“Are you two trying to get kicked out?” I spun the question around on him. “Far as I know, neither Colby nor I have given any indication we mind having you guys underfoot. As a matter of fact, she loves it.”
“What about you?” He set a box in front of me. “You can’t allow her needs to dictate your entire life.”
Despite the phrasing, which raised my hackles, I understood what he meant.
“I like it too.” I toyed with the lid to my bottle. “I thought we were all happy.”
“I want to make sure I’m not pushing you into an awkward situation with me just to keep Clay close.”
“Clay thinks he’s a third wheel. You think you’re a third wheel.” I glowered at him. “There are four wheels on a car, not that I’m down with comparing my loved ones to rubber donuts, but whatever.”
“I apologize.” He sat beside me and gathered my hands in his. “I’m not sure how to do this.”
“I don’t know what this is,” I confessed, withdrawing from him, “so you’re in good company.” I did the unthinkable and forced out more words in the shape of my feelings. “I’m happy waking up and knowing you’re down the hall. I like when we stay up late and fall asleep together. I enjoy having people to cook for, people who understand me and Colby. It’s nice having a slice of normal, where we don’t have to pretend to be anyone other than who we are.” And since I was pretty sure I was having an allergic reaction to those emotions, I followed up with, “What am I looking at here?”
“One egg over easy with cheddar and coffee-rubbed bacon on a biscuit donut with fresh hash browns.” He let the matter drop. “There’s mocha dip in the bag.”
That combination short-circuited my brain. “What did you get?”
“Croissants stuffed with breakfast sausages with rosemary maple dip. Also with hash browns.”
Water flooded my mouth at his description. “And Clay?”
“Cheesy hash browns topped with one egg over easy, black bean pico, jalapeño honey chutney, and cactus-glazed pork.”
A moment of silence passed where Clay rejoined us, peeked into each box, and slapped Asa on the back.
“This smells incredible.” He grabbed a milk. “You really are more than a pretty face.”
While I had them both at the table, I pushed my chair back and stood at my place.
“You’re both staying with us until you tell me otherwise. Colby and I want you in our lives, and in our home. We’re cramped, yes, but I’m willing to build on. I wasn’t kidding. I will hire a contractor tomorrow. I know a guy in Samford. He’ll give me a deal.” I held each of their stares. “Are you in, or are you out? I need to let Colby know either way.”
“You wield the kid like a weapon. How can I pack a bag now?” Clay shoveled in a mouthful of food. “I had one foot out the door, and then you had to go and move the steps.”
“Clay,” Asa chastised. “Be serious.”
“I was gut punched when you left the last time, Dollface.” Clay broke his plastic fork in half. “I thought we were a team, that we would have matching tombstones with Thing One and Thing Two on them. Then you were gone. No goodbye. No forwarding information. Hell, not even a fucking note.” He jabbed his finger on the table for emphasis. “You. Left. Me.”
“Clay…”
“I was mad for a long time, but I made my peace with it. Mostly. I moved on.” He started breaking off each tine. “About that time, the director sent me to fetch you. Like it was nothing. Like you had gone out to get a carton of milk and dawdled at the store talking to the cashier. And it hit me all over again, that he didn’t see me as a person. I was a thing to him. A useful thing. A helpful thing. But a thing.”
And I had made him feel the same way. Like he was a means to an end. Like he meant nothing.
Before he could finish, I circled the table and flung myself at him for a second time. “I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well, now I know why you did what you did. I understand. It’s just… I love you, Dollface. You’re the kid sister I never wanted, and now I’m an uncle. I have a family. With you and Colby.” He gripped my arm where it circled his neck. “I don’t want to lose that again. I don’t want to cease being a person. I want to stay with you and Shorty, maybe not in your house, not forever, I mean. But I could buy a place in town or adjacent acreage and build my own home where Colby could have a room for nights when you and Ace want privacy.”
“That sounds great, Clay.” I wiped the tears off my cheeks. “But not for a while yet, okay?”
The part of me that craved connection to others reveled in having my own mini coven under my roof.
But mostly I wasn’t ready to let him go, not when I had barely gotten him back.
“Yeah.” He pried me loose. “Maybe not yet.”
Time would heal his wounds, however much I regretted inflicting them, and we had plenty of that.