The Wayward Sister (The Wayward Sons 5)

“Hey,” he says, when he sees me. I’m thankful his smile is genuine.

“Where are the guys?” We’d picked a weekend when they could all take off time from school. It was important for everyone to be here. I smile at Starlee.

“Charlie and George are helping Holden with the grill, and Smith cornered Jake outside—football talk. I’m not sure they made it out of the driveway.”

I nod. Smith is ecstatic to have someone to share his love of the sport, and I think Jake is happy to have someone in the house that prefers sports to demon hunting, computer games, and baking pies.

“The house looks great,” Dexter says. We’ve spent the past few months getting back on track. At first it was out of necessity. We needed him to sell his portion of the house and he asked me to sell the house and the Wayward Sun to him. In the end, I sold him the property, but not the business—but we did make some changes. We’re now co-owners of the Wayward Sun and are in talks to expand.

After I go back to school.

“How did your final go?” he asked, truly interested. I enrolled in culinary school and Dexter wants to know everything.

“I had a head start on the rest of the class since we were doing pie crusts and pastries.”

He laughs. “I bet you killed it.”

“The instructor asked for the recipe.”

He snorts. There’s no way either of us are sharing that.

“Hey, man,” Adrian says, walking over to Dexter. They do one of those half-hug-half-handshake things. “Want a drink? The cooler is out back.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He squeezes Starlee’s hand and follows Adrian out the back door.

I face the girl my boys love. “Want to see the house?”

Out of everyone, I know she’ll appreciate it the most, and when I show her the bedroom, her jaw drops.

“Oh my god, I am so jealous.”

“Right?” The bed is massive but fits the dimensions of the room nicely.

“I can’t imagine having this much room. Do you—” Her cheeks turn pink.

“Do I what?” I ask.

“Never mind. It’s personal.”

“We’re family, Starlee, and although I don’t need specifics about your sex life any more than you need them about mine, if you have a question, I can answer it.”

“Do you all sleep in the bed together?” she asks, eyeing the bed.

Now it’s time for my skin to flush. “Sometimes.”

“And everyone is okay with that?”

“Holden and Adrian are. Smith…he’s coming around.” I think about the last time we were all together. Smith, I still can’t get him in the bed, but he’ll watch, and participate in his own way. Which frankly, is almost as hot.

“You guys move fast,” she admits, hands fidgeting.

“Well, we’re older. Your relationship with the guys is your first one, Starlee. It may take longer to explore.”

“True.”

A loud crash reverberates through the house and we look at one another and say at the same time, “George.” We break into laughter.

“I’m glad you’re part of the family,” I tell her, wrapping my arm around her. “I’m surrounded by too much fucking testosterone. It’s probably what broke me in the first place.”