Page 111 of Rumi: The Hawthornes

“The trailer’s still a crime scene,” she continued. “I doubt they’re ready to go back anyway. We have a guest room.”

“So do we,” my gram said.

“Maybe they’d rather stay in a hotel,” Uncle Casper said reasonably, pulling out his wallet. “At least for tonight. We can cover it. Grease?”

“We’ll all pitch in,” he said easily.

“They’ll stay with me,” I said, lifting my hand to stop them before they made any concrete plans.

“With you?” Dragon asked, his arms crossed over his chest. “In your tiny ass house.”

“I have a spare bedroom, too,” I pointed out.

“That room is empty except for some boxes,” Brody piped up.

I glared at him. He could keep his mouth shut after the shit he’d been spouting earlier.

“They can sleep in my room and on the couch,” I gritted out. “I’ll figure something better out tomorrow.”

“Baby, that’s sweet—” my mom said.

“Nova’s comin’ home with me,” I replied, cutting her off. “Ash and Bird will want to be with her.”

“Oh,nowyou’re claiming her?” Brody muttered, scoffing.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I hissed, staring at my cousin.

“Just find it funny that—”

“Nobody cares what you find funny, Brody,” his dad said flatly. “Keep it to yourself.”

I realized that my hands had tightened into fists and deliberately loosened them as I looked at the group around me.

“I know that all of you see me as a kid,” I ground out. “But is anyone seriously questionin’ that Nova is mine?”

The group was silent.

“Jesus,” my mom breathed, rolling her eyes. “It’s about fucking time.”

“Heather, shut it,” my dad said, putting his hand over her mouth.

She must have bitten his hand because he dropped it quickly.

“Nobody’s questioning it, Rumi,” my mom said dryly. “They figured it out long before you did.”

“You’ve been chasin’ that girl since you were old enough to walk,” Uncle Casper said with a laugh.

“We started bein’ friends when we were thirteen,” I corrected in irritation. I hadn’t beenchasingNova.

“Started before that,” my dad said, looking at me curiously. “Nova’s always spent part of the summer with her grandparents. You’ve been crazy about her since the day you met.”

“Yeah, when we were thirteen,” I doubled down.

“Rum, we have pictures of you two together since you were about three,” my mom said softly.

“I don’t remember that.”

“Clearly,” she said, smiling at me. “But believe me, you thought she was thecoolesteven when you had no use for girls.”

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