Page 50 of The Homecoming

“Softer like a Mack truck.” Rebecca turned and opened the oven door to peer in, though there were still ten minutes left on the timer. “We’re just friends, and he’s a lunatic.”

Autumn smiled, knowing she’d hit a nerve.

Rebecca busied her hands at the sink by washing the dishes. “It’s a relief to be rid of Kyle,” she said. “I went out with him ‘cause he seemed sweet and quiet. But he had a way of being mean in a passive-aggressive way.” She appeared to be in a trance, reliving a specific incident. “He would say the worst things…” Her voice trailed off.

A rock settled in Autumn’s stomach. “Did he hit you?”

She shook her head. “Just manipulated me.”

“That still hurts,” Autumn said.

***

In the farmhouse, the fireplace had become the group’s favorite hangout spot. They spent more time there than at The Bar. It was either due to maturity or the fact that they could still sit around talking and drinking, but for far cheaper.

New Year’s Eve was no exception.

Hannah and Justin were cuddled up in a chair, Ben and Brandon were in their own little world on the couch, and Autumn was helping Rebecca bring the platters into the farmhouse. Weasel, fashionably late, came in without his badge or a noticeable weapon. His long-sleeve Henley shirt was snug on him and only tucked into his jeans in the front. In addition, he was cleanly shaven with a fresh haircut. Although he was fit and could be considered attractive, Autumn had zero interest in him. That said, she noticed Rebecca pretend not to watch him cross the room toward her.

He plopped down next to Rebecca on the love seat, grabbed a canape off the platter on the coffee table, and popped it into his mouth. “Holy shit, that’s good,” he said. He retrieved a napkin from the table before picking up another one.

Rebecca blushed. “Thank you,” she replied.

“I should have known you made these.” He leaned forward and put one of everything on a paper plate. “Oh, and that sandwich was amazing,” he said. “Thanks.”

She nodded as the pink blossomed across her cheeks.

Wait, had something already happened between the two of them?Maybe he had been at Ellis Diner for lunch…

“Hey,” Hannah said, interrupting Autumn’s contemplation of Rebecca and Weasel. “You guys said we were going to try out the sound system and lighting in the barn tonight?”

Ben nodded. “We tested them each separately when they were installed, thought we’d give it a good run-through tonight.”

“We’ll get to see how it’ll look for the wedding,” Hannah beamed, and Justin planted a kiss on her lips. That twinge of jealousy sprung into Autumn’s gut. She pushed it away, finding the part of herself that could be happy for her friend, but she wasn’t the only one. Rebecca had a fake smile plastered across her face, but her eyes read of her misery.

***

They entered the dark, silent barn. Brandon brought up the house lights until they were dimly shining, then lit the strands of bulb lights strung across the beams as everyone gasped. The effect in the darkened barn was pure romance.

Hannah squealed. “Oh, it’s not even decorated yet and that’s so pretty.”

Brandon smiled as Ben carried a laptop to the deejay booth and fired up the system. Music filled the space and colored lights began to flash from the ball that resided in the ceiling above the dance floor. Hannah cheered, dancing her way to the center of the dancefloor followed by Justin as everyone else took their lead. They all whirled around, being as silly as possible. Autumn joined Ben at the booth, watching him select songs from the computer connected to the system. “If we select a slow song, the lights should synchronize to it,” he said. Ben selected a love song, and sure enough, the lights went gold and started moving slower. He left the booth and bowed to Brandon, who accepted his invitation to dance. Hannah and Justin spun across the floor together like they owned it and had been dancing together for years.

Rebecca stood alone on the side of the dance floor and started to make her way toward the booth when Weasel grabbed her hand and twirled her around three times before pulling her in and dipping her. When her head fell back in the dip, a smile spread and she laughed. He pulled her up, his forehead pressed to hers, and they glided across the floor together. Rebecca laughed in what Autumn assumed was shock from Weasel moving like a ballroom dancer. It hadn’t been what Autumn was expecting from him. He liked Rebecca, but Rebecca would take more convincing. Autumn scrolled through the song choices on the computer in search of another slow song, wanting to give Weasel more time with Rebecca. The three couples on the dance floor swayed in time with the music. No more twirling theatrics from Weasel. Their bodies pressed together as her arms draped around his neck with her head at rest on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around her waist. With his cheek against the back of her head, they looked quite cozy. Even though she hoped to bring Weasel and Rebecca together, after two slow songs, it was definitely time to liven up the party.

In the kitchen, Autumn gathered the cups to toast the New Year when she noticed Weasel’s gaze on her.

Specifically, on her middle.

She pulled the champagne bottles from the fridge as he came up to her, taking them out of her hands and setting them on the island. “If I ask the question and I’m wrong, I’ll get kicked in the nuts. So why don’t you just go on and tell me?” He motioned toward her stomach.

She sighed. The loose shirt hid most of the burgeoning bump and people who didn’t know her wouldn’t suspect a thing. Weasel, however,didknow her. He was the last of the group to know. “I’m pregnant,” she said.

“Madera’s?” he asked.

She threw up her hands. “Why is that the first thing asked?”

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.” He took one bottle of champagne and popped it over the sink, as Ben had asked. He managed to work the cork out without overflow before doing the same to the second bottle.

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