Page 11 of More Than Words
She shrugged.“I didn’t say that exactly.”
My brother laughed, but I only shook my head.Before Quinn was born, I had a successful career in finance in the city, but Polly’s career in oil and gas took off faster than we’d planned.She was great at her job, but motherhood never suited her.
I happily scaled back my role at the office to be with Quinn, pivoting to managing our family stock portfolio in the evenings and filling my days with playdates and daddy-and-meclasses.
I never missed my old corporate life, but now that Quinn was older and it was just the two of us rebuilding our lives, it was the perfect time to start something new.A new challenge and a fresh start.
“It smells amazing in here.”Our youngest brother, Preston, burst through the door, looking like he’d been playing in the dirt.“Am I late?”
“What the hell happened to you?”Brody joined us in the kitchen and moved straight to the fridge to grab us some cold beer.
Still not my brews, but with the new tanks finally installed, it wouldn’t be long before I had some samples.
“I hit a rock on the trail,” Preston said.“I was out past Bootleg Mountain and wasn’t paying attention.Took a little tumble, but nothing crazy.”
Grayson and I exchanged a glance.Nothing crazyfor Preston on his mountain bike had an entirely different meaning for almost anyone else.Still, we all knew it wasn’t worth giving our brother a hard time about his daredevil behavior.
“Go wash up,” Avery told him.“As soon as Quinn’s done her homework, it’s time to eat.”
“I’m done!”On cue, Quinn held her paper in the air and waved it around.“Let’s eat!”
I shook my head, but couldn’t help but smile.“Help me set the table, kiddo.”
A few minutes later, everyone was as cleaned up as they were going to be, the table was set, and plates were filled.Laughter filled the room the way it always did when we were together.
There was nothing better than having my family all together.It was the main reason I’d moved back to Trickle Creek.I know Quinn missed her friends in the city, but she’d find her tribe here, too.I knew she would.And in the meantime, I hoped having her uncles would help bridge the gap.
I was halfway through my second helping of Avery’s spaghetti and meatballs when Reid leaned back in his chair and gave me a look.“So, I heard you weren’t quite as charming to your new neighbor today.I thought I was supposed to be the grumpy one.”
Avery gave him an affectionate look.She was the only one Reid wasn’t a total ass to.Well, her and Quinn.
Grayson didn’t even try to hide his grin.“Delaney?Oh yeah.She stormed in looking like she’d just doused herself with a bag of flour.And she was pissed.”
“The vent was an accident.”An accident that was going to be damn expensive.
“You did kind of snap at her, man,” Brody added.
I sighed and put my fork down.“I didn’t snap.”Then I caught Quinn’s raised brow from across the table.“Okay, maybe I was a little short with her, but it was a stressful moment and?—”
“Dad!The bookstore lady is awesome.Don’t be mean to her.”
“I wasn’t?—”
“You were.”
I shot Grayson a look.
“What?”he said with feigned innocence.“You were a dick.”
“Don’t swear in front of Quinn.”
“You owe me a dollar, Uncle Gray.”
Happy the heat was off me for a moment, I picked up the fork and shoved a bite of pasta in my mouth.
Grayson handed over the money to my smirking daughter.She was going to be able to afford her own car by the time she was sixteen if we didn’t watch our mouths.
“You have to apologize, Dad.I like Delaney,” Quinn said after a moment.“She’s cool.And she lets me hang out in the corner and read whatever I want.She even lets me borrow books.”
