Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Austin
I sat in my truck, staring at my mother’s front door.
It was a front door I’d walked through a million times in my life. The house we all grew up in, with all the memories of some of the best times.
And some of the worst.
My body was tired. Matthew was right about the burnout, of course.
But, I really didn’t know how to let go of all the work I had to do.
Between going on dates with Evie and Matthew, and sometimes with Nick too, I’d been working on several different projects.
The roof on the hotel was finally fixed.
I’d caught up on our bookkeeping and taxes.
The community center and library were in a good spot.
If I started thinking about everything else I had to do, though, my brain stopped working.
Like dealing with Phil.
I hadn’t seen him yet. He wasn’t staying in town. I’d tried to do some research on him and his agency too, and hadn’t really found anything. It was all starting to smell fishy.
I ran my hands through my hair and finally turned off my truck. I got out and opened the back door, grabbing all the bags of groceries.
This was something I’d feel guilty about taking off my plate. But I was tempted to start having Mom’s groceries delivered. It would alleviate always having to plan around this every Wednesday, which would help the rest of my week.
I hauled everything up the steps and unlocked the front door. I went inside, calling out.
“Mom? I got the groceries.”
“In the kitchen!”
I left my boots at the door and hauled the bags to the kitchen. I wasn’t sure what the fuck she was cooking this week, but at least four of the bags were full of cans.
I set everything on the counter. My mom was scrubbing the sink out and glanced over her shoulder at me.
Great. She was still pissed.
Granted, I would have been too. I did get some things from her, and was pretty sure my attitude was one of them.
I sighed and started pulling items out of the bags. She raised a brow at me. “Not gonna say sorry?”
“I am sorry,” I said. “But I also didn’t appreciate the way you spoke to me either. You keep scolding me for not taking care of myself, but then if things aren’t done the way you want them, you give me hell too. I’m doing the best I can right now.”
She turned off the kitchen sink and faced me, crossing her arms. “Okay, well, I’m sorry.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay.”
“What? I am.”
“You don’t sound like it.”
“Well, you didn’t sound like it either.”
“Mom, I’m fucking dying right now.” My voice cracked and her eyes went wide.
I looked away from her. “I am overwhelmed all the time. I’m tired all the time.
It’s been years since Dad died and yet I still can’t stop missing him.
Everyone is always mad at me because I’m grumpy and fuck up because I’m tired.
I have no idea how to stop working so much because it’s all stuff that only I can do.
And being scolded by my mom and compared to him makes me feel even worse. ”
“Fuck,” she whispered.
Despite everything, that made me laugh. It was rare for her to curse.
She came around the kitchen counter and pulled me down into a hug. My eyes watered as she squeezed me tight.
“Honey, I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t think about it like that. Sometimes I scold you guys without thinking about how it makes you feel.”
“I know,” I whispered. “I just . . . I can’t handle anything right now.”
Her hold on me tightened. “It’s hard to not compare you to your dad because you’re like him in a lot of ways. In all the good ways.”
“Really? I think it’s in all the bad ways.”
She released me and shook her head adamantly. “Not at all, Austin. Not at all. You kids got the best of both of us.”
“Dallas and Avery did,” I chuckled as I wiped my eyes. “I don’t know. I have to slow down.”
“You do,” she agreed. “What can I do to help?”
The guilt ate me alive for a few seconds. I didn’t want to ask for help. God, I hated asking for help. I should have been able to handle everything, right?
“Can I start scheduling the groceries to be delivered for you?” I asked. “As in, someone will deliver them so I don’t have to.”
“Yes,” she said. “I mean, I like seeing you on Wednesdays. But we have Sunday dinners every other week, and I can always come into town.”
A small weight lifted off my shoulders. “Thank you. That would be helpful.”
“Good.” She put a hand on her hip, still studying me. “What else?”
“I think I need to hire a real bookkeeper,” I sighed. “Or have Avery and Dallas hire someone for their businesses. I hate asking—”
“They’re adults,” she said firmly. “And they both make plenty of money. They can hire someone.”
I made a face, but she snorted.
“All right, sit down. I’m making some lunch for us.”
