Page 59 of Always Mine

“You boys doing okay?”

And there goes my ma, like a splash of freezing water, ruining our moment.

Wyatt jerks back and stands so fast that he trips over his feet, thankfully correcting himself before he falls. Good grief, we need to get him in a bubble. He never used to be so clumsy. First in the diner and now this. Maybe it’s just me. I frazzle him, and yeah, I like the thought of that a little more than I should.

“We’re fine,” he squeaks out in a high tone, reaffirming my thoughts. He is definitely affected and my inner peacock puffs up with pride.

“We managed to find some more lights and ornaments, but the store was low. We may end up having to get more,” Ma calls out, rifling through the bags of stuff she bought.

“Sounds good.” I nod, realizing that Wyatt’s mama and nana are staring at us like we got caught with our hands in the cookie jar.

“We didn’t do nothing,” I blurt out quickly, instantly regretting it.

“Nobody said you did, dear,” Wyatt’s nana says, eyes twinkling with mischief. Why in the hell do I feel like I walked into a trap? Better yet, how did I set up and then sabotage my own self? I’m so stupid. I need a mental health day.

“Riiight,” Wyatt cuts in, dragging out the word and grabbing the garland once more. “I’m just going to finish this.”

“Sounds good, sweetie.” This time it’s his mama who speaks and I make out a little teasing undertone. “You help too, Paxton. He may need another hand with that stapler. You can never be too careful. Dangerous things you have there.”

“Real subtle, Mama,” he groans before turning away. “Ignore them, Paxton. They’re just a bunch of ole gossipers, who don’t have anything else to do.”

Well, at least he’s being a good sport about it all, while I’m slowly dying on the inside. I don’t think I’ve ever been more embarrassed in my whole life.

“Who you calling old?” Nana scolds. “I bet I could still put you over my knee.”

“I’m sure you could, Nana,” he calls back, clearly not buying it.

“I don’t know,” I chime in, hopping down from the trailer and heading to where they’re standing. “She’s pretty spry. I’d put my money on her.”

“Nobody likes a suck-up.”

“You hush, Wyatt,” Nana scolds before her eyes land on me. “Flattery will get you everywhere. Don’t let him tell you differently. He wouldn’t know charm if it bit him on the butt.”

“Flattery and lying are one and the same, and you always taught me that lying was bad, Nana,” he says so matter-of-factly.

She releases a long sigh and waves a hand in his direction. “See what I mean. He’s a lost cause.”

Leaning down, I whisper so only she can hear me. “I guess I’ll just have to show him the ropes.”

Her whole face beams before that wicked smile of hers takes over, and then she gives my cheek a little tap. “This is why you’re my favorite grandson.”

I open my mouth to respond, but I’m cut off when something hard smacks me in the back. What the fuck? I spin around, not really sure what I’m expecting, but a roll of garland at my feet and a smug-looking Wyatt sure wasn’t it.

“Really?” I ask, bending down to pick up the offending object.

He bites down on his lip, trying to suppress his smirk. “Serves you right for talking smack.”

“I wasn’t talking anything.”

Giving me an unamused grunt, he turns back to his task. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Tell him, Nana.” I gesture to Wyatt. “I’m innocent.”

“So innocent.” She tries to sound serious, but her face gives her away. She’s playing us both at this point.

“You two are the worst,” he sighs, looking up at the sky for help.

I reach up, grabbing my chest like he’s physically struck me. “Hey! I take offense to that. I’m not that bad.”

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