Beyond the Play (Out of Reach 3)

“So you were helping her study?” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Yep,” I say, popping the p. I want to tell him to fuck off, but again, he’s her family.

“She’s my sister.”

“Sister-in-law,” I correct. He narrows his eyes but doesn’t get to reply before Parker and Paisley join us.

I grab a plate and open the pizza box. I add a slice, a breadstick, and three wings and hand it to Parker, who’s still holding her nephew. Parker takes the plate, and I reach for the little guy.

“Hey, little man,” I greet him. He comes to me easily. “Are you hungry?” I ask him.

“What’s your name?” he asks.

“My name is Holden. What’s your name?”

“I’m Jett.”

“Nice to meet you, Jett.” I offer him my hand to shake, and he giggles because it’s the wrong hand for a proper handshake. “You want something?” I point at the food on the counter.

“I wuv chicken,” he tells me. “Papaw eats dem wif me when we watch baseball.”

I look up at Paisley. “They’re mild. Can he have one?” I ask her.

“He’ll eat them hot.” She laughs.

“All right, buddy. Let’s sit you next to Aunt Parker, and I’ll make you a plate.” I carry him to the table, and with one hand, I help Parker move her study materials to a pile and push them off to the back of the table.

“I sit wif you, Pawker.” Jett smiles at her like she hung the moon. I know the feeling.

“I’ll be right back.” I sit him in the chair next to her and make sure she has him before going to grab him two wings and a stack of napkins. I have a feeling they’re going to need them.

“Tank you, Holden,” Jett says, grabbing a wing and putting it to his mouth.

“What do you want to drink?” I ask Parker.

“Uh… water’s fine.”

“And what about you?” I ask Jett.

“I want milk.”

My eyes find Parker’s. “He has a sippy cup in the cabinet. I can get it.” She starts to rise.

I place my hand on her shoulder. “I got it, babe. You’re hungry. Eat.” She smiles up at me, and my chest tightens. It happens every damn time she gives me that smile. I move around the kitchen like I own the place. I get lucky, and the first cabinet I look in holds the sippy cup. I pour my man Jett some milk and grab Parker a bottle of water.

“You want something to drink?” I ask Paisley and Cameron as I deliver drinks.

“No, thank you. We’ve actually already had dinner, but this one won’t pass up food.” Paisley smiles, taking the seat next to Jett at the table.

“Not that you’re not welcome, but what are you guys doing here?” Parker asks.

“We were just out for a drive looking at Christmas lights.”

“All the wights, Pawker.” Jett nods.

“I love Christmas lights,” she tells her nephew.

“Anyway, Jett recognized your apartment complex and wanted to stop and say hi.”

“Aw, did you miss me, Jett?” Parker asks.

He bobs his little head. “And you have chicken.” The four of us laugh at his antics.

“Are you not going to eat?” Parker asks me.

“I will. You ready for more?” I ask, seeing she’s almost finished her slice of pizza.

“Not yet. Make a plate.”

I nod, doing as I’m told, and grab a water from the fridge for myself. I don’t sit at the table. Instead, I choose to lean back against the counter and observe.

“So, how long has this been going on?” Cameron asks.

“By this, you mean me studying for finals?” Parker glances over at me. “You got here at what, a little after eight?” she asks me.

“About that,” I answer her.

“Holden made breakfast, Autumn left for her parents, and we’ve been at it ever since. Hence the reason we’re starving.”

“I’m starving too,” Jett chimes in, making her smile.

“You made breakfast?” Cameron asks me.

“She needed fuel to study.” Neither one of us mentions that I didn’t cook here, but I don’t think it really matters. I made her breakfast, and she’s telling her family all about it. That tightening feeling in my chest is back. Then again, I’m not sure it’s left since the day I first met her.

“You ready for your exams?” Paisley asks her.

“I am.” She looks over at me.

“She’s ready,” I tell her sister. “She knows the material like the back of her hand. And now I do too.” I laugh.

“I’m so full,” Jett says, popping the last bite of his second boneless wing into his mouth.

Paisley wipes his hands and mouth and grabs his trash, standing to throw it away. “Jett, give Aunt Parker a hug. We need to get home and give you a bath.”

“Wove you, Aunt Pawker,” Jett says, hugging her tight.

“I love you too. We need to have a sleepover soon.”

“Yay! Can Holden come?” he asks in all of his innocence.