Page 184 of Finding Delaware

They pull him toward the backyard, leaving me awkwardly in the entryway. Without the grounding presence of Huck, I can sense a heavy silence. Glancing into the living room, I find a bunch of eyes on me. Some are wide, some squinted, and I recognize a few, like Maisie’s sisters’ haughty gaze.

Lifting my hand in a half-hearted wave, I follow Huck, ignoring the prickling, itchy feeling as I pass the staircase leading up to the bathroom. Too many bad memories up there.

When I step into the kitchen, Maisie and a few other women who must be from Huck’s side of the family are in there. I don’t miss the disapproving sweep of her gaze when she spots me.

“Taylor? What are you doing here?” She sounds polite, but I know what that sickly, sweet tone of her voice hides, so I just lift a shoulder as I pass out the backdoor.

“Huckslee invited me.”

I get no response, but I wasn’t expecting one anyway. Stepping onto the deck, I arrive just in time to watch Huck get tackled by one of the triplets into the grass. Well,pretendto get tackled because he’s incredibly muscled, and they’re all pretty scrawny. Aaron is standing around a smoker with a few people, unaware of my intrusion. I take the time to study him now that I’ve met Huck’s grandparents. I can see the resemblance in hair color and facial shape alone, but overall, he definitely takes after his mother’s side.

“Hey, man,” comes a voice to my right, and I spot Logan sitting on a patio chair at the end of the deck. His brows are raised as if surprised to see me. “Didn’t know you were coming.”

“Yeah...me either until this morning. Huckslee dragged me along.”

He studies my clothes as I take a seat next to him. “Nice shirt. That Huck’s work?”

“Yeah, how’d you guess?”

“I know his style.” Logan glances toward the lawn, watching Huck throw the football for a few other kids who have joined in, a flash of hurt still prominent in his eyes. Something twists in my gut, feeling slightly responsible for the rift between their friendship.

“Look, Logan, about Huck and I—”

He cuts me off before I can get any further. “It’s fine, Taylor. Really, it wasn’t your responsibility to tell me anything.”

I stay quiet, thinking through what to say as I meet Huck’s gaze. His eyes flick to Logan and back to me in question, and I flash him my stomach. It distracts him enough that the football hits his cheek with a loudsmack. The small girl who threw it giggles as I burst into laughter, which earns me a dark look from my boyfriend, promising retribution later. I’m tempted to blow him a kiss or flip him off, but I refrain, choosing to sit back and smirk instead.

Do your worst, baby.

His tongue darts out to wet his lips, eyes trailing down my body as if he can read the challenge in my features. When he turns back to the game, I feel the loss of his attention immediately, like a blanket being ripped away in a cold room. And damn if I don’t want it back.

“Word of advice,” Logan says slowly, a small smile on his lips. “You both might want to stop looking at each other like that if you’re trying to keep things under wraps because I saweverythingjust now.”

Ah, shit.

I open my mouth to respond when a deep voice startles me from behind.

“Keep what under wraps, son?”

Logan visibly winces, and I turn to see a man I’m sure is his father, if I remember correctly. He was Aaron’s best man at the wedding. We both flounder for an answer until Huckslee steps onto the deck, saving us from looking like fish out of water.

“I’ve started making concept art for Taylor and his friend’s stunt bike act,” he explains as Aaron studies us from the smoker. “Like the picture on his shirt. I drew it.”

Cold eyes take in the shirt in question as I lift my hat to nervously run a hand through my hair. “Yeah, we’re in the process of creating a business. Kinda was thinking of asking Logan again to be our business manager now that he has his degree.”

Logan’s brows jump at that, but his dad shakes his head.

“My boy is far too busy at work for your little side hustle.”

Oh, fuck you, old man.

“With all due respect,” I drawl, my cheeks heating at the dismissive tone of his voice, “yourboyis an adult and can decide for himself.”

He rears back, sucking his teeth while Huck gapes at me. Before he can respond, Aaron calls us over by the smoker.

“Boys, come get these steak burgers and bring them inside.”

Huck, Logan, and I make our way over, and I can feel his dad’s seething gaze on the back of my head. We each grab a plate stacked with meat and take them inside to the kitchen, where Maisie stands at the stove. The room falls heavily quiet, like everyone hushed as soon as we walked in, and the shifty glances from people tell me they were probably talking about me.

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