The scent of burned coffee assaults my nose as I walk up the steps to the Wayward Sun. The shop itself is closed—there’s a sign on the door telling people to come tomorrow. It’s a training day, and I pull open the door and step inside.
George stands at the mural, touching up a few additions to the scene. There’s a line of blue down his jaw and he smiles when he sees me. Charlie sits at one of the tables, laptop open in front of him. One peek shows that he’s updating the website.
Classic rock plays on the stereo. Even with Sierra gone, I’m not surprised this hasn’t changed. My mother was a child of the '70s after all.
“What did I do wrong?” she asks, peering into the coffee machine. Dexter stands next to her with a line of frustration slashing his forehead.
“There wasn’t enough water,” he says, glancing over at me while rolling his eyes. I fight a laugh, because it’s hilarious watching him force patience. He doesn’t have a choice.
“Starlee!” my mom cries when she realizes I’m in the room. “The boys are getting me up to speed.”
“I see.”
She’s wearing a black Wayward Sun T-shirt and an apron. It’s weird seeing her behind the counter. It’s weird not seeing Sierra. I know the boys, Dexter in particular, hope she’ll be back soon.
As my mother told Judge Adams, Sierra needed a little time. When we got back from court she’d already packed her bags and left, only leaving a note for Dexter explaining she needed time and space. She promised to keep in touch but so far, he’s only received a few messages that were left when she knew he’d be at school, unable to answer the phone. Overall, he’s sad but understanding. “She was barely an adult herself when she took me and the others in,” he’d told me out on the porch that first afternoon. “We stole that time from her and I understand if she needs some space to get it back.”
Decisions were made quickly, and with Mrs. Delange, it was determined my mother would move into the house with the boys. I’d stay with Leelee in the cottage. This worked on many levels, as I still needed a little space from my mom as we healed our relationship. The other catch? My mother would work at the shop.
That is…if she can figure out how to make a cup of coffee.
She still doesn’t know about me and the guys. She thinks Dexter and I are dating, although I’ve seen her watching the four of us. More than once, she’s opened her mouth and shut it quickly. If anything, I think she’s giving everyone time to adjust. After that? I don’t think she can keep it up.
The front door opens and Jake walks in, shivering from the cold. I ask, “At the gym?”
“Yeah.” His nose wrinkles. “What’s that god-awful smell?”
“My mom. Making coffee.”
He laughs. “What are you doing here?”
“Just came over to make sure everyone is ready for tonight.”
His lips quirk. “To get our belated Christmas present from you? Definitely.”
“When are you going to tell us what our gift is?” George asks from the backseat.
“When we get there,” I say for the fourth time. Leelee let me borrow her car. If she’d known where I was going, I don’t think she would have been so generous.
My heart hammers in my chest. I’m not just nervous about what I’m about to do. I mean, it’s going to hurt, I know that, but it’s a big step with the guys. It’s a little presumptuous, but it feels right. It’s something I want to do.
I’d never been able to find them each the right gift. They mean so much to me as a group, as individuals, but the night after the hearing I was lying in bed and it came to me.
I knew the perfect way to show them how I feel, and with my family combining with their family…
Once I pull into the parking lot I know it won’t take them long to figure it out, and sure enough, Dexter looks over at me with a small, sexy grin. “Really?”
“Yeah. Is that okay?”
&
nbsp; “It’s more than okay.” He lifts my arm from the center console and kisses me on the forearm.
We pile out of the car and butterflies fill my stomach. Jake catches me by the waist. “You nervous?”
“Terribly.”
“It’ll only hurt for a minute, after that it feels good.”