Page 41 of Talk About… Dramay
“Damn, you guys don’t play,” Lane said as he took it in. “I don’t know when the last time I had a good homemade pizza was.”
“Just you wait, boy,” Adam said with a deep chuckle. “My mate here is a fantastic cook.”
“I believe it,” Lane said, amping up the charm.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to check on the others,” I said, giving Lane’s arm a squeeze before slipping outside.
I expected the guys to all be at the table but Steve was the only one on the porch now.
“Hey, Dad. Where’d they go?”
“We needed some fresh firewood,” he said, pointing out at the side of the yard where the stumps were waiting to be cut.
My eyes were glued to them for a moment before I narrowed my eyes at my dad. “Did you put them to work?”
“No, they offered,” he said with a chuckle. “Sit down and talk to your old man, kiddo. I missed you. How are you holding up being home?”
“Alright,” I admitted as I sat. “It’s weird not working right now.”
“What are you planning to do for that?”
“Nothing yet. I want to see what happens when I confront Cameron,” I said quietly.
“He has to know you’re in town by now,” Steve said gently. “It’s only a matter of time. I have his address if you ever want it.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. “I’m hiding out so far. I expected to let my anger guide me but being home hit me harder than I realized. I really fucking missed Rockwood Valley.”
“It missed you, Little Bird,” he said with enough emotion I had to choke back fresh tears. Steve wasn’t the type to talk aboutfeelings and emotions. But he’d always been the protective type. “Just promise me you won’t run from us again.”
“I won’t,” I said. “I’m home for good.”
His smile was blinding but the conversation cut off at the first thud of the ax hitting the wood. My mouth went dry as I took in Hudson, shirt off and hair tied back. His muscles flexed with each swing of the ax, skin glowing in the sun.
Roman was right there with him, putting new logs in place every time he split one.
Then they switched. Roman shrugging out of his shirt as he took over. He was just as sexy. All muscles and bronze skin.
Fuck, I was in trouble. One was mine and one wasn’t, yet here I was drinking them in like I’d never get my thirst quenched.
Thankfully, Brandon called for me to come help stretch out pizza dough. He had four large pizza pans ready with dough waiting on top. Lane was tossing one in the air, stretching it out like he’d done it a million times.
“Ugh, are you good at everything?” Brandon asked, flicking flour at my mate.
“Oh my god, Dad!” I gasped, earning myself a face full of flour as well. “No, you didn’t!”
“I did,” he sang out, laughter filling his voice until I tossed a handful right back. Lane stepped back as my dad and I had a full on flour fight, a cloud of white dust in the air and our laughter and screeching ringing out.
“What the hell is going on?!” Mom yelled out as she walked in, mouth hanging open. I swallowed hard, freezing as I braced for her reaction. Then a small giggle escaped Brandon before he blew a handful of flour her way, coating her.
Unease filled me until she rushed around the counter, throwing herself at Brandon and dumping a full handful in his hair. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he lifted her, shaking his head out and sending a wave of flour around us.
I stood there in complete and utter shock as they took over the flour fight. Lane tugged me closer and out of their range, chuckling softly.
“Are they always like this?”
“No,” I admitted, still reeling. “She’s not usually this…”
“She’s changed,” Adam said, startling me. His eyes were shining with love as he knocked his shoulder into mine. “A lot has changed over the years you’ve been gone, Little Bird.”