Chapter 28
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
“TIME FOR brEAKFAST.”
Sterling
“Ugh,” I groan, smacking my phone alarm as I blink my eyes open.
Dash slept in the middle last night, and that’s the first time anyone but Juniper has slept next to me. I worried I’d cuddle him in my sleep and he’d hate it, but as I peer down, I find his head on my chest, his hand tucked into the waistband of my pajama pants, Juniper’s leg slung over his.
Quietly, I reach over and take my phone off the pink WAKE AND SLAY BAE charging dock—note to self, start moving my stuff over here—and open the camera app. Flipping the camera to selfie, I lift my hand in the air, snapping a photo of the three of us, my two favorite people still sound asleep.
We’re exhausted. Dash worked a twelve-hour shift yesterday, and I worked an eight, and then we helped Juniper with her last two batches of jam for her first farmers market in weeks. Today’s the day, and I’m so worn out, I don’t even know if I can get out of bed.
Who knew making jam was so much work.
Well, there may have been a few breaks.
Okay, there may have been eight breaks consisting of passing Juniper between our cocks on the couch, bouncing her in our laps until we filled her completely full. And another break to suck strawberry jam from her nipples, and another to watch Juniper lick preserves off Dash’s nuts as I jacked him off.
You get the idea.
We had breaks.
Either way, I’m exhausted, but have every intention of setting up Juniper’s booth this morning, and having a word with her brother-in-law, Hudson.
I fold the covers back and carefully slide out of Dash’s hold, bending over the bed to kiss both of their foreheads before I head out. We’ve been living here for just three days, so we're still digging clothes out of suitcases, but it’s worth it.
I feed my arms through a flannel and slip into my work jeans, grabbing my baseball cap and boots once I’m in the living room. Once fully dressed, I make a pot of coffee and while it’s brewing, pop some of Dash’s frozen bread in the toaster. With a black pen, on the back of a bank envelope, I write them a note.
Sweethearts,
I’m setting up the tent for the market today. Coffee is made. I’ll see you out there around 10.
Forever yours,
S
With that, I fill my canteen and head out to the barn, spotting Hudson Gray right away.
“Sterling, how are you?” he greets, slapping his hand into mine. I realize Hudson isn’t Juniper’s dad. He’s not even an older brother. But he’s the only man in her life she’s related to, and I know he’s lived next door to the Ellingtons for years now. Speaking with him feels like the closest thing to asking her father for her hand. And he is my access to her sisters, too.
“Good, good. How’re you? How are the wife and kids?” I ask, peering back at his place where a pregnant and barefoot Dolly stands on the porch, one hand guarding her belly, the other waving.
He waves and winks, his whole face lighting up. I get that look. I never did before, but now I wholeheartedly do. The way this hardworking man grins back at me, his eyes lighting up like the damn North Star at midnight, right then and there I know no matter what the three of us face, we’ll overcome. We have to. Because he’s living in goddamn bliss, but also reality, and I have that.
I’m lucky enough to have that.
I’ll do everything I can to keep it.
“Well, they’re doing pretty darn good, thanks for asking,” he replies, tipping up his hat to expose his sweaty brow. “Hey, I thought I’d ask ya—what were y’all diggin’ up under the oak the other week?”
Panic sluices through my once happy heart but I maintain a neutral expression, letting one shoulder rise and fall as if my response is the most meaningless thing in the world. “Ah, Juniper lost a ring when she was out there while composting. Got real upset.” Quickly, I run down a list in my memory of all the special things Mr. Ellington gave to his daughters before he passed. I would remember if there was jewelry, and there wasn’t. “Something Dash picked up from Oakcreek once. A little thing. A mood ring, maybe. I can’t remember,” I say, scratching at the back of my head where my baseball cap pinches. “But she was pretty upset so… we dug.”
He nods before he breaks out into a smile. “The things we’ll do for love.”
My body releases a million pounds of invisible weight as Hudson tugs his hat back down, returning his focus to yanking his gloves on. With my boot, I push a stone around on the ground before finally saying, “About Juniper.”
