Chapter 7
Seven
Shiloh
I let out a sharp breath of relief, no longer being the center of attention, and watched as Nox pulled placemats and cutlery from a sideboard in the dining room. Jae cleared away the clutter of textbooks and household junk and left the room to presumably relocate it somewhere.
“So…how come you speak so much Spanish?” Nox asked, breaking me out of my daze. I looked up to meet his eyes, and he gestured for me to grab a pile of placemats. “And what was he calling you? Way-ruh?”
I almost smiled at his attempt at Spanish and shook my head, following him around the ridiculously large wooden table as we set each place.
“This is going to sound extremely racist, but I promise it’s not. It’s like a term of endearment,” I started to explain. “Literally though, it means white girl or blonde girl.”
He raised a brow in disbelief.
“Oh-kay,” he said, stringing out the word, “so did he teach you Spanish ‘cause you were neighbors?”
“Huh? No,” I shook my head, watching as his brows were scrunched together in a look of confusion. “It was my first language. My dad’s Mexican.”
His eyebrows shot up beneath his hair, and he looked me up and down.
“Is he, like, your stepdad? Or…were you adopted?”
I shook my head, and he looked me over once again.
“Sorry, I just…shoot, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just shocked. I would have never, ever guessed you were Latina,” he said. “That’s…cool.”
He laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck, before placing the last set of silverware down.
I rolled my eyes and was startled by an arm falling across my shoulder. I jerked forward into Nox and spun around, ready to fight whoever just touched me.
“Crap, sorry,” Jae said, holding his hands up with a sheepish smile. “Didn’t mean to, um, scare you.”
I realized Nox was holding my biceps when he stroked his hands up and down my arm in a soothing motion. Somehow, I’d managed to stand with my back against his chest and my cheeks heated. I awkwardly shrugged him off, stepping away from his body, before clearing my throat.
“Forget it. Um, do we need to get plates?” I asked, glancing at the table.
“Nah, we do buffet style set up in the kitchen, and everyone makes their way around to fill their plates. But I do need to grab the highchair for Ruthie.”
I nodded, watching him leave before awkwardly meeting Jae’s eyes.
I think I recognized him from PE class freshman year.
Although he seemed to have dyed his naturally black hair, blond.
And he’d definitely gained some muscle post-puberty.
Must play a sport or something with Nox because those biceps sure as shit didn’t grow themselves.
Nor did Nox’s abs. I rolled my eyes to myself. Ew, Shiloh. Stop checking them out.
“So, I dunno if Nox has mentioned me before, but we’re cousins and also best friends.”
“No, I’ve literally spent, like, three hours total with him since we met. I just helped him with math is all. We’re not, like, actually friends or anything.”
Jae scrunched up his face in doubt before shrugging. “Well, it’s nice to meet you anyhow, Shiloh. Sorry, I’m not great at small talk.”
I scoffed, “I can tell.”
He pursed his lips, and I realized I was probably coming off as a bitch but couldn’t find the energy to apologize for it. My stomach growled again, and Jae laughed, patting my shoulder.
“Ah, hanger. I get it. You want a snack or something?”
“No,” I shook my head, silently chastising my stomach for making such an embarrassing fuss. “Mrs., um, Shelby said that dinner was about to be ready.”
“Well, you should get your plate first. You’re the guest anyways.”
Nox returned with a highchair that he pulled up to the end of the table and Shelby called out to say that dinner was ready.
“Shiloh’s got dibs,” Jae hollered back, heading into the kitchen. “She’s hangry. And our guest.”
I cringed, shaking my head at Nox who ushered me into the kitchen.
“That’s really not necessary.”
I was ignored, however, and a plate landed in my hands.
I was suddenly face to face with a line of dishes that looked heavenly.
I looked over at Shelby, unsure how much I should serve myself.
Do I just take a spoonful of everything?
Am I supposed to choose one dish? Fuck, why do I have to be so socially awkward?
“Oh shoot, I am so sorry, honey. Do you have any dietary restrictions?” She asked me with a horrified expression.
“No-no, ma’am. I can eat anything.”
She sighed with relief. “Well, go on then. Dish up whatever looks good.”
I nodded, realizing I was holding up the line of family members waiting and gave myself the smallest spoonful of every dish. By the time I reached the end, my stomach flipped because I wasn’t sure if I should wait or if I should go straight to the table.
“Come on,” Nox said from behind me.
I nodded and followed him to the dining room, taking a seat on the bench beside him in the middle of the table. Jae sat on Nox’s other side, and I clasped my hands in my lap waiting to follow their lead.
