Page 138 of When We Were Us
“Hair looks nice, Wren,” he whispers with a smirk, and I don’t have to guess that he heard Hank’s little comment about pulling my hair.
I try not to blush, but it doesn’t work. Not around these two. I roll my eyes at both of them.
“Very funny, dumbass,” Hank says and gives his little brother a playful shove in the chest. Hutch smacks Hank in the back of the head as we walk by, then pulls his phone out and starts texting.
The rest of the family greets us as we enter the kitchen. Nat and Norah simultaneously look up with identical smiles and a chorus of hellos from where they’re shucking corn on the cob. Paige is sitting next to Finn, talking animatedly about dolphins. A coloring book and crayons are spread out before them, with each of them coloring a page.
Dukeis out back grilling and Hudson, Hayley, and Emily are at the island chopping veggies for a salad. The kitchen is large, but the space feels cozy and homey with all of us occupying the space.
“There’s my favorite brother.” Hayley grins from the other side of the island as she drops a handful of radishes into a salad bowl.
“Hey!” Hudson glares at her, looking offended.
“He’s my favorite, too,” Nat pipes up with a smile from her place at the table.
I laugh and Hank splits a smile between his sisters. I tend to think they’re both his favorite siblings as well.
“You’re my favorite, Huddy!” Finn says without looking up from where she’s coloring “The Little Mermaid.”
My gaze snaps to Hank’s and my eyes go wide as if to say,See?And the entire kitchen goes silent for a second or two.
“Atta girl, Jameson!” Hudson says with a point of his knife in her direction.
Hayley lets out a strangled laugh. “Watch where you’re pointing that thing, weirdo.”
“That’sdefinitelywhat she said to Hudson,” Hutch jokes as he comes back in. He leans in between Hayley and Hudson, reaching for his beer, as Hudson goes back to chopping sun-dried tomatoes.
Hanks snickers beside me.
“Don’t get your hands dirty there, Snowflake,” Hutch snipes again.
Hudson turns his head and scowls at him. He cuts a glance in his mom’s direction, and when he’s satisfied the coast is clear, he taps the bottom of Hutch’s beer can as he’s about to drink. Foamy beer splashes down Hutch’s chin and shirt. In the next second, Hutch reaches out and gives Hudson’s nipple a hard twist.
“Ow, Goddamn it! That hurt.” Hudson rubs at his chest.
“Boys!” Duke’s voice booms from the other side of the kitchen, where he’s just stepped inside. All three Hayes men stand a little straighter as three sets of eyes turn in the direction of their father.
I roll my lips together to stifle a laugh and Nat and Norah both look like they're going to lose it. Hayley’s snort breaks the silence, and then we’re all laughing. Duke just shakes his head and motions for Hank to follow him outside. Hank kisses my temple and heads outside.
Emily shakes her head at her two youngest sons, then turns to me.
“Wrenley, do you want to grab the baked potatoes out of that bottom oven for me, honey?” she asks before handing me a large platter with a pair of oven mitts resting on top. She turns to Hutch. “Quit tormenting your brother and get out the butter and sour cream.”
Hudson gives a satisfied little harrumph.
“You.” Emily points at him. “You chop. And leave Hutch alone. I swear, the two of you will put me into an early grave from bickering like a couple of twelve-year-olds.” She pats my back when I pass her to set the potatoes on the counter. Then, she picks up the oven mitts and pulls two pies from the top oven.
“Wren, can you fill that pot with water for the corn, please?”
“Sure.” I cross to the sink, and Finn comes to stand next to me, bumping me with her hip.
She leans in and whispers, “How are things going with Hank? I feel like I never see you anymore.”
I bite my lip and glance behind me, making sure no one can hear me. “We’ve been busy.”
She wiggles her eyebrows at me, and I laugh.
“Busy getting busy?” she says, her grin wide, and it's so Finnley. We both giggle like a couple of teenagers.
