Chapter Eleven – Emeline #2
I pulled up and parked behind Ensley’s Ford F-250. I was the only one in the family who drove a pickup truck solely when needed. Otherwise, I was in my Subaru Outback, which I loved.
Opening the back, I let Moose jump out, and he headed straight to the front door of my mother and father’s house.
The door opened, and he flew past my father and, most likely, straight for the kitchen. Dad laughed as he shook his head.
“I’m beginning to think he likes you and Mom more than me.”
He drew me in for a quick hug. “Nonsense. It’s just that Grandma and Grandpa’s house is more fun.”
“I guess so,” I replied.
“He’ll be happy to see Rhett here.”
I nearly tripped over my own two feet. “Rhett?”
Dad glanced back at me. “Levi and Rhett are here.”
“For Sunday dinner?”
He stopped and turned to me, a surprised look on his face at my incredulous tone. “Emeline, Levi’s like a son to us, and if there was ever a time he and Rhett needed family, it’s now.”
I blinked a few times. “I didn’t mean it like that, Dad. I was just surprised, I guess.”
The look of disappointment on his face was brief, but I never wanted to see that again. “I didn’t think you meant anything by it. Now, let’s go see my granddog.”
He headed toward the kitchen, and I drew in a few deep breaths.
I hadn’t seen Levi since the honky-tonk—over a week ago.
The memory of being in his arms was still seared in my brain.
But regardless of what Caden said, I needed to remind myself that he wasn’t interested.
He’d made that clear, and I needed to respect it.
I headed in the direction my father had gone.
My parents’ house wasn’t like modern homes.
When they built it, the open-floor concept wasn’t a thing, or at least, it wasn’t as popular.
Stepping into the ample kitchen, I glanced around quickly but only found my mother and father, Moose begging at Mom’s feet.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
Mom looked up and smiled. “Hi, sweetheart. They’re all in the backyard playing games.”
“Did you need any help with dinner?” I hoped she’d say yes and not send me outside. I wasn’t ready to face Levi just yet. I wasn’t sure why I was being such a coward. I was going to have to see him a lot over the summer.
“Everything’s taken care of. Your father and I are making a salad, and dinner will be ready soon. Head on out back with the rest of the kids. Take Moose with you; he’ll love playing with everyone.”
Whelp, looked like I was heading out back.
I forced a smile and made my way through the kitchen.
I stepped out onto the back porch that stretched the length of the house, and Moose shot right by me.
Six steps led you off the covered porch and into a large backyard with lush grass.
A volleyball net was set up on the right.
Caden, Gatlin, Ensley, and Levi were playing.
The latter two were partnered up against my brothers.
My eyes landed on Levi, and I had to grab the porch rail to keep my legs from going out from under me. He had his shirt off and was covered in sweat. Six-pack abs led to a massive chest, and his arms were… Well, they were pure perfection.
Looking at the sky, I whispered, “Why do you hate me?”
A whistle blew, causing me to jump. Rhett was standing right between the two sides, and he pointed toward Ensley and Levi.
“That’s another point for Team Daddy— A dog!
” he shouted, dropping to his knees. And Moose, who lived up to his name—all eighty-five pounds of him—ran right to Rhett, knocking him over and covering him with kisses.
The sound of Rhett laughing made my chest tighten slightly.
“You cheated!” Caden shouted.
Laughing, Ensley retorted, “How did I cheat?”
Caden glanced at Gatlin. “Tell me you didn’t see her hit that two times in a row?”
Gatlin shrugged. “Honestly, I was watching the way this motherfucker’s abs flexed when he jumped.”
“Language Gatlin!” Emeline said.
Levi laughed as he flexed, and I nearly let out a whimper.
One more look above. “Really? Why?”
“Christ on a cracker, Levi, are you taking steroids?” Ensley asked, squeezing his biceps. I had never envied or hated my sister until that moment.
“It’s called working out.” He winked. Then, as if he could sense my stare, he looked over to me. I quickly started down the steps, my eyes focused on the grass in front of me.
“Emeline!” Gatlin cried out. “Thank fuck!”
“Gatlin!” Ensley cried out. “Rhett is right here!”
My brother slapped a hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry, little dude, I keep forgetting!”
Rhett shrugged and went back to playing tug with Moose. He’d somehow found a tug toy in the backyard. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Get in here and play with us. We need you!”
I looked around at everyone except Levi. I did everything I could to avoid him, in fact. “As fun as that sounds, Mom said dinner’s almost finished.”
“No!” Caden and Gatlin shouted at the same time.
“They’re up by one!” Gatlin added.