When they didn’t pick up their forks, I assumed we were waiting for everyone to sit before digging in.
My mouth was watering at the sight of my filled plate.
Chicken, potatoes, greens, salad, mac’n’cheese, and a biscuit with gravy.
Comfort food. Real food, unlike the samples from the pretzel shop at the mall and freezer-burned lunch at school.
Sebastian sat on my other side, and I tried not to wince when he bumped into my shoulder and gave me a smile.
Everyone got settled into their seats, including another sibling of Enoch’s I hadn’t met earlier but recognized from the family portrait.
Everyone suddenly held hands around the table, and I stared awkwardly down at Seb and Nox’s.
Seb chuckled and grabbed my hand, leaning over to whisper in my ear. “It’s just a quick prayer.”
I nodded and hesitantly conformed to the expectation.
I glanced around the table to see that everyone had bowed their heads and Daniil suddenly spoke. I squeezed my eyes shut, worried someone would notice I wasn’t paying attention or praying ‘appropriately’ and wilted with relief when he said ‘amen’ so I could put my hands in my lap.
“So, Shiloh, tell me ‘bout yourself,” Shelby said as she poured herself some tea from the pitcher on the table. I stifled a groan and looked in her direction.
“Uh, well, I’m a senior, at Granby High, and I was helping your son in math,” I said before shoveling a large pile of mashed potatoes into my mouth.
To my surprise, she chuckled and shook her head with a smile.
“Yes, of course. Are ya from ‘round here?” she asked.
“Born and raised.”
“Lucky,” his younger sister frowned.
I didn’t really care to hear an explanation for her remark, but his mom gave one anyway.
“Dan was in the Air Force and when he retired a few years back we moved here to be with my brother Quintin and his family. I guess movin’ ‘round the world for your father’s job seems unfortunate now, Esther, but in the future I’m sure all y’all will appreciate the experiences ya had,” she said, giving her daughter an admonishing stare.
How can you retire from a job and look as young as his mom and dad? Somebody sign me up for the Air Force yesterday.
“Any college plans?” His mom added after a moment.
I shrugged as I shoved another large piece of chicken in my mouth. Can’t a girl eat in peace?
“Nox is joinin’ the Air Force since he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go to college. But if he does want to, he’ll be able to ‘ford it with the help of the military.”
I noticed Nox giving his mom a look of annoyance and she waved her hand in dismissal.
“What?” she shrugged. “It’s not like it’s a secret. And we’re real proud of your decision to serve your country.”
“You sound like you’re trying to recruit her to join the military, Mom,” he sighed.
“Oh, hush. I’m just gettin’ to know your friend. So, Shiloh?”
“Yeah, not sure where I’ll be yet,” I replied. I don’t even know where I will be after this meal.
“Well, you’re clearly a bright girl, I’m sure you’ll figure it out, honey,” she smiled.
“Eh, kids these days aren’t as interested in college. Not since Covid,” Quintin said with a quick smile sent in my direction. “I never attended college, and I’d say things turned out pretty successful.”
“Yeah, but you were also in the military which paid for all your job training and allowed you to take out a loan to start your business,” Jae added, pointing his fork in his dad’s direction.
I could see the resemblance between Shelby and Quintin—blue eyes, sandy blonde hair, but Quintin didn’t seem to have much of a southern drawl at all. I wondered how two siblings could end up sounding so completely different.
Quintin chuckled and nodded. “That’s true. All I’m trying to say is, there’s nothing wrong with getting vocational training instead of a college degree.”
“What’s his business?” I whispered, leaning into Nox’s shoulder.
He turned his head, his cheek brushing against mine, “He owns an MMA gym.”
I nodded. Maybe that’s where they get the muscles.
Quintin is fucking ripped. My breath hitched when I heard my name followed by several gasps of shock.
All eyes flicked to me and sent my heart thudding in my chest. Sebastian’s arm landed across my shoulder, and I flinched as he pulled me into his side.
“Yep, known this rascal since she was in diapers. Actually, come to think of it, I’m pretty sure yours was the first diaper I ever changed,” Seb said with a warm chuckle that spread around the table.
“Wait, wouldn’t you have only been six?” Eden asked with a look of disbelief.
“Uh, yeah. I guess so. Maybe seven. But you know how it is. Takes a village and all that.”
I kept my eyes glued to my plate as everyone chimed in with their agreement. Sebastian’s arm slipped off my shoulder. I didn’t know if I was relieved or devastated at the loss of contact.