“I should probably head back into town—”
“Sit.” She pointed at the barstool and I sighed, reluctantly taking it. “Just sit.”
I watched as she started unpacking the groceries. “I can help—”
She gave me the Mom Look, and my words died on my lips. I sat on the stool as she put everything away, then pulled out a cutting board.
“When’s the last time you ate something with veggies?”
“Ramen has dried veggies in it,” I said.
Another Mom Look. “And the three people you’re dating? No one can cook? What’s the point of dating multiple people if not one person can cook?”
I started laughing so hard, my eyes teared up again. That was sneaky of her. I hadn’t told her about Evie, Matthew, or Nick. “I’m not dating Nick,” I said automatically.
She raised a brow. “Nick. The boy you used to fight with? I heard he’s back.”
“Yeah,” I said, rubbing my chest. “He’s back.”
“Hmm.” She chopped up cold veggies for a salad, tossing them into a big bowl. “So Evie, huh? I’ve been hoping for that for so long. And I’ve met Matthew, he’s so sweet. The cutest doctor Whynot has ever had.”
“He is,” I agreed.
“And you were gonna tell me about them . . . when?”
“Soon,” I promised. “I was going to have them over for dinner.”
“I need to buy more chairs,” she said immediately. “Maybe even a bigger table. Definitely a bigger table.”
I smiled to myself. “Yeah. I can help you find one.”
“Nope, I’ll ask Avery or Dallas.”
I scoffed. “Okay, but don’t completely stop asking me for things.”
“I won’t, believe me. But Avery has better furniture taste than you, honey.”
She had a point.
“So tell me about them. I love Evie. I’m so happy about all these little romantic developments. I’ve never seen your brother so happy in his life. June and Madi are lovely. And Avery is still glowing. Mateo and Levi have been so good for her.”
‘They have been,” I agreed. “I don’t know exactly what to say, other than they’ve made me happy. And I’m trying to be better because of that. I want to be there for them, you know?”
“I do.” She chopped up some leftover fried chicken and put a bowl in front of me. She’d made a giant salad with ranch, and my stomach growled in response. “Your dad always told me he thought you and Nick should just kiss each other, you know.”
“What?” I hissed right after taking a bite. I almost choked, gripping the side of the counter. “Fuck,” I coughed. “Why would we kiss?”
She waved her hand at me. “What do you mean why?” She grabbed her own salad and settled in across from me.
“I remember there was one summer where all you did was talk about him. How else do you think I remember his name? Do you really think I remember all the people the three of you went to high school with? I remember that one girl who broke Dallas’s heart, that one bitch that made Avery cry whose mother I got into it with, and Nick—the boy you always got into trouble with but couldn’t shut up about.
He was wearing blue today, Mom, and I was wearing blue. Always silly little things.”
I stared at her. “Okay, I don’t remember it that way. I mean, yeah, I talked about him because he drove me crazy.”
“I bet he did,” she laughed.
My cheeks turned red. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Well, since Evie is going to be my daughter-in-law too, do you think I could plan that wedding? We both know June won’t let me touch their ceremony. I think she's gonna wear a black dress.”
“God, Mom. Leave that alone,” I groaned. “Seriously.”
“No, I like that she’s going to do something different. Besides, I’ll be on fighting-her-mother duty.”
“When did you suddenly get so violent?” I asked.
“Menopause, babe. Menopause. And June’s mother is awful.”
“Their wedding isn’t even until next year,” I said. “Next spring. Ages away. As for Evie, don’t start getting ahead of yourself.”
“You know what we should do? We should go on a family cruise—”
A knock at the door interrupted her. We both looked up as it opened.
“Mom? Austin?”
It was Avery. “We’re in the kitchen,” I called.
She rounded the corner, and I wasn’t surprised to see Mateo and Levi with her. But, all of their expressions made me frown.
“Hi,” Mom said, immediately giving her a hug. “What’s going on? Everything okay?”
“Yes,” Avery said immediately, but then her lips quivered. “Um, Dallas should be here in a second. I saw Austin was here, so I texted him.”
My phone started buzzing with texts in my pocket, but I ignored it, focusing on my sister. I raised a brow at Mateo and Levi, who both looked like they were two seconds from fainting.