I put my hands up, a silent way of saying don’t shoot the messenger. “Sorry, but I didn’t come here to play; I came to eat.”
Turning to Rhett, I held out my hand. “Want to sit next to me? We can talk about camp, which starts soon.”
Rhett quickly took me up on my offer, leaving poor Moose standing there with his tug toy.
“Can your dog sit by us too?” Rhett asked.
“Moose usually sits by my father, but I bet if you sneak him a cucumber from your salad, he’ll be your very best friend.”
Rhett jumped in excitement. “Come on, Moose! I’ll give you a cucumber!”
Moose barreled by us and straight to the back door.
I glanced in Levi’s direction and saw he was putting on his T-shirt.
He looked up, and our eyes caught. He smiled, and I returned the gesture before he could see my cheeks heat for getting busted ogling his body.
I dashed up the steps and into the house, Rhett in tow.
Once inside, Rhett let go of my hand and rushed over to my mother. “Is there anything you need me to do?”
My mother and father both smiled down at him, with Dad ruffling Rhett’s hair. “You are such a great kid. Go wash your hands is all you need to do.”
Rhett rushed off to the half bathroom, Moose running behind him. My mother and father both looked at me with quizzical expressions.
“What?”
Neither said anything, and before I could ask why they were looking at me that way, everyone else walked in and chatter quickly filled the kitchen.
“Wash up!” my mother shouted, and people splintered off in different directions.
Rhett reappeared in the kitchen first and was tasked with bringing the breadbasket into the dining room. I helped bring out the lasagna, while Dad put the salad and four different bottles of dressing on the table.
“Where do you sit, Ms. Emeline?” Rhett asked.
I pointed to my usual spot. “Right there.”
“Is that someone else’s spot?” he asked, pointing to the chair at the end, next to mine.
The warmth that spread through my chest was foreign to me, but it made me smile. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to fall in love with another Tucker. “Nope, no one sits there, so you’re more than welcome to.”
Levi was the first to enter the dining room. He drew in a deep breath through his nose and smiled at my mother. “I’ve missed your lasagna.”
“Rhett, did you want your dad to make your plate, or may I?” I asked.
“You can, Ms. Emeline,” he answered. Taking his father’s hand, he led him to the seat next to mine. “Dad, you sit here.”
Without even questioning his son, Levi sat down. I was positive my mouth was hanging open as I stared at the little matchmaker in training. Looking at Mom and Dad, I saw they both attempted to hide their smiles—and failed.
“Where may I sit?” Rhett asked my father.
Dad cleared his throat and schooled his face as he pointed to his own chair at the head of the table, next to Levi. “You can sit at the head of the table.”
Rhett’s eyes went wide. “I can?”
I took a plate and cut a small piece of lasagna. I held it up for Levi to see.
He nodded. “Perfect amount. Salad, Rhett?” Levi asked.
“Yes, please! Ranch dressing on my salad, Daddy. And make sure there’s a tomato in there!”
I placed the plate in front of Rhett and nearly melted when he looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you, Ms. Emeline.”
Sitting down, I tried to ignore the fact that Levi was so close to me.
My mind wandered to the days when he would come over and eat dinner with us regularly.
He always sat across from me, and I would dream he’d glance up and blow me a kiss.
Or he’d finally ask if I wanted to see a movie or go to dinner. Of course, that never happened.
“Em?”
Levi’s voice caused me to jerk, and I looked over at him. “Yes?”
He chuckled. “You were a million miles away. I said your name like three times.”
“Oh, sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind with the camp starting soon.”
He smiled, and I had to tear my eyes away from his mouth. When my gaze met his, I cleared my throat and focused back on my food.
“Are you excited about helping out, or is it more of a hardship?” I asked before taking a bite of my lasagna.
“It’s not a hardship at all. I’m actually looking forward to camp. Rhett is, as well.”
I glanced at Rhett, who was engaged in a very animated conversation with Gatlin.
Laughing, I motioned to them. “He really likes Gatlin.”
Levi grinned. “He loves all of you guys.”
“I thought he was going to sit next to me. He asked if anyone was sitting there.”
“Really?” Levi asked, glancing at his son, then back to me. “I have a sneaky feeling he wants us to be more than friends.”
Coughing, I quickly grabbed my water.
Levi laughed softly. “Don’t worry. I think it’s just a phase he’s going through. The therapist, back in Denver, said that Rhett’s worried about my happiness.”
Studying Rhett, I ached for the little guy. He had such a tender heart. “That’s got to be hard on a kid who’s only six. To worry about his parents, I mean.”
Levi nodded but didn’t say anything.