Hudson stops his work, glancing back to the porch where his wife stood. I glance back too but Dolly has gone back inside, and for some reason, I’m grateful for that. Talking to Hudson about this is less uncomfortable without an audience.
“Hmm?” he asks, tugging on his second leather glove. “You come to ask for her hand?” he asks jokingly, peering at me with a playful expression on his face.
When I don’t respond for a moment, his eyes widen and his stance solidifies, his head jutting forward. “Holy shit, man, you are, aren’t ya?”
I shrug. “I know you’re not her father, and I know you aren’t her brother. But you are the only man in her life, and I thought I’d come to you, hoping you could help me get Dolly’s and Ivy’s approval.” I clear my throat, trying my hardest to ignore the flickering bundle of nerves licking their way up my spine, spreading through my veins, flooding my gut. “Dash and I would like to commit to her.”
He remains silent and motionless for so long that I start spewing things I’m sure he doesn’t want to know.
“I know it’s unconventional, I do. And I know Bluebell is… small. But I’m gonna believe they aren’t small-minded. And if they are, well,” I say, scratching my chin, “fuck ’em. Because I’m in love with Juniper, and so is Dash. And all I want to do is spend the rest of my life with them, and I just want her sisters to know there’s nothing in the world we wouldn’t do for her.”
A memory of Dash with a finger on his shoulder flashes through my mind, as does a memory of the smell that night in the burn chamber at the sanitation plant.
“We would give our lives for hers, Hudson, and I just want her sisters to know that’s the kind of love she has. Even if it’s unconventional, she’ll never want for anything, and she will never be unhappy with us.”
He shakes his head just a little, letting out a laugh as he focuses on his boots. A moment later, he looks back up at me. “Well, shit. I owe my wife a lot of really weird, kinky things tonight because she just won a bet.”
I arch a brow. “A bet?”
He smirks, glancing back at his house. “She told me y’all were a throuple. And I said no.”
I place a hand on his shoulder and squeeze. “Doesn’t sound like your loss is really a loss at all.”
He grins and hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “C’mon in for a sec? Talk to my wife? Now that I know I’ve lost, I better grab some electrolytes to prepare for tonight.”
I glance back at the house. “Well, I’m setting up Juniper’s booth for the market today. But… yeah, that’d be okay.”
I don’t even make it inside. The moment Hudson opens the door, Dolly is there, smirking. “Why are you back so soon?”
Hudson presses his lips to her ear, resting a gloved palm over his baby resting in her belly. “You were right, baby.” He kisses her neck and moves past her toward the kitchen, and her eyes fall on me.
“Oh my god, you guys finally made it official?” She claps her hands together silently, beaming.
“How’d you know?” I ask, because while Juniper does tell us everything, I don’t recall her telling me she spoke to her sisters about us.
“Well, she came over here the other night, while you guys were asleep in her bed. And she told me you guys are together, but she shared some fears too.”
My heart jumps. “Fears?”
Dolly studies me as her palms wander over her belly. “Fears about being a good mom.”
“What?” I retort, surprise lifting my voice. “Seriously?”
“Why seriously?” Dolly asks, her question pointed and intense. But all I can think about is my sweetheart believing or even questioning what kind of mother she would be. I mean, I think I know why—but even so, that’s insane.
“Because Juniper will hands down make the best mom and I can’t believe she can’t see that in herself,” I reply, glancing back at the house where she and Dash are sleeping soundly.
“Were you askin’ Hudson for his blessing?” she asks, not glaring anymore as much as she is actively sizing me up.
“I was hoping Hudson could talk to you and Ivy. I know that if you two aren’t on board?—”
Dolly stops me, and my heart expands as a grin spreads across her face. “Just seeing how you were gonna react, that’s all.” She nods toward the edge of the property, where her cans are lined up. “I’ve seen you around here with her, and I’ve seen the three of you in town together plenty.” She steps up to me, the tiny thing that she is with nothing more than a basketball belly, and drops her hand on my shoulder. “You’re not good at secrets. Your face has been screaming I love you for years. Ivy and I are just glad it’s finally official.”
“It is,” I tell her, “we’re moving into Juniper’s place this week.”
