Page 118 of Cactus Heart
I pulled a pitcher of water out of the fridge and downed a full glass right as Austin came down the hall holding a foil-covered tray. The scent of barbecue filled my kitchen, and while we’d all agreed on regular sandwiches, I was glad he brought something aside from the potato salad he’d teased. He smiled at me, completely oblivious toeverything.
“Hey,” he said. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” I said, giving him a side hug. My gaze darted down the hall to where Dallas and Levi stood chatting. Mateo opened the door, and thank god—Evie and June came in holding stuff too. “I see you brought real barbecue.”
“Of course I did.”
“Did you grill it up?”
“Yep. Mateo has the potato salad. I think Levi was surprised I bought more. Dallas brought a few extra things. I think we’re all going to have too much food.”
“Probably. But then we all get leftovers. Does it need to go in the oven to stay heated?”
“Nah.” He put it on the counter as Evie sauntered down the hall.
As always, she lookedperfect.Today, she wore a white sundress, and her blonde hair was pulled up into a casual chignon. Was it possible to feel proud of a friend for being so damn sexy? Especially when it was hotter than a pit of lava outside?
Austin glanced up at her. “Hey, Evie.”
“Oh good, you brought more,” she said as she put three bags down on the counter. “I was worried there for a second.”
“What did you bring?” I snatched the bags like a gremlin and took a peek. “She loves us,” I sighed as I spotted an apple pie, a fresh salad, and paper plates.
“She lovesyou,” Austin corrected, his gaze still lingering on her.
“Sure do.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, diamonds gleaming under my kitchen lights. “All right. Avery,I’m taking over the kitchen. Go sit with Mateo or Levi and look pretty.”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head and her cheeks flushed as she realized what she said. Austin chuckled, though. “I’d rather her not do that with my best friends.”
Evie rolled her eyes and the second of tension melted away. “Whatever, Austin.Dallas!”
Her voice rang through my house with an air of command that had even me jumping. My other brother materialized with Levi, Mateo, and June in tow. Mateo smirked at me as I met his gaze, and I narrowed my eyes.
“You and Austin need to set up the tables outside.”
“We’re eating outside?” Dallas sighed. “In this heat?”
“There’s no way we’re all fitting in here,” I said.
“It’ll cool down,” June said. “It’ll only be ninety in an hour or so.”
Levi shook his head. “Too hot.”
“You won’t melt, Minnesota,” Mateo said, his arms crossed and mustache permanently in line with his crooked smirk.
They were standing too close together. I wasn’t sure if Dallas or Austin noticed it, but June and Evie sure did.
June cast me a side glance. “Let’s just set the tables up in here. Someone turn on music.”
It was a mess. Our little group was a tangle of chaos as we set everything up, and I did my best to interact with Mateo and Levi like a normal human being. One who hadn’t had them both inside her at the same time.
Evie and June were the best wing-women. Any time one of them caught me being weird, they’d elbow me. Or interrupt. Or dosomethingto run interference.
It took about half an hour, but we’d rearranged my living room to squeeze together two card tables with fold out chairs. They squeaked every time one of us moved, the tables were morewobbly than a newborn foal, but we made it work. Our seating arrangement was pretty good, too. Austin, Levi, and Dallas sat on one side, and I was between June and Mateo. Evie was on the other end.
With Levi being right across from me, it was hard not to stare at him. I kept catching myself focusing on the way the corner of his mouth lifted when he smiled, or the heat in his eyes when they met mine or landed on Mateo.
“Thank you all for doing this,” I said. “I know it’s in the middle of the week and we all have work in the morning. But I’m glad we made this happen.”
