Page 38 of Sunset

“I will always make sure you get to your door. I always did, when we were kids, and I will continue. That hasn’t changed.” I tell her.

“Good, while I hope something has changed, I hope most of you hasn’t.” When she reaches her door, she turns, and her eyes rake down my body.

I step in, crowding her and wrap an arm around her waist.

“I’ve changed in the best possible ways,” I whisper against her ear and ghost my lips down her neck, before pulling back.

The frustration in her eyes is clear, and I just smile. “Goodnight, Firefly.” I turn and head back to the kitchen, making sure everything is in order, before I start my walk home.

I’m going to need to start driving to work, because there are just too many people on The Island now to enjoy the walk back to my mom’s. On the way, I get a text from Kade.

Kade: News says there are storms tomorrow night. Brynn hates storms and can’t sleep. Thought you’d like to know.

I read the text over and over, before it hits me. He’s giving me a way to get closer and work my way back in.

Me: Thanks, man. I will take care of her, I promise.

Kade: Good. Lin isn’t very happy I’m keeping her from Brynn tomorrow night, so make the most of it.

Me: I promise.

Kade: Good luck.

I don’t realize I’m smiling so big, until I walk inside, and my mom whistles.

“Looks like you’re a cat that caught the canary. Out with it, boy.” She says from the kitchen.

“Kade and Lin are doing some matchmaking is all. A little push towards Brynn.” I tell her.

“Well, don’t let her dangle too long. The season is starting, so you know she’ll use that, as a reason to keep you at arm’s length,” Mom says.

“What happened to your hand?” She lifts my hand, looking at the bandaging job Brynn did.

Mom unwraps my hand and examines it, before pulling me over to the sink and washing it.

“Ahhh, Brynn distracted me, and I cut myself. Then, she bandaged it up for me.”

Mom smiles, and then goes back to the cabinet, grabs her first aid kit, and adds some more cream and a new Band-Aid. I watched her do this for my dad many times, when he’d come home with a new cut or scrape. Once she’s done, she washes her hands and goes back to what she was doing.

“You need to be careful. You know at one point, your dad banned me from the kitchen. Said I was too distracting as well.” She smiles at me, before turning back and scooping the cookies in front of her into a cookie tin.

“What are these for?” I ask her, trying to change the subject.

I pick up a cookie to eat, when mom slaps my hand with the spatula, and then points the spatula at my face.

“These are for church. Keep your hands off. Now, you give me a daughter-in-law and some grandbabies, and I’ll bake you cookies every day. Until then, hands off.” She says with a pointed look.

I hold my hands up in surrender. “Okay, and I’m working on it. Lots to make up for, Mom, so it will take time. Oh, and I may not be home tomorrow night. It’s supposed to storm.”

“What’s that have to do with the color of roses?” She asks.

She has been saying that, since I was a kid, and I still don’t get the exact meaning, but I know what she’s asking.

“Brynn doesn’t like storms, so if I get the chance to stay and comfort her, I will.” I shrug.

Mom looks at me and narrows her eyes. “Daughter-in-law, and then grandbabies. In that order, understand me, mister?” She says, and I just smile.

“Dad gave me the safe sex talk, so you’re in the clear.” I joke.

---