Chapter 9
Penelope
At dinner, we’re all seated at the large wooden table, the aroma of roasted chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and warm bread filling the room.
The table is alive with chatter, laughter, and playful teasing, the clinking of silverware punctuating the conversation.
Candles flicker, casting soft golden light over the family gathered here, Josh at the head, Lily on his left, Grace chattering excitedly, and the boys leaning into every opportunity to banter with each other.
“I love the name you chose for the foal, Penny!” Ethan beams, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.
Cas smiles, though his eyes are fixed on me, making me look down at my plate as my stomach flutters. Sometimes I swear those eyes see straight through me, reading my thoughts and all my hidden feelings. “It fits him,” he says simply.
“It seemed like a good name for someone who kept falling but never stopped getting back up,” I reply to Ethan, trying to ignore Cas’s gaze.
“Just like Sunset,” Cas murmurs.
I look up at him, startled. “What?”
“Sunsets are proof that change can be beautiful. No matter what happened during the day, the world keeps turning, and orange light finds a way to shine through.” His grin sharpens, teasing yet soft, and my chest flutters.
“That’s beautiful,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady.
Ethan nudges him with a grin. “If that’s true… I’m officially renaming you Butterfingers.”
Cas arches a brow. “Butterfingers?”
Ethan leans back, mock-serious. “Yeah. You always drop the ball when we play football. Everyone knows it.”
Cas glares, smirk tugging at his lips. “I kicked your ass the last time, fucker!”
Lily sets her fork down, eyes wide. “Casper Hawthorne! Watch your language!”
“Sorry, Mama,” he says, eyes twinkling with mischief, letting the charm slide just enough to make me blush.
Ethan laughs, shaking his head. “See? Even Mama agrees.”
As soon as Lily’s attention shifts toward me, Cas lightly whacks Ethan on the head. Ethan yelps, rubbing his skull, while Cas smirks like he’s done nothing wrong.
I bite back a laugh, shaking my head at them. The table erupts into playful chaos, laughter, chatter, forks scraping, glasses clinking, while Grace giggles beside me, whispering, “You two are ridiculous.”
I lean toward Cas, whispering under my breath, “I still think it fits you, Butterfingers.”
He leans back, dark gaze locking on me, crooked grin spreading. “Butterfingers, huh? Funny… because I know exactly how to use my hands when it matters most.”
I freeze, stomach fluttering, fingers tightening around my fork. I can’t meet his eyes, but the heat radiating off him sets my cheeks ablaze. My heart hammers, every nerve alive.
“Oh,” I whisper, breathless.
He tilts his head, grin still wicked. “Is it getting too hot in here, Penny? You look all flushed.” Several heads turn our way, but Grace smirks, whispering, “Try not to faint in front of everyone.”
I clear my throat, shifting the conversation. “This dinner was delicious, Lily.”
The men snicker.
“Thank you, Penny,” Lily says warmly, standing to clear the plates. I move to help, but she waves me off. “No, I’ve got it. Didn’t you say earlier you wanted to talk to the men?” she adds, winking at Grace.
“Yeah,” I reply, glancing around the table at all the eyes on me.
“Behave!” Lily calls over her shoulder, shaking her head at the boys’ sheepish faces as she walks out with a handful of dishes.
Cas leans back, his grin gone, eyes sharp, fixed on me in a way that makes my chest tighten.
I glance at Grace, whose panic is written all over her face. I give her a soft, reassuring smile, trying to calm her nerves. The brothers follow my gaze. Dex groans, running a hand through his hair. “Is this about Grace?”
Grace swallows hard, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table. I notice Ethan’s jaw flex, his eyes narrowing slightly, and I can feel the weight of all their attention pressing down on us.
“Yes,” I admit, squaring my shoulders. “But first, I need you all to promise me something. Let me finish speaking before you react.”
I look at Cas. His eyebrow quirks up, amused but attentive. The rest of them nod.
“All right… Grace has a date this Saturday.”
Immediately, the mood shifts.
“Nope.”
“No way.”
“Over my dead body.”
Josh raises a hand, commanding silence. “Let her finish,” he says firmly. The boys grumble, the smiles disappearing.
“Mark was my first boyfriend,” I begin, voice steady despite the tension.