She looks at the diamond glittering on her finger. “Commitment ceremony?”
I nod. “Yes. I hope.”
“Here?” she says, her focus catching on Hudson setting up white tents, her vision narrowing, tongue sweeping over her bottom lip in a half seductive, half you’re mine kind of way.
“If that’s what Juniper wants, then yes.”
She nods then sticks out her hand, and we shake. “I like that you came by.” She pushes a slender finger into my pecs pointedly. “Don’t ever stifle her energy. She has big energy, we all do. We need men who can help shape it, not diffuse it.”
I salute her. “Got it.”
She smiles. “All right, well, I’ll talk to Ivy before she comes by the market.”
I nod. “I’d appreciate that. I’m going to head over and set up Juni’s table. She’s been up for a few nights bulk cooking. I want her to wake up rested and ready to see Bluebell.”
Dolly smirks. “How’s her back?”
My cheeks flame. “Better.”
She rubs her belly. “Hudson had a backache once.” Another belly rub. “And now we’re expecting our second son.” She winks, and disappears back into her house, leaving me pleased as pie.
The booth looks absolutely beautiful, not to toot my own horn or anything. By the time I’m done, there’s just an hour until the market starts, so I head inside to a quiet house. I kick off my boots and turn my hat backward as I pad down the hall, knocking open the bedroom door.
Juniper is still asleep, but she’s alone in the bed. The bathroom door is closed, a strip of light glowing from beneath. I don’t hear the shower, and I think if he were actually using the toilet, he’d have used the other bathroom. Cautiously, I push the door open to find a very naked Dash sitting on the edge of the tub, his phone in his hands.
He looks up and gets to his feet as I close the door behind me.
“Keanu texted me this. Look,” he says, coming to my side with his phone out for me to see. Looking down at the screen, I begin reading the text message as I reach behind me, yanking Juniper’s robe from the hook on the door. I shove it into him then take the phone, sitting on the edge of the tub to read.
TRUCK ON RAVINE: NEW DETAILS.
The abandoned truck on the ravine between Bluebell and Oakcreek finally has a story. Bluebell Police Department shared with Bluebell Daily ’s lead reporter, Bentley Moore, that the abandoned truck bears a more sinister story. As it turns out, the man who it is registered to, whose name is not currently being released to the public, was on the run after raping and murdering a woman, and possibly killing her dog. Investigators believe the man drove three towns over to possibly mine for gold to pawn, as his body and belongings were found in an old gold mining shaft down the ravine. It is currently theorized that the man had an accident, leaving him too injured to climb out of the mineshaft. His body was recovered early this morning, and his truck has been identified by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department as the vehicle on-camera at the site of Melody McGraw’s murder some weeks prior.
I look up at Dash, now wrapped in a neon violet terry bathrobe with yellow smiley faces all over it. His eyes are wide. “He wasn’t just a dog beater,” he whispers. “He wasn’t innocent. He was really fucking guilty.”
I hand him his phone. “She sensed it.”
He pulls back the robe, exposing his erection. “That news article got me so hard.”
I lean forward and close the robe. “Quit being a tease. The market starts in an hour. We need to get breakfast going while she gets ready. And good news—I got Dolly’s blessing for us to live here and commit to Juniper.”
He nods but his face is tight. “Oh… good.”
Moving past him, I grab the door handle, but he stops me. “What’s up, D?” I ask.
“Let’s celebrate tonight.” His eyes fall to my lips. In the recent weeks, we’ve grown comfortable being affectionate with each other, without Juniper around. She’s the one that has guided us to do so. He sinks his mouth to mine, pressing his groin into me. “The move, this news, everything.”
“Mmm,” I hum, licking him from my lips. “I like that idea.”
We exit the bathroom to find Juniper on the edge of the bed, naked, legs spread, eyes wide, a jar of jam in her hand.
“You have to be out there in less than forty minutes,” I tell her.
She smiles at us. “What I have planned won’t take more than ten minutes.” Dipping a finger into the jam, she spreads it along her thigh, and repeats the action. “Time for breakfast.”