkling as he waded through the ribbons to kiss Avery. “It’s not like we were busy then, we were just about to be busy.”
June, Evie, and I all made faces. Laura simply grinned at them like Avery was a princess.
Levi clapped me on the shoulder. “I did try, but you know how he is.”
“He’s ridiculous,” I sighed. But then I found myself smiling.
The way Mateo, Levi, and Avery looked at each other never failed to make me happy for the three of them. Sometimes it made me feel lonely too, but not this time. I crossed my arms as Levi joined Mateo and Avery and they started working together to organize and unpack boxes.
June bumped me with her shoulder, relaxing just a fraction. “Did you text her?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, ignoring the heat pumping through my veins. “Are you talking to me again or are we gonna make this weird?”
She opened her mouth, then closed it.
My heart skipped a beat. Everyone else in the room was chatting away. Evie and Laura had teamed up too, talking about some new movie that they both loved.
But then there was June.
And I became all too aware of how close she was standing to me. The way her head tipped back, the light catching the pink of her hair, her tattoos enchanting me like a magic spell.
“I’m trying,” she finally said. “Sorry. I’m overwhelmed. I know the energy right now is way different than how it was in texts earlier.”
“Yeah. I just . . . Nothing has changed, June. We’re still us.”
“Everything has changed.”
I was looking down at her, her lips way closer than they should have been. I was leaning in, I realized, like a sunflower reaching for the sun.
June poked me between the ribs and I grunted. “Are we gonna fight for who gets to stand next to her while we work?” she asked.
“Depends.”
“Because you’ll lose,” she added. “And then you’ll have to watch me work with your girl.”
You’re my girl too. “Or I’d win. And you’d have to see me work with your girl.”
“Mmm, I don’t lose.”
“I’ve beaten you before,” I reminded her. “We ran a race to raise money for the school’s lunch program. Remember? I always catch you.”
A fire lit in her gaze, her throat working as she swallowed. “You cheated.”
“I did not,” I laughed. This was about four years ago. It’d been a close race and I’d never forget winning, because later that night, I’d gone to bed thinking about I wished I could chase her down and—fuck. “I won that race fair and square, June. It’s not my fault you have short legs.”
She crossed her arms and arched a brow. “Maybe it’s time for a rematch.”
“Maybe it’s time I—”
“For the love of god,” Evie called. “All of us can hear you.”
The two of us stepped apart as if we were radioactive. My head snapped up and I realized everyone was staring at us. Why were they looking at us like that?
Before anyone else could speak, the door opened again. Austin stepped inside mid conversation with Madi.
I heard June’s breath audibly hitch.
Something twisted and needy spread through me as I looked from her to Madi. Despite the rain, she was wearing a black sundress and her hair was pulled back, exposing the curve of her long neck. She’d definitely put makeup over any lingering bite marks.
I wanted to kiss the feet of whoever had designed that sundress.
And fuck me. Fuck us. June was just as bad, gawking at her.
I was speechless, and for once was thankful for how talkative Avery could be.
“Oh my god, hi!” Avery rushed over to Madi and gave her a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re here. It’s going to be chaos but we’ve got pizza and stories. And you finally get to meet everyone.”
Madi beamed. “I got Dallas’s text right as I was walking by Austin, and he said he’d walk over with me since he was coming to help too. He also had two umbrellas.”
“I sure did,” Austin said. “Always prepared. Also, what’s going on? Did something happen?”
“Good things,” June said, a hint of pride in her voice. “A lot of orders suddenly came in, so we’re going to prep. Sorry, Madi, to recruit you too, but—”
“June, you know I’m happy to help,” she said smoothly, glancing around.
Avery clapped her hands together, gleeful. Almost evilly gleeful. “Madi, this is Evie.”
Evie’s smile was warm as she waved. “Hi, Madi. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you,” Madi echoed.
“And this is Mateo and Levi. They’re my partners. And then it sounds like you’ve met everyone else.”
“I have,” she said.
“Should I call anyone else?” Austin asked. “I can get more people if needed.”
“Nope,” June said. “One, I don’t have the space. Two, I think any more than our group would be too many. I’ll have Dallas and Madi work on bouquets and arrangements for the shop while the rest of us get working on mums.”
Madi gravitated closer to me and I caught the scent of her body wash. I fought the urge to groan, trying to focus on everyone around us instead of the way the sundress dipped down, revealing the curve of her breasts.
Her hand brushed mine and I tugged her close, deciding on fuck it. I brushed my lips over hers and felt her smile.
When I looked up, my older brother had his brows raised. I shot him a look and he snorted, glancing over at Mateo.
The thing about being with people you’d known for so long was we all had our own ways of holding silent conversations. And while he didn’t say it aloud, my older brother was going “are you seeing this dipshit?”
I was an older brother, a younger brother, a mechanic, a friend, a Dom, a lover. I was a lot of things. Behind closed doors, I could be as smooth sexually as one possibly could be and yet—
Being in the same room as Madi and June was turning me into a fucking caveman. Words jumbled in my throat and my palms were sweating and like a flustered idiot.
“If you need a sweater, I have one,” I finally blurted out.
Madi tilted her head. “A sweater? It’s so hot outside.”
“June keeps it colder in here for the flowers.” I cleared my throat.
The corner of her mouth twisted up and she studied me closely, as if seeing something I was oblivious to.
“Just a reminder that you’re not my older brother.”
Suddenly the room felt very hot. “Oh, I’m aware.”
June materialized in front of us with two aprons and a knowing smirk. “Let’s get started, you two.”