All eyes turn toward me. “I was twenty. I never had time to date as a teenager because I had to care for my father. I went to college completely ignorant on the matter of boys, love, and dating.” I take a deep breath.
“I met Mark in college and fell for his sweet words and attention immediately. I now realize my lack of experience made me the perfect target.”
Cas shakes his head, disbelief and concern in his eyes. “You’re not ignorant, Sunset.”
I smile faintly. “Now I’m not. But I had to make a big mistake to learn the difference between genuine love and… well… not.” I glance at Grace. “If you want her to understand love safely, she needs the chance to date, learn about herself, and be surrounded by family while doing it.”
I look down, chest tight. “I didn’t have that.
I had no one to talk to after dates, no one to help me make sense of flowers or attention…
I would have loved to have all of you as brothers.
Grace is lucky to have such a protective family.
But the best defense she’ll have in college is knowledge, gained through her experiences. ”
Grace fidgets, twisting the tablecloth nervously.
“Who is it?” Cas asks, finally breaking the tension.
“Do we know him?” Ethan chimes in.
“His name is Caleb, and he just moved to town a few weeks ago,” Grace says, trying to sound confident.
Grace squares her shoulders, meeting their eyes. “And I really like him.”
Dex growls. “I don’t like him already.”
“You haven’t even met him yet!” Grace protests, mouth falling open.
“Grace is eighteen now, and I agree with Penny,” Josh chimes in gently.
Grace’s face lights up. “Can I go, Daddy?” she asks.
“Of course, darlin’,” he replies, arms open. Grace hugs him tightly.
“I don’t agree!” Jude shouts. Grace pulls away, turning to face her brothers.
“Well, good thing you’re not my parent then,” she says, huffing.
“He’ll need to come in and talk to all of us when he picks you up,” Cas says, smirk returning.
“Please don’t! You’ll scare him off, I just know it!” Grace groans.
“You bet your ass we will,” Dex confirms. The brothers nod in unison.
“No, he’ll talk to me,” Josh interjects, smiling wickedly. “You may be in the room, but I’ll be the one scaring the boy off.”
“Dad!” Grace gasps.
“Don’t worry,” Josh says, eyes glinting. “You may go on your date, but I’ll just mention my rifle and army days.”
Everyone laughs, including me.
Suddenly, Asher walks into the dining room and takes a seat next to Ethan.
“Hey, man,” Ethan greets, clapping him on the shoulder.
“I’m good.” Asher nods, then scans the room, confusion in his eyes.
“Why do you all look… angry?” he asks.
“Grace has a date,” Cas growls, and I can’t help noticing how hot he looks when he’s angry.
“What?” Asher’s eyes snap to Grace. She meets his gaze, smirking defiantly.
“Caleb Johnson asked me out, and I said yes,” Grace states, sharp and unwavering.
“Who is this dude?” Asher asks, jaw tight.
“New kid in school. Quarterback,” Ethan grumbles.
Asher goes livid. “And you’re letting her?”
“Excuse me?” Grace stands, eyes flashing. “I’m eighteen. I can date whoever I want!”
Asher grits his teeth. “Sure, do whatever you want.”
Grace turns away, sliding into the seat next to me, hiding the small tears forming in her eyes. My chest aches—she’s in love with Asher. Oh no. He’s twenty-five and grew up with her… that’s why she always said it was impossible.
The men start whispering strategies about Caleb’s introduction.
Grace lowers her gaze, blinks back tears, and straightens her shoulders. “Excuse me,” she says and leaves the room.
I want to go after her, but I wait. She’ll tell me when she’s ready. For now, I watch Asher, his eyes fixed on the stairs she just left. I know Grace has a crush… but what about him? He notices my stare and looks away.
This situation is messy. Maybe college will give Grace perspective. I hope Caleb treats her right. She deserves it.
“I’ll bring my baseball bat!” Ethan laughs, shaking me out of my thoughts.
I turn to see Dex flex his muscles. “Nah, I’ll just greet him bare chested ,” he says, making Ethan double over with laughter.
“I’ll wear my badge and gun on Saturday,” Cas says, a wicked grin tugging at his lips. He folds his arms and leans back.
“Actually, my rifle needs cleaning, since I have to sit down and chat with the kid…” Josh adds, smiling wickedly.
I groan quietly. Poor Caleb has no idea what he’s walking into.