“Seriously,” I said. “Are you guys okay? You don’t look good.”
Mateo opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
“Yes,” Avery said more adamantly.
She came over to my side, giving me a big hug. I frowned, now completely confused. But then we heard Dallas’s voice, and he rounded the corner, his expression pinched with worry.
“Hey,” he exhaled. “What’s wrong? I got here fast.”
“Nothing is wrong,” Levi rasped, dragging out chairs.
Dallas scowled then looked at me. I shrugged, Avery’s arm around my shoulder.
“Okay,” she said excitedly. “Okay. Don’t freak out.”
She looked over at Mateo and Levi, but they were both crying.
I started to stand up. Now, I was fucking scared. But Avery shoved me back down on the stool. “No, you should be sitting, Uncle Austin.”
“Uncle?” I snorted. “I’m not—wait.”
Avery’s eyes watered and she gave us the biggest smile. “Yeah. You will be.”
Dallas’s mouth dropped. Our mother burst out into tears and rushed around the kitchen counter, pulling Avery into a huge hug. Shock rattled my whole system, then warmth spread through me.
Avery gave Dallas a hug, everyone talking over each other. I rushed to her, pulling her into my arms as the tears started to fall.
“I’m so happy for y’all,” I cried. “Fuck. I’m so happy.”
I released her and went to Mateo and Levi, giving both of them bear hugs. There were so many tears and laughter and all I could feel was how much I loved everyone in this room.
Avery wiped her eyes. “Okay. I have to go to Evie, June, and Madi now. Like ASAP. So y’all stay here and chat and stuff.”
Our mom was still crying and gave her another hug. “Sweetie, I’m so happy. You’re going to be an amazing mom. Levi and Mateo will be great dads. This is beautiful.”
“I’m in shock,” Dallas sniffled.
“Can we tell people?” I asked. “Obviously I won’t spoil this for Evie, but Matthew and Nick . . .”
Avery’s brows immediately raised. Dallas, Levi, and Mateo all stared at me.
“You can tell them,” she said. “Your boyfriends.”
“I mean I’m not—”
“Dating Nick,” everyone finished.
“Yet,” Mom snorted.
I sighed, but whatever. They could think what they wanted.
Mateo’s smirk was a little too smug. “Yeah, go tell your boyfriends. I’m gonna go into town with Avery.”
“I’ll hang out,” Levi said. “If that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” Mom said. “I’ll make you a salad. Dallas, sit. I’ll make you one too.”
“Okay, if you insist. I should eat before June and Madi call me screaming,” he chuckled.
We all hugged Avery and Mateo again then she hightailed it out of the house, ready to go tell her friends. I sat back down on the stool, wiping my eyes.
“I think this calls for celebrating,” I said, looking over at Levi.
“It does,” Dallas agreed.
“Come over tonight?” I asked. “I’ll grab beers. We can make some good food.”
“Yes,” Levi agreed. “I’d love that. I’ve been worried sick about Avery, she’s been throwing up so much.”
Our mom made a sound. “Oh boy. Yeah, I had a lot of morning sickness too. Did you get her ginger ale?”
“We . . . did not think about that.”
She let out a low whistle and put out the two salads for Levi and Dallas. “I’ll make you a list, honey. Do you know how far along?”
“A few weeks,” Levi said.
“We’ll get the supplies. It probably won’t be the whole time, which is good. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandmother.”
“I’m still in shock,” Dallas said.
I was too. I couldn’t stop smiling now. I pulled out my phone and ignored the missed phone call. Definitely Phil again.
All the more reason to figure out what the hell was wrong there and get him away from my family.
But, I made a new group chat.
Me, Matthew, and Nick. Why am I including Nick?
Me
Hi, sorry to make a different chat without Evie, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise. Avery is going to see her now
I’m going to be an uncle
I’m so happy
Matthew
AHHHH oh my god!! That’s amazing
I’m sure Levi and Mateo are so happy too
Fuck, I’m so happy for them
Nick
That’s awesome, congrats
I’m going to be a better step uncle than you
Jk. Thank you for sharing, this made me really happy
A laugh rumbled in my chest as I rubbed the back of my neck, staring at their texts.
I was a goner.