Firefly Lane (Briar County 1)

“What’d you guys do?” Wyatt asked, and Holden felt his gaze on him as he spoke to his dad.

“Where’s my grandson at?”

Holden looked up to see Vicki waving from the porch.

“Mema!” Wyatt called back, then ran toward her. Lindsey took a few steps, then looked back at Roe, who was nodding for Holden, Sean, and Marilee to come with them.

Holden hated to admit it, but in that moment, he almost felt like an interloper.

“No fretting,” Roe said softly, clearly sensing his discomfort.

Holden glanced over to see Lindsey watching them.

He gave Roe a half grin but didn’t respond. These things came easier for Roe than they did for him.

They went into the house, which was loud and full. All Roe’s siblings were there, along with their significant others and kids, including Colby’s girlfriend, Lulu. Holden had met her a couple of times. She taught one of the goat-yoga classes.

Holden had to admit, it was overwhelming. Everyone was chatting and laughing, asking Lindsey about the trip and talking about the farm. He could hardly keep up.

Heidi and Krista, Dennis’s daughters, spoke so fast, Holden wasn’t sure how anyone understood what they said.

“God, can you imagine something like this when we were growing up?” Marilee asked. The three of them were off to the back of the living room, and he assumed Sean and Marilee were taking it all in, same as he was.

“No. I can’t.”

As they all continued to catch up, Holden realized how well Lindsey fit in with them. She said something, Roe laughed, and she slugged him playfully in the arm. Then Jackie, Roe’s sister, started chatting with her about something.

It took a moment before Roe turned, looking for them. Roe smiled at him, and Holden appreciated that he didn’t make a big deal out of trying to lure them into the conversation. Roe understood him in that way, without him having to say a word.

“Wanna go outside and play with the goats with us?” Wyatt asked Sean, and that Holden couldn’t be more thankful of, as well.

“Yeah! Sure!” Sean left with Wyatt and the cousins who were old enough to head outside without being watched.

“Look at you two over in the corner,” Vicki said. “We’re a loud bunch, but we don’t bite.”

“Don’t believe a word she says,” Lindsey countered teasingly.

“You know that includes you too, right?” Dennis told Lindsey. “’Cause you’re one of us.”

They all laughed, then pulled Marilee and Holden into the conversation.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Monroe

Roe liked this more than he should—having Holden there, with his family. Watching him talk to his brothers, laugh with his sister, and discuss work with his parents, while outside Sean was happily hanging out with Wyatt and his cousins.

He tried to remind himself that this wasn’t real, not truly. Well, maybe that wasn’t the way to look at it. This wasn’t permanent. Holden would leave, and Roe would watch him go and continue on with his life. He didn’t have any other choice.

He had to take a piss, so he made a quick trip to the bathroom, washed his hands, and went into the living room again. Marilee was chatting with Colby, Lulu, and Lindsey, not far away from where Holden sat on the couch with Jackie and Scott.

Roe made his way over. Jackie smiled at him, which Roe returned, before giving his attention to Holden. “You good? You want a drink or anything? There’s sweet tea. We probably have lemonade too, so I can mix it the way you like.”

“I’m good. Thank you, though,” Holden replied.

Roe turned to his brother-in-law. “Hey, Scott, I might need to get the phone number of your buddy who sells horses.”

“This is new,” Jackie said.

“I’m thinking about getting one for me and Wyatt, and I’m gonna take this one riding before he goes. Teach him the ropes.” He nodded toward Holden.

“You don’t ride?” Scott asked Holden.

“I haven’t, no.”

“He’s a good teacher,” Jackie said. “Not sure there’s a thing Roe can’t do. Sucked growing up with him. Always made the rest of us look bad.”

“I bet it did.” Holden smirked. “And I’ve noticed that. Why you always trying to show the rest of us up?”

Roe shrugged. “Can’t help it if I’m good.”

Jackie’s gaze shot back and forth between Holden and Roe, before she bit her bottom lip to hold in a smile. Damn it. He knew Jackie would see right through him. Roe had never been able to keep much from his sister. After Lindsey, she was the first person he’d told he was gay.

He gave a small shake of his head, trying to tell her not to go there, and they chatted for a few more minutes, until Roe’s mama called out that dinner was ready.

“I’ll get the kids,” Roe said.

He was hoping Holden would offer to go with him so he could see how he was doing, but it was Jackie who said, “I’ll help.”