Page 80 of Eternally Devoted

Sterling

“Ugh,” I groan, smacking my phone alarm as I blink my eyes open.

Dash slept in the middle last night, and that’s the first time anyone but Juniper has slept next to me. I worried I’d cuddle him in my sleep and he’d hate it, but as I peer down, I find hishead on my chest, his hand tucked into the waistband of my pajama pants, Juniper’s leg slung over his.

Quietly, I reach over and take my phone off the pink WAKE AND SLAY BAE charging dock—note to self, start moving my stuff over here—and open the camera app. Flipping the camera to selfie, I lift my hand in the air, snapping a photo of the three of us, my two favorite people still sound asleep.

We’re exhausted. Dash worked a twelve-hour shift yesterday, and I worked an eight, and then we helped Juniper with her last two batches of jam for her first farmers market in weeks. Today’s the day, and I’m so worn out, I don’t even know if I can get out of bed.

Who knew making jam was so much work.

Well, there may have been a few breaks.

Okay, there may have been eight breaks consisting of passing Juniper between our cocks on the couch, bouncing her in our laps until we filled her completely full. And another break to suck strawberry jam from her nipples, and another to watch Juniper lick preserves off Dash’s nuts as I jacked him off.

You get the idea.

We had breaks.

Either way, I’m exhausted, but have every intention of setting up Juniper’s booth this morning, and having a word with her brother-in-law, Hudson.

I fold the covers back and carefully slide out of Dash’s hold, bending over the bed to kiss both of their foreheads before I head out. We’ve been living here for just three days, so we're still digging clothes out of suitcases, but it’s worth it.

I feed my arms through a flannel and slip into my work jeans, grabbing my baseball cap and boots once I’m in the living room. Once fully dressed, I make a pot of coffee and while it’s brewing, pop some of Dash’s frozen bread in the toaster. With a black pen, on the back of a bank envelope, I write them a note.

Sweethearts,

I’m setting up the tent for the market today. Coffee is made. I’ll see you out there around 10.

Forever yours,

S

With that, I fill my canteen and head out to the barn, spotting Hudson Gray right away.

“Sterling, how are you?” he greets, slapping his hand into mine. I realize Hudson isn’t Juniper’s dad. He’s not even an older brother. But he’s the only man in her life she’s related to, and I know he’s lived next door to the Ellingtons for years now. Speaking with him feels like the closest thing to asking her father for her hand. And he is my access to her sisters, too.

“Good, good. How’re you? How are the wife and kids?” I ask, peering back at his place where a pregnant and barefoot Dolly stands on the porch, one hand guarding her belly, the other waving.

He waves and winks, his whole face lighting up. Igetthat look. I never did before, but now I wholeheartedly do. The way this hardworking man grins back at me, his eyes lighting up like the damn North Star at midnight, right then and there I know no matter what the three of us face, we’ll overcome. We have to. Because he’s living in goddamn bliss, but also reality, and I have that.

I’mlucky enoughto have that.

I’ll do everything I can to keep it.

“Well, they’re doing pretty darn good, thanks for asking,” he replies, tipping up his hat to expose his sweaty brow. “Hey, I thought I’d ask ya—what were y’all diggin’ up under the oak the other week?”

Panic sluices through my once happy heart but I maintain a neutral expression, letting one shoulder rise and fall as if my response is the most meaningless thing in the world. “Ah,Juniper lost a ring when she was out there while composting. Got real upset.” Quickly, I run down a list in my memory of all the special things Mr. Ellington gave to his daughters before he passed. I would remember if there was jewelry, and there wasn’t. “Something Dash picked up from Oakcreek once. A little thing. A mood ring, maybe. I can’t remember,” I say, scratching at the back of my head where my baseball cap pinches. “But she was pretty upset so… we dug.”

He nods before he breaks out into a smile. “The things we’ll do for love.”

My body releases a million pounds of invisible weight as Hudson tugs his hat back down, returning his focus to yanking his gloves on. With my boot, I push a stone around on the ground before finally saying, “About Juniper.”

Hudson stops his work, glancing back to the porch where his wife stood. I glance back too but Dolly has gone back inside, and for some reason, I’m grateful for that. Talking to Hudson about this is less uncomfortable without an audience.

“Hmm?” he asks, tugging on his second leather glove. “You come to ask for her hand?” he asks jokingly, peering at me with a playful expression on his face.

When I don’t respond for a moment, his eyes widen and his stance solidifies, his head jutting forward. “Holy shit, man, you are, aren’t ya?”

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